Escambia Deputy Cleared In Grocery Store Shooting
October 14, 2019
An Escambia County deputy has been cleared in the August shooting of a suspect at a grocery store.
The State Attorney’s Office found an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant feared for his life when he shot Reginald Lee Booker, 29, at the Grocery Advantage on Lillian Highway on August 15. Booker remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $727,000.
Booker walked into the store and took the store phone before firing one shot inside the store’s produce section.
The ECSO lieutenant and other deputy entered the store as people were rushing outside. The deputies found Booker in the produce section with a gun. He ignored commands and fled through a set of double door and was pursued to the loading dock in the back of the store, according to the SAO report.
In an area of the back stacked with boxes and crates that provided Booker a place to hide, deputies again ordered him to show his hands. Booker raised the gun and pointed the gun at the lieutenant. The deputy, fearing for his life, fired three or four times, striking Booker several times, the report states. Booker was transported to Baptist Hospital were he underwent treatment.
Booker told the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conflicting stories about what happened. He told them he did not have anything in his hands, but the police shot him. During a second interview, he stated he ran into the store because he was being chased by five black males, and he claimed he put the gun down in the produce area and denied firing a shot.
A shell casing from Booker’s gun was found in the produce section, and his .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol was recovered in the back of the store. Surveillance video also contradicts Booker’s claims, FDLE said. However, there was no video of the shooting in the back of the store.
The FDLE investigation found the deputies attempted to apprehend Booker without the use of deadly force, and Booker’s statements were not consistent with video evidence or statements by witnesses.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
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Apartment Developer’s Utility Lawsuit Against Century Dismissed, But Motion For Rehearing Filed
October 14, 2019
A motion to dismiss a utility deposit lawsuit against the Town Century by an apartment developer has granted, but the case is not over.
The Paces Foundation and Century Park Apartments have filed a motion for a rehearing or reconsideration.
Paces contends they owed $63,750 for water and wastewater connection fees, but instead they were forced to pay over $100,000 more.
The court adopted both arguments that the town raised in defense that sovereign immunity and fraud statutes each preclude the Pace’s claims. But the apartment complex’s lawyers contend in their motion that the dismissal order overlooked key points of Florida law which authorize judicial review of the utility charges in question, and a rehearing or reconsideration is warranted to allow the case to proceed on its merits.
The plaintiffs do not seek “mere enforcement of an oral agreement as to the cost of utility services in this case. Rather, Plaintiffs have filed this action to enforce the statutory mandate that all municipal utility charges imposed upon private landowners must be ‘just and equitable’ according to the circumstances presented,” their motion states.
Century Park contends that they elected to make their $10 million investment in Century in late 2015, at which time a 2015 water rate ordinance was in effect. Those rates were in effect until increased in a series of acts by the town council, increasing costs over $100,000 for the developer, according to the motion.
Century Park contends it was not “just and equitable” to increase the rates after the property was developed.
The Dispute
In February 2018, Paces submitted a $165,180 check to the town for water and wastewater tap fees along with a protest letter from attorney William J. Dunaway of the Clark Partington law firm in Pensacola. The letter informed the town that the payment was made in full, but the amount remained in dispute.
Paces asked for a declaration that they owed the town $63,750 for full payment and an additional $101,430 deposit charged was invalid.
The lower fee of $63,750, according to Paces, was decided upon during a 2015 meeting with then-Mayor Freddie McCall and Town Planner Debbie Nickles. The only written agreement to come out of that meeting was a handwritten page showing calculations that Paces said were based upon the 2015 rates as published online in the town’s municipal code. The handwritten document also included a proposed fee for natural gas; however, the developer later opted to go all-electric.
In 2017, the town council passed two resolutions increasing the water and sewer tap fees and charged Paces based upon 50 connections. The apartment complex, according to the lawsuit, has only one master meter that serves all 50 units.
Paces contends they relied upon the lower payment quote in determining their financial options with the apartment development. They contend they were forced to submit the higher fee in order to obtain utility services and obtain a certificate of occupancy for the apartments.
McCall and Nickels did not deny the meeting, nor did they deny the agreement or the approximate $63,000 tap fee. “The town made a commitment to them. To me, they should do the right thing and honor that commitment,” Nickels said during a March 2018 town council meeting also attended by McCall.
