Former Gulf Breeze Mayor, CTA Boss Ed Gray Sentenced To Prison
August 24, 2021
Former Gulf Breeze Mayor Edward “Ed” Merrill Gray III has been sentenced to five years in state prison for secretly recording teen boys in his shower.
He will be on community control — house arrest — for two years after his release from prison. That will be followed by three years probation.
In September 2020, agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Gray on eight counts of video voyeurism, one count of interception of oral communication and the misdemeanor charges of stalking and installation of a tracking device. In July, Gray pleaded no contest to the charges.
Gray is the former mayor of Gulf Breeze and was later employed by the City of Gulf Breeze as executive director of the Capital Trust Agency (CTA). Century serves as a second signature for CTA. Gray’s arrest was not related to his government service, and he resigned from CTA prior to his arrest.
Gray allegedly made secret video recordings of teen boys inside his home and allegedly stalked them using a GPS tracker.
An 18-year male that did various jobs around Gray’s home told Gulf Breeze Police that he located a video camera concealed in a shoebox in the master bedroom closet where he had changed clothes multiple time prior to showering in the past year. Gulf Breeze Police handed the investigation off to FDLE.
The victim told FDLE investigators that Gray became more controlling and intruded in his personal life by tracking his movements. He said in one incident, Gray located him at a park in Pensacola and believed he was tracking him through his phone. In another incident, the victim said he told Gray he was home sick, but Gray confronted him on the phone and told him that he knew he was at a friend’s home.
Gray told FDLE that the hidden camera was initially turned on to watch an air conditioning repair man, but he decided to turn it back on because he was suspicious that the teen was possibly sexting in his master bedroom. He eventually admitted that the recording did capture the victim undressing, according to an arrest affidavit.
FDLE executed a search warrant at Gray’s home on August 3, with FDLE seizing devices with eight videos that captured four males nude or undressing in Gray’s master bedroom. A majority of the videos showed Gray starting the camera prior to individuals coming into the bathroom. The victims have all been identified by authorities. FDLE also located about 160 screenshots showing GPS locations, and they said he had installed a tracker on at least one victim’s vehicle.
At least one of the victims was 17-years old.
Top: NorthEscambia.com photo.
Convicted Felon With Possible Ties To Walnut Hill Surrenders On Child Sex Abuse Charge
August 24, 2021
A convicted felon wanted for child sexual abuse in Escambia County, Alabama, has surrendered to authorities.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office said 41-year old Thomas Benjamin Davis turned himself in Tuesday on charges of felony sexual abuse of a child less than 12-years old and for failure to appear.
On August 18, ESCO-AL asked for the public’s help in locating Davis, saying he has ties to Walnut Hill and Brewton.
Davis was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton at 1:56 p.m. Tuesday. He is being held without bond.
Attempted Murder Suspect Has Turned Himself In
August 24, 2021
UPDATE: THIS SUSPECT HAS TURNED HIMSELF INTO AUTHORITIES.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has named a suspect in an attempted homicide in mid August.
Cordeal Nikitia Hawthorne, 35, was wanted for attempted murder and is considered armed and dangerous.
On August 14, the ECSO responded to the 3700-block of Mobile Highway in reference to a shooting victim.
Once on scene, deputies located a male victim in his 50s with multiple gunshot wounds lying in the roadway. Deputies rendered aid until EMS arrived. The victim was transported to an area hospital.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620, Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP, or 911.
Homicide Investigation Underway After Man Found Dead In Car Off Blue Angel Parkway
August 24, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a homicide.
About 6:20 p.m. Monday, ECSO deputies responded to a man down call in the 10000 block of North Loop Road off Blue Angel Parkway.
Once on scene, deputies discovered a 33-year-old male victim deceased with one gunshot wound. He was found sitting in the driver’s seat of a brown Chevrolet Malibu. The engine to the car was still running.
ECSO investigators are looking for anyone who may have witnessed this crime.
If you have any information about this incident, call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Man Charged With Home Burglary, Attempted Burglary Of Byrneville Community Center Arrested After Manhunt
August 24, 2021
A Flomaton man is facing charges after the alleged attempted burglary of the Byrneville Community Center and a home before leading deputies on a manhunt in Byrneville.
