Suspect Drowns In River After Fleeing From Santa Rosa Deputies
July 23, 2026
A search for a wanted suspect ended tragically when he drowned in the Blackwater River, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began on the evening of Tuesday, July 21, when deputies attempted to serve multiple felony arrest warrants in the 6800 block of Pat Brown Road off Munson Highway. The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Jeffery Royce Day Jr, fled from deputies on foot and entered the Blackwater River. Law enforcement personnel witnessed Day swimming away before losing sight of him.
An extensive, multi-agency search was immediately launched Tuesday night. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Skyline Fire Rescue, and the Milton Fire Department assisted in the initial search but were unable to locate him.
Search efforts resumed Wednesday morning, with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Marine Dive Unit joining the operation. At approximately 11:30 a.m., divers located Day’s body in the river.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit has assumed the investigation into the death.
According to authorities, the felony warrants that deputies were attempting to serve on Day included violation of probation for willful fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, and grand theft of property valued between $750 and $5,000.
Sunshine Returns For Thursday
July 23, 2026
Tropical Storm Bertha has moved on, making landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday. Sunshine returns for our Thursday and continues into the weekend.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest in the evening.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. West wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 78.
Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 78.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Texas Women Charged In Escambia County Retail Theft Spree
July 23, 2026
A Texas duo’s Florida vacation took a sudden detour straight to the county jail following an alleged multi-store shoplifting spree on Wednesday.
Kimberly Nichole Brown, 26, and Mercedes Lasha Bingham, 25, both of Houston, Texas, were arrested by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies and charged with felony retail theft and possession of marijuana.
Patrol deputies and a license plate reader located their rental vehicle near Highway 29 and Brent Lane.
Deputies conducted a traffic stop, and the stealing spree came to an immediate end.
“Pro tip: If you’re visiting Escambia County, leave with sunscreen and souvenirs, not felony charges,” the ECSO noted in a public statement following the arrests.
Both women were booked into the Escambia County Jail with bonds set at $3,000 each.
FDLE Arrests Escambia Man For Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Materials
July 23, 2026
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested an Escambia County man for child sexual abuse materials.
Robert Demarcus King II, 35, is facing 20 counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), all second degree felonies, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device, a third degree felony. The arrest is part of FDLE’s statewide initiative to identify and apprehend offenders who target children and share files depicting child sexual abuse.
In June 2026, agents received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), reporting that an unknown user uploaded over 1,500 files containing images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Agents traced the associated IP address to King’s residence and identified King as the user of the account.
Agents conducted a residential search warrant at King’s address and seized multiple electronic devices, which were previewed on scene. King was confirmed as the owner of the suspect account, having used a mobile messaging app to obtain the files. Some of those files depicted female children as young as toddlers being sexually abused.
King was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $240,000.
FDLE’s Special Operations Team, the Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations assisted with the search warrant.
Blue Wahoos Breeze To 3-1 Win Over Clingstones
July 23, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Columbus Clingstones by a final score of 3-1 on Wednesday night behind consistent bats and tactical pitching performances.
The Blue Wahoos (47-43, 11-10) claimed the first game of the series after Tuesday’s game was postponed due to weather. Pensacola improved to 9-4 over the Clingstones (42-44, 13-9) this season with the win tonight.
A 10-hit night yielded three runs for the home side, with all but one Blue Wahoo recording a knock. Pensacola was led at the plate by the newly-acquired Ethan O’Donnell, who went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. It was his first three-hit performance of the 2026 season after spending a majority of the year with Triple-A Jacksonville.
Brandon Compton continues to provide the power for Pensacola, mashing his ninth home run in 15 games in the sixth inning. He leads all minor leaguers in the Marlins system with 21 home runs, having managed 12 with High-A Beloit prior to his promotion.
A trio of consecutive singles in the second inning saw the Blue Wahoos on the board first, with Ryan Ignoffo scoring on a drive into left field by Payton Green.
Pensacola starter Luis Moreno (W, 5-4) kept the Clingstones scoreless through five innings, allowing only four hits and one walk while striking out four. The Blue Wahoos extended their lead in the fifth with an Ian Lewis Jr. single into center field that pushed O’Donnell home from second base. Columbus starter Julio Robaina (L, 2-3) was saddled with the loss.
Columbus cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth with an RBI groundout from Jordan Groshans, but it’d be answered immediately with a first-pitch solo home run by none other than Compton in the bottom of the frame to establish a 3-1 edge that the Blue Wahoos would defend through the ninth.
Relievers Holt Jones and Colby Martin (S, 5) defended well after Moreno exited in the fifth, delivering two innings each to combine for two hits and six strikeouts with just a run relented.
In the interest of fan safety amid high coastal winds, the Blue Wahoos were unable to shoot fireworks after Wednesday’s game as originally planned. Fans with tickets to Wednesday’s game can visit the box office for a voucher to one of the five remaining fireworks games on July 25, August 5, August 8, August 22 or September 12.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series with a doubleheader against the Columbus Clingstones on Thursday.
written by Maddy Branning
Molino Utilities Issues Boil Water Notice For Portion Of Highway 95A
July 22, 2026
Update: This boil water notice was lifted the morning of Friday, July 24.
Molino Utilities has issued a precautionary boil water notice is in effect for a portion of Highway 95A between Schaag Road and Cedartown Road.