Pictured top: Century Park Apartments. Pictured top inset: A check submitted under protest to the town by the Paces Foundation. Pictured bottom inset: The handwritten document Paces contends demonstrated a lower water and sewer tap fee as authorized by town code. Pictured below: Century’s justification for the $165,180 tap fee charged to the developer. NorthEscambia.com photo and images, click to enlarge.
Volleyball District Tournaments This Week: 1A At Northview, 6A At Niceville
October 14, 2019
The high school volleyball postseason gets underway this week with district tournaments.
In the District 1-6A tournament, the Tate Aggies are seeded No. 5 with a 6-14 record. Crestview, ranked fifth in the state, is No. 1 seed, followed by Niceville, ranked 15th in the state, at No. 2.
The District 1-1A tournament will open Monday night with Central at Laurel Hill in Laurel Hill, with the balance of the tournament hosted by Northview High School. Jay, ranked at number four in the state, and Baker, ranked number nine in the state, are the top two seeds. The Northview Chiefs, at number 16 in the state, are seeded third and host Jay at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
District 1-6A Tournament
at Niceville High (Oct. 14-17)
No. 1 Crestview (18-5) – BYE
No. 3 Pace (9-11) vs. No. 6 Milton (6-14)
No 2. Niceville (14-9) – BYE
No. 4 Navarre (7-15) vs. No. 5 Tate (6-14)
District 1-1A Tournament
at Northview High Oct.15, 17
No. 5 Central def.. No. 4 Laurel Hill Monday at Laurel Hill
No 2. Jay (17-4) vs. No. 3 Northview (8-7), Tuesday 5 p.m. at Northview
No. 1. Baker (14-10) vs. Central (4-11), 6:30 p.m. at Northview
Championship Game – Thursday, 6:30 p.m. at Northview
Pictured: Jay defeated Northview 3-2 on September 16 at Northview. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Winner Collects $107K For Lottery Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
October 14, 2019
We now know who purchased a winning Fantasy 5 ticket on Nine Mile Road last month.
The Florida Lottery says the September 7 ticket worth $107,018.35 was sold to Laura P. Wong of Theodore, Alabama, at the Publix at 2180 West Nine Mile Road. It was one of two winning tickets for the drawing; the second was sold in Titusville.
The 341 tickets matching four numbers won $101 each. Another 10,527 tickets matching three numbers are worth $9 each, and 99,932 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
The September 7 winning numbers were 5-7-16-21-33.
Gas Prices Are Down Over The Past Week
October 14, 2019
Florida gas prices fell last week, but could rise again in the coming days, according to AAA, due to political tensions that caused crude prices to increase late last week.
Florida drivers are paying an average of $2.42 per gallon for regular unleaded, 6 cents less than last week, but 2 cents more than a month ago.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $2.40. Three Cantonment stations were below average at $2.31 a gallon Sunday night.
IMPACT 100 Names 11 Recipients Of $106K Grants
October 14, 2019
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, a women’s philanthropic organization announced 11 grant recipients at their annual meeting Sunday. The nonprofits will each receive a grant of $106,000.
The 11 grant recipients selected by IMPACT 100’s Focus Area Committees are as follows:
ARTS & CULTURE
- EHS Band Boosters Association, Inc.
Project: EHS Band Equipment Upgrades for Young Gifted Students
- First City Arts Alliance, Inc. dba First City Art Center
Project: Creating Space for Educating and Inspiring Youth
EDUCATION
- Santa Rosa County 4-H Association, Inc.
Project: 4-H Field Education Facility
- The Secret Place Home, Inc.
Project: The Therapeutic Impact Classroom
ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION & PRESERVATION
- Children’s Home Society of Florida, Inc.
Project: Keeping Families on the Right Track
- Splash Cats, Inc.
Project: Just Keep Swimming
FAMILY
- Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
Project: Building Homes, Communities, and Hope, One Family at a Time: Tools for Construction Site
- Young Men’s Christian Association of Northwest Florida, Inc. dba YMCA of Northwest Florida
Project: The Wheels on the Bus
HEALTH & WELLNESS
- Healing Paws for Warriors, Inc.
Project: Save a Veteran/Rescue a Dog
- Health and Hope Clinic, Inc.
