One On The Run, Two Arrested After Shots Fired, SWAT Standoff On Olive Road
March 27, 2021
Two people are in custody and another is wanted after a series of events at an Olive Road store led to shots fired between deputies and suspects both early Saturday morning and again Saturday afternoon.
Here’s what the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says what happened:
The ECSO responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle parked in the back lot of Blue Angel Groceries on Olive Road and Whitmire Road, near Olive Baptist Church.
When the deputy arrived, he located a suspect sleeping in his vehicle. The deputy observed a handgun and numerous narcotics in plain sight on the floorboard between the suspect’s feet, according to the ECSO.
The deputy woke the suspect and attempted to take him into custody. The suspect exited the vehicle and engaged in two physical altercations with the deputy while attempting to flee on foot. The suspect then returned to his vehicle and reached toward where the firearm was located, forcing the deputy to fire at him.
The suspect escaped on foot. A perimeter was established, but the suspect was not located.
ECSO said a large quantity of narcotics and a firearm were located inside the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect was identified as John Lee Johnson Jr.
There were no injuries reported.
During the investigation, one of the witnesses provided a false identity to investigators. It was determined that the witness, later identified as Hassan Moorer, had active warrants for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, larceny, robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with bodily harm and robbery with a firearm.
ECSO said deputies returned to the Blue Angel Grocery looking for Moorer Saturday afternoon, and they were directed to the back of the open store by an employee. When deputies entered the building and announced their presence, they were met with an individual, who was not Moorer, pointing a firearm in their direction. Deputies fired at the individual and were able to secure the area.
The ECSO SWAT Team was activated and arrived on scene. The individual surrendered and there were no injuries. His name has not been released due to the ongoing investigation into the firearm being pointed at the deputies. Per protocol, the deputies have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
ECSO is still looking for Johnson, who is wanted in connection with the morning incident for battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting with violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm while in commission of a felony, sale/manufacture/deliver cocaine, sale/manufacture/deliver ecstasy, and sale/manufacture/deliver controlled substances.
Moorer was captured Saturday night. He was wanted for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, larceny, robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with bodily harm and robbery with a firearm.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Warm Saturday, Highs Around 80
March 27, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 65.
Rain Chances Continue For Friday, Decrease For Saturday
March 26, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast in the morning.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
34 New COVID-19 Cases, No New Deaths Reported In Escambia County
March 26, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
The Florida Department of Health reported 34 additional COVID-19 cases and no new deaths in Escambia County on Thursday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 34,658 (+34)
Non-Florida residents: 3,588
Recovered: 33,207*
Total deaths: 658
Long-term care facility deaths: 277
Current hospitalizations: 28
Number of tests reported last day: 795
Percent positive reported last day: 4.2%
Percent positive reported last week: 2.7%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 25,837 (+29)
Cantonment: 3,121 (+2)
Century: 1,172 (+1)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 484
McDavid: 208 (+1)
Bellview: 57
Walnut Hill: 53
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 17,673 (+29)
Non-Florida residents: 221
Total deaths: 276
Long-term care facility deaths: 80
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 848*
Number of tests reported last day: 457
Percent positive reported last day: 6.1%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,429 (+34)
Navarre: 3,649 (+10)
Gulf Breeze: 3,277 (+5)
Pace: 1,417 (+5)
Jay: 546 (+1)
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,027,429
Florida residents: 1,989,922
Deaths: 32,957
Hospitalizations: 84,203
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals. Escambia County is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Food Giveaway Saturday In Century
March 25, 2021
Northwest Florida Community Outreach will hold a food distribution Saturday in Century. The drive-thru event will be held from 11 a.m. until noon at the Century Business Center at 130 East Pond Street. File photos.
FDOH Reports No New Deaths, Another 34 COVID-19 Cases
March 25, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
The Florida Department of Health reported no new deaths and 34 additional COVID-19 cases in Escambia County on Wednesday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 34,624 (+34)
Non-Florida residents: 3,587
Recovered: 33,206*
Total deaths: 658
Long-term care facility deaths: 277
Current hospitalizations: 28 (+1)
Number of tests reported last day: 882
Percent positive reported last day: 3.3%
Percent positive reported last week: 2.7%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 25,808 (+28)
Cantonment: 3,119 (+2)
Century: 1,171
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 484
McDavid: 207
Bellview: 57
Walnut Hill: 53
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 17,644 (+28)
Non-Florida residents: 220
Total deaths: 276
Long-term care facility deaths: 80
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 844*
Number of tests reported last day: 411
Percent positive reported last day: 6.6%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,394 (+8)
Navarre: 3,639 (+8)
Gulf Breeze: 3,272 (+5)
Pace: 1,412 (+3)
Jay: 545
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,021,656
Florida residents: 1,984,274
Deaths: 32,850
Hospitalizations: 84,006
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals. Escambia County is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Rain Possible Thursday Night; Wind Advisory In Effect
March 25, 2021
A wind advisory is in effect with winds gusting up to 35 mph.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 67. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Areas of fog before 1pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. North wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Flash Flood Watch Continues, Heavy Rain Possible
March 24, 2021
A flash flood watch continues for the entire area. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 71. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 65. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 78. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
One New COVID-19 Death, 24 New Cases Reported In Escambia County
March 24, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
The Florida Department of Health reported one new death and 24 additional COVID-19 cases in Escambia County on Tuesday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 34,590 (+24)
Non-Florida residents: 3,583
Recovered: 33,204*
Total deaths: 658 (+1)
Long-term care facility deaths: 277
Current hospitalizations: 23
Number of tests reported last day: 629
Percent positive reported last day: 3.5%
Percent positive reported last week: 2.7%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 25,780 (+24)
Cantonment: 3,117
Century: 1,171
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 484
McDavid: 207
Bellview: 57
Walnut Hill: 53
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 17,616 (+24)
Non-Florida residents: 220
Total deaths: 276
Long-term care facility deaths: 80
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 841*
Number of tests reported last day: 401
Percent positive reported last day: 5.9%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,394 (+8)
Navarre: 3,639 (+8)
Gulf Breeze: 3,272 (+5)
Pace: 1,412 (+3)
Jay: 545
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,016,513
Florida residents: 1,979,240
Deaths: 32,820
Hospitalizations: 83,804
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals. Escambia County is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Commission To Consider Body Camera Purchase For ECSO, Funding Plan
March 23, 2021
The Escambia County Commission is considering the purchase of body cameras for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and a funding plan has been developed to cover the costs for the next three years.
In January, Sheriff Chip Simmons followed through on a campaign pledge and asked commissioners for $912,727 to purchase body cameras for his deputies.
“Every day that we do not have body cameras, there’s one thing that could take place that could come up and embarrass the Sheriff’s Office, could embarrass the county,” Simmons said. “I just think that this is that important — too important for us to delay it.”
Commissioners decided in January to revisit the issue in March, and now there’s a roadmap for the purchase..
The proposed funding schedule is as follows:
- In fiscal year 2021, purchase 268 body worn cameras to equip all patrol officers
- In fiscal year 2022, the Sheriff’s Office operating budget will increase $250,000 per year for four new positions to support administration, monitoring and data storage related to the cameras
- In fiscal year 2023, it is anticipated an additional $50,000 per year will be required for additional storage
CARES Act funds would be used to purchase the body cameras to equip all patrol officers. The purchase will outfit all deputies, and the equipment will sync will existing vehicle cameras. Warranties and software as needed will also be included in the purchase price.
The commission is expected to vote on the plan at a meeting Thursday morning.