Man Convicted Of Kidnapping, Raping Woman In Escambia County
February 29, 2020
A jury took less than an hour Friday to find an Escambia County man guilty of a kidnapping and raping a woman.
Joshua Edwards was convicted of sexual battery, kidnapping and two counts of carjacking. He is a member of a the “Aryan Brotherhood Gang”, a white supremacist prison gang, leading law enforcement to believe the crimes against an African American woman were racially motivated.
The victim was kidnapped from a Circle K at the intersection of New Warrington Road and Jackson Street in March 2019. He forced the woman at gunpoint to drive into Lillian, Alabama, where he raped her. They returned to Escambia County where the woman intentionally crashed the vehicle into trees. Edwards raped her again on benches at Bill Dickson Park on Fenceline Road.
Edwards stole another car from a nearby home and was later spotted at the Walmart on Blue Angel Parkway. He was taken into custody in a wooded area behind a nearby Verizon store.
Edwards will sentenced on March 11.
Escambia Fire, EMS Visit Camp Fire Century Kids
February 29, 2020
Escambia County EMS and Escambia County EMS paid a visit Friday to the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center. The children had the opportunity to get inside an ambulance and learn about firefighters and what they do. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Of Dogs Showing At The Escambia Equestrian Center Saturday And Sunday
February 29, 2020
The Escambia County Equestrian Center in Beulah is going to the dogs.
The Pensacola Dog Fanciers Association (PDFA) and Florida-Alabama Toy Breeds Club will hold American Kennel Club (AKC) dog shows at the center on Saturday and Sunday.
The six-hour AKC shows, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and 8:00 a.m. Sunday will include conformation, featuring some of the dogs seen at the Westminster show, and obedience, including the newest obedience trials,. Those events required early entry, but other events have different cut offs and are open to any breed of dog, including mixed breeds.
Event: AKC Dog Show and obedience/rally trials
By reservation: CGC testing on Saturday Info: (850-291-2700)
When: Feb 29 – 9 am Sat and 8:30 am Sunday, Mar 1.
Where: Escambia County Equestrian Center 7750 Mobile Hwy, Pensacola
Admission: $5 car
Contact: http://www.pensacoladogs.org/showpage.htm
Pictured top: Debbie Petty of Cantonment, one of the top obedience title holders in Northwest Florida, shows her Labrador Retriever “Breeze” in 2019. File photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Night Of No-Hitters: Northview Sweeps Two From Laurel Hill; Pine Forest Gets Win Over Tate
February 29, 2020
The Northview Chiefs swept Laurel Hill Friday night with two no-hitter wins, and Pine Forest had a no-hitter against Tate.
Northview 10, Laurel Hill 0
Bradley Freeman threw a no-hitter as the Northview Chiefs beat Laurel Hill 10-0 Friday night. He went for five innings in the run-rule shortened game, with no hits, no runs and sitting down 12.
Bryne Korinchak and Ben Wilson had two hits each for the Chiefs. Northview also had hits from Jamarkus Jefferson, Adam Aliff, Logal English and Kaden Odom.
Northview 12, Laurel Hill 0 (JV)
Clay Allen tossed a no-hitter as the Northview Chiefs shut out the Hoboes of Laurel Hill 12-0 Friday.
The Chiefs opened with nine runs in the bottom of the first.
Northview had two runs each from Joshua Zisa and Shaun Tingstrom, and one run each from Luke Bridges, Cameron Patrick, Clay Allen, Joshua Landis, Trenton Knighten, Payton Gilliam and Braeden McGhee.
Pine Forest 2, Tate 0
The Pine Forest Eagles threw a no-hitter as they defeated Tate 2-0 Friday night.
Cole Fryman took the loss for the Aggies, going four and two-thirds innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out eight. Darrien McDowell pitched two-thirds of an inning, striking out one.
Pictured: Tate vs. Pine Forest Friday nigt. NorthEscambia.com photo by Crystal Tolbert, click to enlarge.
Shots Fired Call In Canoe, AL, Ends With Six Arrests, No Evidence Of Gunfire
February 28, 2020
A shots fired call in Canoe, AL, just north of the Florida state line ended with six arrests Friday afternoon, but no evidence was immediately found of a shot actually being fired, according to Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks.
