Tate Lady Aggies Beat Milton
February 17, 2018
The Tate High School Lady Aggies defeated Milton Friday in Cantonment.
Tate 2, Milton 0
In varsity action, Tate topped Milton 2-0.
Hannah Brown pitched the win for the Aggies, giving up three hits while allowing no runs and striking out seven.
Shelby Ullrich was 2-2 with an RBI, Belle Wolfenden recorded an RBI, Deazia Nickerson was 1-2 with a run, a Ryleigh Cawby had a run for the Lady Aggies.
Tate 16, Milton 1
In junior varsity action, Tate powered past Milton 12-1.
Driver Strikes Fire Hydrant In Crash That Injures Three
February 17, 2018
Three people were transported to area hospital following a two-vehicle crash Friday night in Cantonment.
One of the vehicles left Highway 95A and struck a fire hydrant in the 7:33 p.m. crash.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Jail Medical Director Terminated
February 17, 2018
Escambia County Medical Director for Public Safety Paul Henning, who also served as the medical director at the Escambia County Jail, was terminated on Thursday, effective immediately. The reason for that termination has been not been provided by the county.
Henning took over jail medical services in January 2016.
ECSO: Man Threatens To “Shoot Up” Several Local Schools
February 16, 2018
An Escambia County man has accused of making social media threats against local schools.
During a press conference Friday afternoon, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said 23-year old Gabriel Brooks Harvell was threatening to “shoot up” Escambia High School, Pine Forest High School and Pensacola State College. Harvell was immediately arrested on an outstanding warrant for a probation violation in a stalking case.
“In Escambia County, we are going to take any insinuation or threat involving our school system and our children beyond serious,” Sheriff David Morgan said. “If you are stupid enough…to be be engaged in this sort of communication, you can expect the full weight of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to be visited upon you. To state that this is not a joking manner is to state in in the minimus. These are things we do not joke about.
Also Friday, the Pensacola Police Department announced the arrest of 13-year old student for the disruption of a school function after he share message on social media that alluded to a school student. Because the charge is a misdemeanor, the student’s name was not released.
Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said “anybody that is arrested will be treated ver”, referring to school threats, and seeking maximum available punishments.
“We’ve had more weapons found this school year than we have found in a couple of years,” Superintend Malcolm Thomass said. “That’s unacceptable.”
“If you bring a weapon to school you are going to face the most serious consequences that I can issue as superintendent,, and I will be referring those students to law enforcement,” Thomas said. “School is not a place to bring a weapon.”
Thomas asked that parents keep their children away from guns…change gun safe combinations or find a new key hiding location, and he urged parents to check their child’s book bags and social media posts.
“I’m calling on the entire community…if you see something, say something,” the superintendent said. “For our students, if you see somebody at school that is acting weird and think that they are a little off, you need to report it.
Pictured top. Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas addresses school security as Sheriff David Morgan listens Friday afternoon.
Investigators Now Believe Missing Molino Man Was Murdered
February 16, 2018
Investigators now say a Molino man that disappeared more than a decade ago is presumed dead, and they are treating his case as homicide.
“I’m not ever going to be finished with this investigation until there is justice”, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Michelle Wert said Thursday. The case has been particularly frustrating for Wert, knowing that she could have arrested at least two people if the statue of limitations in part of the case had not expired, but she’s continuing to work toward homicide arrests. There is no statute of limitations for homicide.
Timothy Allen Lamb was a developmentally disabled, legally blind and suffered from a heart condition, according to Wert. He lived with his mother until 2003 and then lived with different friends in the Molino area. He did not work and did not drive.
“Taking care of him was like having a third child,” Wert said. “There is no way the he could be out there living on his own.”
Relatives last communicated with Lamb in 2004 due to “very strained family relationships,” she said. In 2016, a relative tried to contact Lamb, but discovered that he was no where to be found and he had not been seen by friends in years. He was last known to be living with a friend off Highway 97 in Molino in 2005. And now the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office believes Lamb was murdered in 2005.
Investigators made the case public in September 2017 in an attempt to obtain more information.
Search warrants were served in 2005 off Highway 97 at the home of Lamb’s friend, but the search did not produce a body, Wert said. Additional search warrants have been executed, and other properties have been searched after owners gave consent.