Tristan Lee Bell, 24, was charged attempted burglary of an unoccupied structure, burglary of an occupied dwelling, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported open door or window at the community center. They arrived to observe a white male wearing an orange shirt standing outside the building. Deputies noted two window screens had been removed from two windows of the community center.
Bell picked up a gray backpack and took off running into a wooded area on the west side of Byrneville Road, according to an arrest report. A deputy that entered the woods reported finding the backpack, a screwdriver, cutting pliers, Bell’s wallet, his phone and an orange t-shirt that was wrapped around a sunglasses case that contained methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
A deputy spotted Bell exit the wooded area without a shirt and run south on Byrneville Road before he entered another wooded area. When K-9 deputies arrived on scene, Bell was seen running south on Byrneville Road in the area of McBride Road. As officers were setting up a perimeter, they were informed that someone was breaking into a residence in the 1000 block of Byrneville Road.
A responding deputy captured Bell as he allegedly ran from the corner of the residence, about a mile and half from the community center.
The occupant of the home told deputies he did not notice anything was going on because of a hearing difficulty.
According to the ECSO, the blade on the screwdriver recovered from Bell matched the pry marks on the windows at the Byrneville Community Center.
Bell remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set ta $9,500.
New Look, New Uniforms Coming For The Tate High School Showband Of The South
August 24, 2021
UPDATE: The purchase has been updated to 250 each of marching coats, bibber trousers, and Aussie hats; and 12 drum major coats and 12 drum major Aussie hats.
A new look is coming next year for the Tate High School Showband of the South.
The new band uniforms from Fruhauf Uniforms in Wichita, Kansas, are expected to arrive next spring.
The band will receive 300 bibber trousers, 300 marching coats, 300 Aussie hats and uniform management software. The total cost approved by Escambia County School Board was $97,764, based upon current band membership. Of that, $28,000 will come from the district’s general fund, and the $69,764 will balance will be paid from school internal accounts.
Photos courtesy Casey Dull Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New RV Park Planned For Neal Road
August 24, 2021
A Molino woman is proposing to build an RV park on Neal Road in Cantonment.
If approved by the Escambia County Development Review Committee, the Magnolia RV Park will have 24 spaces will have septic tank service, water and electrical, according to an application filed by property owner Clorinda Baker. The access driveway will be concrete, while on-site driveways and RV spaces will be gravel.
The project will also include a 1,716 square foot building with an office, laundry, showers and bathrooms.
The Magnolia RV Park will be located on the north side of Neal Road, just west of Highway 95A on an 8.69 acre parcel. Plans call for 8.2 acres to be disturbed, with nine of 26 protected trees removed.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Deputies Believe Blackwater River Drowning Was Accidental
August 24, 2021
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office believes a Milton man drowned accidentally in he Blackwater River Sunday afternoon.
EMS found 40-year old Joseph Michael Rollo, 40, unconscious about 1:45 near Deaton Bridge. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Deputies said there were no indications of foul play, and they waiting for autopsy results to rule out any underlying health factors.
“It is believed the victim unintentionally fell into the water while on the river,” SRSO Public Information Officer Sgt. Rich Aloy said.
Motorcyclist Killed On Pensacola Bay Bridge
August 23, 2021
A motorcyclist was killed Monday night in a crash on the Pensacola Bay Bridge.
The motorcycle reported crashed into the rear of a construction vehicle as traffic cones were being placed in preparation for overnight lane closures and work on the bridge.
The name of the motorcyclist was not released Monday night.
The crash closed both north and southbound lanes on the bridge.
One Charged After Armed Robbery At Atmore Walmart
August 23, 2021
A woman was arrested shortly after the armed robbery of the Atmore Walmart Monday afternoon.
The armed robbery was reported about 3:15 p.m. at the store on North Main Street.
“Walmart officials said a female walked up to the service desk and advised the cashier she was armed with a weapon and demanded cash,” Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said. “The female suspect then fled the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.”
Atmore Police Department officers located the suspect in a wooded area behind Oak Hill Cemetery, which is adjacent to the store.
The suspect was identified as 30-year old Therease Antoinette Fletcher of Huntsville Alabama. She was transported to jail on a charge of robbery first degree.
Pictured: The Atmore Walmart Supercenter. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.