Project: IMPACT100: How to Save a Life
- Manna Food Bank, Inc., dba Manna Food Pantries
Project: Generating Hope to End Hunger
The total community impact this year is $1.166 million. In the 16 years since its inception has awarded 109 grants totaling nearly $11.7 million.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Report: Baiting On The Perdido River, Pot At Fillingim Landing, Illegal Berries
October 14, 2019
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending September 26 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Specialist Clark and Officer Long found bush hooks along the side of the river while on patrol on the Perdido River in the Perdido Water Management Area. The hooks were not marked and were baited with pieces of bream. Officer Specialist Clark saw the operator of a vessel checking the same bush hooks that he had recently inspected. He contacted the operator, and confirmed that the bush hooks were his. The subject was cited for using bream as bait and given a warning for not properly labeling his bush hooks.
Officer Cushing was working enhanced patrol at Fillingim Landing in Perdido WMA. He saw four subjects after hours in the parking lot next to their vehicle. Upon contact, Officer Cushing could smell marijuana. The owner of the vehicle admitted to purchasing marijuana and retrieved two baggies (less than 20 grams) from his vehicle. The appropriate action was taken for the violation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Roberson was on land patrol and saw three individuals fishing next to a bridge. He contacted the individuals and found one in possession of three undersized sheepshead and one undersized redfish. All undersized fish were seized, and the individual was issued a notice to appear.
Officer Roberson was on land patrol at Brown’s Fish Camp on the Yellow River when he saw a fishing kayak come to the boat ramp. Officer Roberson contacted the individual and found him in possession two legal sized redfish, one over the bag limit. The appropriate citations were issued.
Santa Rosa county officers arrested two large groups of people for the unlawful take of saw palmetto berries inside the Eglin Wildlife Management Area. FWC officers arrested 11 persons and seized 14 large bags of berries. The subjects were transported to jail and interviews with some of the individuals strengthened suspicions that human-trafficking was taking place. Immigration Customs Enforcement officials were contacted to assist with the investigation.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Week Starts With Increased Rain Chances
October 14, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
October 14, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road/C.R. 184) to Atmore Highway (State Road /S.R. 97) – Northbound motorists may encounter day and nighttime lane closures on U.S. 29 as crews continue paving operations. Northbound and southbound traffic may encounter intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews perform median work. Motorists are reminded to watch for crews and heavy equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A)– Drivers will experience the following impacts to traffic Sunday, Sept. 13 through Saturday, Oct. 19:
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating east and westbound lane shifts as crews construct the new southbound bridge, end bend, and center pier.
- U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and 9 ½ Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
- U.S. 98 Resurfacing from S.R. 298 (Lillian Highway) to west of S.R. 173 (Blue Angel Parkway)- There will be intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 13 through Friday, Oct. 18 as crews stripe the roadway.
- · U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge) Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Oct. 13.
- · S.R. 296 (Bayou Boulevard) Driveway Modifications at the intersection of Ninth Avenue- The eastbound, right lane on Bayou Boulevard at the intersection of Ninth Avenue will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 as crews remove a driveway and install curb and sidewalk.
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- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · S.R. 10A (Scenic Highway) Driveway Operations near the intersection of Northpointe Parkway- Southbound traffic on Scenic Highway will encounter lane restrictions near the intersection of Northpointe Parkway from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 as crews construct a driveway connection, install new curb and sidewalk.
- · 9th Avenue Utility Operations at the intersection of Cervantes Street- There will be intermittent lane restrictions on 9th Avenue at the intersection of Cervantes Street from 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 to 5 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 as utility crews replace a power pole.
- · C.R. 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- All piles have been driven for the new bridge and pile caps formed and poured for Bent 2 and 3. Crews continue forming the cap for Bent 1 in preparation to pour concrete. Traffic will remain shifted to the north onto the special detour until the new bridge is constructed and reopened to traffic.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek- Construction activities continue. The roadway is temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Oct. 13.
- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays between Nicholas Lake Road and Vonnie Tolbert Road from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday until Tuesday, Dec. 31 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
October 14, 2019
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings this week:
Monday, October 14
Administrative Assistant – Fire Rescue Interviews – 8 a.m., 6575 N. W St.
Marine Advisory – 5:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Tuesday, October 15
Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission – 10 a.m., 418 W. Garden St.
FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors – 1 p.m., 418 W. Garden St.
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Human Relations Commission Director Position Review – 2 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Wednesday, October 16
Board of Adjustment – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Value Adjustment Board Hearings – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Escambia County Disability Awareness Committee – 3 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Thursday, October 17
Board of County Commissioners Public Forum – 8:30 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
BCC Regular Meeting – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
NorthEscambia.com file photo.