Crews were working Wednesday afternoon to restore water service following a water main break.
Precautionary boil water notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Residents located in the specified area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible.
Residents within the area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.
Pensacola Police Arrest Final Suspect In July 5 Downtown Shooting That Killed One, Injured Six
July 22, 2026
The Pensacola Police Department has made its final arrest in connection with a July 5 downtown shooting that claimed one life and injured six others.
PPD said early Wednesday afternoon that 17-year-old Marley Foster has been charged with possession of a weapon by a Florida delinquent and firing a weapon in public.
A round from Foster’s weapon did strike one individual, who suffered non-life threatening injuries. The victim declined to press charges.
“This investigation is coming to a close, and we do not anticipate any further charges being filed,” Mike Wood, PPD spokesman, said.
The suspected gunman who fired the fatal shot in a Fourth of July weekend mass shooting in downtown Pensacola died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on July 16 as law enforcement officers attempted to serve a warrant.
Police said they were attempting to serve a manslaughter warrant on 20-year-old Trevon Bradley for the shooting death of Philip Deon Monte Shepard Jr.
U.S. Marshals knocked on the door of a local apartment and announced they had a warrant for Bradley. A female and a child who were inside the apartment were allowed to exit safely, leaving Bradley alone inside. Law enforcement ordered Bradley to come out and surrender, but he refused to comply. Shortly after, gunshots were heard coming from inside the residence.
Officers deployed a remote-controlled camera into the apartment, where they discovered that Bradley had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Pensacola Police noted the investigation into the case is ongoing.
The tragic update follows a complex investigation into the July 5 melee that left Shepard dead and six others injured.
Prior to July 17’s events, police made two other adult arrests in connection with the gunfire. Nicholas Safford, 26, of Daphne, Alabama, is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, firing a weapon in public, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Surveillance video from the scene captured Safford running toward Shepard multiple times and arguing with him before firing a weapon in Shepard’s direction. Ten shell casings recovered at the scene were linked to Safford’s gun. While Safford is accused of firing toward the victims, autopsy results indicated the fatal shot that killed Shepard came from a different angle.
Lillian Meyers, 25, was also arrested in connection with the incident. Surveillance footage showed Meyers taking the handgun from Safford while he was being treated for injuries after the shooting. Meyers later turned the 9mm handgun over to officers at her apartment and was charged with tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact.
Authorities previously arrested a 16-year-old juvenile, Kanye Walker, who is accused of handling the firearm that escalated the confrontation. Surveillance video allegedly showed Walker handing the handgun to Safford during the argument. Walker has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a person under the age of 18 and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Pensacola Police Chief Eric Winstrom previously stated that at least three firearms were discharged during the mass shooting. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to piece together the events of the incident.
Pictured: Safford and Meyers.
Cantonment Man Charged After I-10 Motorcycle Chase
July 22, 2026
A Cantonment man was arrested after allegedly leading state law enforcement on a motorcycle pursuit along Interstate 10 in Escambia County.
Blake Dylan Rasmussen, 23, is facing a felony charge of fleeing or eluding police, along with a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence.
According to an arrest report, an officer with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was traveling westbound on I-100 near the Nine Mile Road exit when a red motorcycle passed on the right. The rider, later identified as Rasmussen, cut off the officer, nearly striking the cruiser’s front corner and the rear passenger side of a nearby vehicle.
The motorcycle was observed swerving across both lanes, causing sparks to fly from underneath the bike. When the officer activated emergency lights and sirens, Rasmussen allegedly refused to pull over, continuing for roughly a mile as the officer attempted to catch up.
The pursuit came to an end at mile marker 3 when Rasmussen attempted to execute a U-turn in the grassy median. The motorcycle tipped over and became stuck in the grass, allowing the officer to detain him.
Following the stop, the Florida Highway Patrol performed a breath alcohol test, which registered samples of 0.127 and 0.119, both of which are over the legal limit.
Rasmussen was released from jail on a $3,500 bond.
Slight Rain Chances Tonight; Sunshine Returning Thursday
July 22, 2026
Tropical Storm Bertha moved into Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon, reducing impacts on our local weather. There is still a high rip current risk at Northwest Florida beaches.
For the latest on Tropical Storm Bertha, click here.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest in the evening.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. West wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 78.
Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 78.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Florida Dept. Of Education May Direct Local School Districts To Address AI
July 22, 2026
The Florida Department of Education is poised to direct all school districts to incorporate rules regarding artificial intelligence in their internet safety guidelines.
DOE will discuss the proposed rule change at a workshop on Aug. 5, according to state documents.
The department is citing Florida laws requiring adherence to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and protecting private student information.
Florida law prevents an “operator” of an internet website “used primarily for K-12 purposes” from knowingly collecting and sharing data on students. That data includes biometric information, disabilities, socioeconomic information, food purchases, political affiliations, religious information, text messages, documents, student identifiers, search activity, photos, voice recordings or geolocation information.
The state Senate attempted to pass an AI Bill of Rights this year, but the measure failed after the House blocked multiple attempts to get it to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.
The proposal called in part for establishing parents’ rights to control children’s interactions with AI chatbots, prohibiting state agencies from contracting with AI firms tied to a “foreign country of concern,” and setting rules about the unauthorized use of people’s names, images or likenesses.
by the News Service of Florida