Two Atmore Police officers responded the area of Canoe Road near Highway 31 where several males claimed they had been shot at. During questioning, a juvenile provided a wrong name to officers and was arrested for the offense, Brooks said. After being taken into custody, the juvenile damaged the rear windows of a police vehicle in an unspecified manner and was charged with criminal mischief third degree.
As the juvenile was being arrested, the his mother drove up an got into an argument with a resident, he said
Officers instructed the female to stop arguing with the neighbor and come to their location,” the police chief said. “The female refused to cooperate and became extremely belligerent with officers. Officers
arrested the female for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. While arresting the female, the officers were charged by the other males that were being detained. The officers on scene at that time
called for additional police officers to assist.”
Additional officers from the Atmore and Poach police department responded and more arrests were made. No officers were injured.
Further details including names and charges have not been released as Atmore Police continue their original shots fired complaint.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Atmore Police Department at (251) 368-9141.
Pictured: An officer stands by with a vehicle reportedly driven by a woman that resisted officers Friday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Man Wanted For Questioning In Recent Escambia County Homicide
February 28, 2020
UPDATE: Jaquarius Akiria Donaldson has been located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man wanted for questioning only in connection with a recent homicide.
The ECSO wants to talk to 21-year old Jaquarius Akiria Donaldson about the February 26 murder in the 2400 block of North Baylen Street.
The shooting happened on Baylen Street near Scott Street. As deputies were on the way to the shooting scene, the gunshot victim showed up at a local hospital where he died.
Anyone with information about Donaldson is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 436-9620 or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620. He is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
Arrest Warrant Issued For Man For Killing His Half-Sister In 2017; Her Body Was Found Buried In Jay
February 28, 2020
An arrest warrant has been issued for man wanted in the murder of woman whose body was found in a shallow grave behind a home east of Jay in 2018, Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson announced during a news conference Friday morning.
The warrant charges Jerry Savoy Phillips Jr. with the murder of his half-sister, 38-year old Felicia Kuswandy. Her remains were found buried behind a home in the 7700 block of HIghway 4 on December 14, 2018.
Johnson said an investigation determined she was murdered on November 12, 2017.
Phillips has not yet been formally charged. He is in prison in Alabama on November 2018 narcotics conviction out of Escambia County (AL) and is expected to be released as early as October 23. The warrant for an open count of murder will be served at that time.
Johnson declined to comment on a possible motive or Kuswandy’s cause of death until after the warrant is served.
Student Arrested For Alleged Hit List Targeting Students At Ernest Ward Middle School
February 28, 2020
An Ernest Ward Middle School student has been arrested for an alleged hit list threatening other students last week.
Thursday afternoon, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest but did not release the student’s name.
After writing the hit list naming other students that would be targeted, the student then reported that she found the note and turned it into school officials, leading to an investigation that delayed the departure of buses from the school on February 21.
“The evidence shows that the student that brought the note to the attention of the school was the person that created it,” ECSO Maj. Andrew Hobbs said following the incident.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Sunshine And 60s Into The Weekend
February 28, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia are forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Light southwest wind becoming west 10 to 15 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 65. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Breezy.
Tuesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
Fire Destroys Century-Old Church
February 28, 2020
Fire destroyed a century-old church about seven miles north of Flomaton Thursday night, and the Alabama State Fire Marshal was called to investigate.
The two story wooden church was fully involved and had mostly collapsed when firefighters arrived on scene about 9:40 p.m. Flames from the estimated 10,000 square foot structure on Pineview Cemetery Road and Pine Street were visible for miles.
A sign next to the building identified the church as Cross Road Church. Community residents said only a small group of people attended the church, and they were unsure if the congregation was still active. They said the church was believed to be between 100 and 120 years old.
There were no injuries reported from the fire.
The Pineview, Barnett Crossroads, Lambeth, McCall, Friendship and Flomaton fire departments from Alabama, the Century and McDavid stations of Escambia (FL) Fire Rescue, MedStar EMS and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office responded.
Pictured top: Fire rages through an old wooden church north of Flomaton Thursday night (photo for NorthEscambia.com). Pictured below: Firefighters battle the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