The statute of limitations passed years ago, but Wert said there was concrete evidence of fraud in the case, along with element of foul play.
“Because of the length of time, parts of the case have been more difficult,” Wert stated. “But if it had not been so long ago, there would have been fraud arrests.”
Wert declined to name the fraud suspects as they are not facing any criminal charges and the related homicide investigation is active and ongoing by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office.
“We are continuing to review information in this case, and there have been no charges at this time,” State Attorney Bill Eddins said. “We are still gathering evidence.”
Wert is asking anyone that knows anything about Lamb — whether recently or from years ago, the names of his friends or any other information contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Partly Sunny, Lower 80’s
February 16, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 76. Light south wind increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 74. North wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Washington’s Birthday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 77.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 76.
FDOC: Century Work Camp On Lockdown
February 16, 2018
The Century Work Camp has been under lockdown since Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
“In an abundance of caution, Century CI’s Work Camp was placed on lockdown Tuesday following a contraband search and discovery. There were no disturbances or injuries to inmates or staff. Inmates are on a partial lockdown. Inmates still have access to the dining hall, showers, medical services, etc,” Ashley Cook, press secretary for the Florida Department of Corrections told NorthEscambia.com.
The contraband discovery is currently under investigation by the Florida Department of Corrections Inspector General’s Office.
Cook declined to identify what type or quantity of contraband was located inside the facility on Tedder Road just west of the Century Correctional Institution.
“Inmates found in possession of any type of contraband are subject to disciplinary action, and visitors found with any type of contraband are subject to arrest, she stated.
“Contraband is defined as any article or item that you have in your possession, or in your property, that was not issued, and has not been approved by the Department,” according to the FDOC’s “Inmate Orientation Handbook”.
“The Department has absolutely zero tolerance for contraband introduction, and we are always looking for new and innovative approaches to reduce contraband introduction into our prisons. In April of 2016, the Department’s Office of Intelligence was created to better integrate intelligence-led corrections and formulate data-driven analytics to aid in operations throughout our institutions,” Cook said. “In July 2017, the Department initiated new Enhanced Search Procedures to further combat contraband and ensure the continued safety and security of our institutions.
The Department has also recently acquired some new forms of technology to help combat the introduction of contraband. One of the enhancements being used are x-ray machines at all of staff and visitor entrance points.
Pictured: Bunks inside the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
BOCC Approves Emergency Replacement OF Nokomis Road Bridge
February 16, 2018
Thursday night, the Escambia County Commission approved the emergency purchase of prefabricated steel bridge to replace the Nokmois Road bridge over Reedy Creek.
Due to structure deficiencies, the state ordered the Nokomis Road Bridge closed in December. The county implemented a short detour on the dirt Albritton and Jakes Roads. Due to the November 8 closure of a bridge on Arthur Brown Road and a November 14 closure of a bridge on Arthur Brown Road, the only detour options were a 31-mile, 30-35 mph average speed detour in Florida, or a lengthy detour into Alabama.
The detour solutions all present hazards to the public, according to county officials.
Since implementing this detour the county has received several calls from area residents who are concerned about meeting and passing truck traffic because of the narrow width of Jakes Road and its steep shoulders making them feel unsafe when pulling to the side when meeting trucks and other vehicles. Rain also causes the dirt road surface to become slippery and unstable. Vehicles, including emergency vehicles, are at risk of becoming stuck when pulling onto these shoulders.
The 31-mile detour would also present obvious delays for drivers and emergency vehicles. Even when the bridge on Arthur Brown Road reopens, the resulting detour would still be 20 miles.
County Engineer Joy Blackmon recommended that the county make the emergency bridge purchase. Quotes and fabrication schedules have been requested from three different bridge manufacturers to determine which 50 x 36 foot bridge will be most feasible and available for replacement.
The first steel permanent replacement bridge in Escambia County recently opened on Arthur Brown Road (there were two bridges closed on Arthur Brown Road). The bridge over Freeman Springs Branch was closed November 8 and bridge replacement work began on December 6 after prep work was completed. The new 24-foot wide steel bridge arrived in three major pieces on January 5. It was installed on January 6 and was open by January 29.
