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Man Arrested For Lewd Act Near Cantonment Bus Stop 11 Days After Jail Release For Sex Crime
February 28, 2026
An Escambia County man was arrested on Friday for a lewd act near a Cantonment school bus stop, just 11 days after he was released from jail for another sex crime.
Errice Lewis Rutledge, 36, was charged with indecent exposure and lewd and lascivious behavior in the presence of a victim under the age of 16.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a juvenile and their mother witnessed Rutledge perform a lewd act not far from a school bus stop on Milestore Boulevard. He was arrested walking into a thrift store on Nine Mile Road a short time later.
“These are felony charges as a result of a similar arrest and conviction in December of 2025,” the ECSO said in a statement.
In 2025, Rutledge was convicted of exposure of sexual organs after he was caught pleasing himself in the lobby of Dunkin’ Donuts on Nine Mile Road while in public view of a 3-year-old child under age 16 and three adults. He was sentenced to 364 days in jail with 179 days credit for time served. He was released from jail on February 16, just 11 days before Friday’s alleged school bus stop incident.
According to jail and court records, Rutledge has been arrested 21 other times in Escambia County since 2010 on a multitude of charges.
Comments
9 Responses to “Man Arrested For Lewd Act Near Cantonment Bus Stop 11 Days After Jail Release For Sex Crime”
The best way to stop these sick people is castration; prison never seems to help but will keep them off our streets.
The Baker Act, officially known as the Florida Mental Health Act of 1971, is a law in the U.S. state of Florida that allows certain professionals—such as doctors, mental health practitioners, judges, and law enforcement officers—to detain and involuntarily commit individuals to a mental health facility for up to 72 hours. This action can be taken if there is evidence of violent or suicidal behavior associated with a severe mental health condition or if the individual is at significant risk of harm due to an inability to care for themselves. The act requires that the person be deemed unwilling or unable to voluntarily seek evaluation on their own.
Chapter 397 of the Florida Statutes is known as the “Hal S. Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act of 1993″. It provides for the involuntary or voluntary assessment and stabilization of a person allegedly abusing substances like drugs or alcohol and provides for treatment of substance abuse.
The circuit courts have jurisdiction of involuntary treatment petitions for substance abuse impaired persons.
Let’s put a person away for needing to expose themselves in front of children. Unfortunately, our lazy prosecutors and weak judges throw the trash back out in the streets for other children to be victimized.
@EricM. Work with EC a bit longer and you’ll be able to see again. It’s been far too long that Escambia has ignored and bypassed the mental health issues here. Lakeview does nothing but detain people. It’s a joke. The Judicial system isn’t much better slapping these criminals on the hands EVEN WHEN THEY’RE HABITUAL! It is a revolving door and that’s ALL it is. So no brownie points for you today, Eric. I have so much respect for our Law Enforcement. They don’t deserve having to deal with this nonsense and these habitual creatures over and over and over.
@susie, and anyone else:
Stop blaming the county. This man has a family that could have forced mental health treatments, whether it’s actually a mental health issue or drugs, we have the Marchman and Baker Act. His family ignores the problems and xhose not to have him committed. They chose to allow this criminally insane person to terrorize the community.
So blame his family 1st. Blame those who knew him 2nd. The problem is, too may people in the community expect big daddy government to be the family patriarch. Problems start at home and should be handled at home, period.
At what time does a judge realize someone who commits the same or similar crimes over an extended period needs more severe punishment? 21 arrests over 16 years should be a sign that this behavior will continue and rehabilitation may not be possible.
This individual clearly has mental health issues and our County CLEARLY doesn’t have a clue how to handle it. They never have!
Well, just bring him on in and talk to him. Just make sure he says he won’t do it again. I’m sure he will promise. SMH
Obviously this man didn’t learn his s lesson the first 21 times! Maybe 22 will be the difference? SMH literally shaking my head!!!! Is he getting off again this time? He appears to not be well?