Six People Charged In Escambia County Valentine’s Day Drug Bust
February 15, 2020
Six people were busted in a drug operation on Valentine’s Day in Escambia County.
On Friday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and SWAT team executed a search warrant at a home located in the 100 block of Concordia Boulevard. Inside the home, deputies found 984.8 grams of spice, 13.6 grams of methamphetamine, and small amounts of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine. Deputies also located a firearm and $3,671 dollars in cash.
Jacob Brill, Kathleen Taylor, and Sarah Cox were arrested and charged with trafficking in synthetic cannabinoids, possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine.
Russo Vincent was arrested and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, trafficking in synthetic cannabinoids, possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine.
Josey Brill and Faith Custer were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Photos: Jim Allen Elementary Holds Valentine’s Day Heart Run
February 15, 2020
Jim Allen Elementary School held their annual Heart Run on Valentine’s Day Friday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flags Fly At Half Staff In Florida To Mark Parkland Shooting Anniversary
February 15, 2020
Friday was Marjory Stoneman Douglas Remembrance Day in Florida.
The day marked two years since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags flown at half staff at all government buildings in the state.
Pictured: The flag at half staff on Friday at Bratt Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Man Found Shot To Death In Escambia County Front Yard
February 14, 2020
A man found shot to death in a front yard in Escambia County Friday morning has been identified as 33-year old Tony Grandison, Jr.
Grandison’s roommate came home to find Grandison in the yard about 6:30 a.m. near Brook Meadow Lane and Winodee Road, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s OFfice. Shell casings were also found nearby.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation.
Photos by Mac McAllister WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rigby Road Bridge Closed For Repairs; Photos Show Conditions Under Bridge
February 14, 2020
Rigby Road in Bratt was closed Thursday for repairs to the bridge over Beaver Dam Creek.
The wood piling bridge constructed in 1965 is expected to be closed for about two weeks.
Photographs taken under the 75-foot long bridge Thursday afternoon showed obvious deterioration on a piling (pictured below) and a jack supporting the middle of the bridge (above). It was not known if the jack was in place prior to the closure, or if it was a sign of work that was already underway.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Grand Theft From Business On His Street
February 14, 2020
A 69-year old Molino man is charged with stealing two air compressors from a business just down the street from his home.
Winfred Arnold Sims, 69, was charged with felony grand theft, dealing in stolen property and criminal mischief with property damage.
Sims allegedly stole two 60-gallon air compressors valued at a total of $1,300 from a business on Omega Drive in Molino. On January 10, the business discovered that wires were cut and the compressors were missing from the outside of the building.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Sims, who lives just two houses away, contacted him multiple times asking if he had any leads about the missing compressors. The victim told deputies that he believed Sims was involved in the theft because they had a previous dispute, according to an arrest report.
The ECSO met with an individual that allegedly purchased the air compressors from Sims, and found them to be a match, according to the report. Deputies said the cut electrical cords on the air compressors matched the cords at the shop in Molino, and a broken part found at the scene of the crime also matched.
Sims told deputies that he “knew nothing about any air compressors nor had he had any air compressors to sell”, the arrest report says.
Sims was released from the Escambia County Jail on $8,500 bond.
Gary Amerson Of Bratt Named Cybersecurity Center Director At Auburn University At Montgomery
February 14, 2020
Gary Amerson of Bratt has been selected as the inaugural director of the Center for Cyber Security at Auburn University at Montgomery after an extensive national search.
Amerson has a strong functional background in cybersecurity in both industry and federal settings. He is joining AUM from the Naval Education and Training Command where he was the head of the Operational Cyber Security Support Branch at Saufley Field. At Saufley, he was responsible for the security and availability of training networks and complex transformation goals on three continents.
In addition to his operational cyber experience, Amerson has taught cybersecurity classes at Bellevue University, Nebraska, for twelve years and was instrumental in the evolution of their program.
Before retiring from the Air Force, he also wrote curriculum as the first superintendent of training at the schoolhouse for aircrew training for nine unique crew positions.
“I was drawn to AUM by the amazing growth AUM has demonstrated, especially over the last three years,” Amerson said. “U.S. News & World Report rankings continue to go up in multiple categories, and I want to see us recognized for our cyber program next. I can’t wait to help build on the growth already in place and I look forward to creating new, exciting opportunities for AUM students, both in the classroom and in the community.”
Amerson earned a bachelor’s degree in business information systems with information security concentration from Bellevue University in 2005 and a master’s degree in management information systems with a cybersecurity concentration from Bellevue University in 2008. He also became a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) in 2010.
‘You Came To Help My Dad’ – Valentine’s For Local Heroes At The Library
February 14, 2020
“You came to help my dad,” one child said after handing a hand-colored page to a fireman Thursday night at the Century Branch Library.
Children colored and made giant Valentine’s cards for local heroes from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS during the program.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
UWF Holds First-Ever Mardi Gras Parade
February 14, 2020
The University of West Florida host its first-ever Mardi Gras Parade Thursday.
The festivities kicked off with a parade pre-party before 26 parade units, including the national championship Argo football team, wound their way around the campus.
Organizer said the parade was a success, and it will become an annual UWF tradition.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets Nearly 30 Years For Sexual Abuse Of Child
February 14, 2020
An Escambia County man will spend nearly three decades in prison for the sexual abuse of a child.
Jason James Vazquez, 40, was sentenced by Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford to 29 years after he entered a plea to four counts of sexual battery while in the position of familial or custodial authority, two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation, and three counts of battery. Vazquez was designated a sexual predator and will be required to register as a sexual predator and comply with all statutory
requirements.
In May 2019, the 14-year old child disclosed to a family member that Vazquez had been abusing her for several years. Tthe Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Gulf Coast Kid’s House launched an investigation that led to Vazquez’s arrest.