Pictured: Escambia County’s first permanent steel replacement bridge opened in late January on Arthur Brown Road. An emergency purchase of a similar steel bridge has been approved for Nokomis Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three Escambia Teens Arrested With Guns In School This School Year
February 16, 2018
Editor’s note: Escambia County School District Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross said after the original publication of this story that suspect Terrance Anton Harris, Jr. is accused of having a gun at George Stone Technical Center, not West Florida High School as originally indicated. Both schools share the same physical address at 2400 Longleaf Drive, according to their respective websites, and the West Florida High School SRO responded to the incident.
Three Escambia County students have been arrested with guns on school campuses this school year, including a sixth grader with a loaded handgun this week at Ransom Middle School in Cantonment, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
“We take these cases very seriously and will prosecute them aggressively,” State Attorney Bill Eddins said. “We review each case individually but most of the time we seek to transfer cases like this to adult court.”
Dinari Delon Shields, 14, was arrested last October at Bellview Middle School, 16-year old Terrance Anton Harris, Jr. was arrested with a loaded gun in January at George Stone Technical Center, and Ashton Blake Ferguson-Resmondo, 13, was arrested with a loaded gun and a razor knife Tuesday at Ransom Middle.
Officials at Ransom Middle School received information from an anonymous tip that Ferguson-Resmondo was in possession of a weapon on the school campus. He was escorted off his school bus by a school resource officer. He reached for his waistband when asked if he was in possession of any forbidden item, according to an arrest report.The sixth grader was placed in handcuffs at which time a loaded Sterling .25 caliber automatic pistol was recovered from his waistband.
He was escorted to the SRO’s office, where his bookbag was searched. The report states a razor knife and three prescription medication pills including Ziprasidone, an antipsychotic drug, and Lisdexamfetamine, a drug commonly used to treat ADHD, according to the National Institute of Health.
Ferguson-Resmondo was transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice and charged with possession of a concealed weapon, brandishing a firearm or destructive device on school grounds, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. All of the charges are felonies, and he has been charged as a juvenile.
Court documents reveal on Monday, just a day prior to his arrest, Ferguson-Resmondo turned over two pocketknives and two .25 automatic rounds of ammunition to a teacher under the Escambia County School District’s Safe Harbor program that allows the surrender of prohibited items.
On January 25, Harris was charged with possession of a weapon on school property, a third degree felony. He will be tried as an adult.
The firearm incident began when a teacher observed Harris not doing his classwork and using his cellphone, against classroom rules. He refused to place his cellphone in a designated area, a teacher reported. Inside his backpack, officials reported finding a black handgun tightly wrapped in a pair of gym shorts.
Court documents say the backpack contained a .380 caliber Glock handgun loaded with five live rounds and a magazine.
In late November, Harris threatened several staff members at Camelot Academy, stating “I will fire you up and spark your ass”, according to court documents.
Details concerning the arrest of Shields at Bellview Middle were not immediately available. He was charged as juvenile.
Editor’s note: Escambia County School District Associate Superintendent Norm Ross says suspect Terrance Anton Harris, Jr. is accused of having a gun at George Stone Technical Center, not West Florida High School as originally indicated. Both schools share the same physical address at 2400 Longleaf Drive, according to their respective websites, and the West Florida High School SRO responded to the incident.
Bratt Elementary Dedicates Little Free Library In Century
February 16, 2018
Bratt Elementary School dedicated their second community Little Free Library in Century Thursday afternoon, two years to the date that an EF-3 tornado ravaged Century.
The Little Free Library is located on the lawn of Escambia Community Clinics Century Pediatrics and Pediatric Dental Clinic on Church Street.
In an effort to promote literacy, Bratt Elementary collected over 500 children’s books to stock new Little Free Libraries in Century and Bratt.
The Little Free Library concept is simple — anyone from the community may borrow a book or keep a book or add a book to the library. Anyone taking a book or two from library does not need to return that exact book, and there are no due dates. The library is currently supplied with mostly children’s books, but donations of more books for adults would be greatly appreciated.
Bratt students also dedicated a Little Free Library on Wednesday at the Travis Nelson Park in Bratt. Both libraries are open sunrise to sunset daily.
To read more about the Bratt Little Free Library, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
