Two Facing Charges After Fleeing Driver Crashes Into Deputy’s Vehicle On West Roberts Road
August 18, 2021
Two people are facing charges after a vehicle fled from deputies Tuesday afternoon and later crashed into an unmarked sheriff’s cruiser.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle but the driver fled. About 3:45 p.m., the vehicle was located in the area of West Roberts Road. The driver attempted to flee again, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, and struck the unmarked ECSO unit at West Roberts Road and Millet Circle.
“When he came out (of Millet Circle), he ran a stop sign and struck an unmarked,” ECSO Commander Andrew Hobbs said. “A large amount of marijuana was found in the vehicle.”
Driver Shernard Laron Johnson, 23, was charged with fleeing and eluding with willful disregard for public safety, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and numerous other traffic violations. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $23,000.
The passenger, 18-year old Kadrian Deshon Mathis, was charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $6,000.
There were no injuries reported.
Pictured top: A suspect is taken into custody after a vehicle crashed into an unmarked Escambia County Sheriff’s Office unit Tuesday afternoon on West Roberts Road. Pictured below: The ECSO said a “large amount” of marijuana was found in the suspect vehicle after the crash. Reader submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
This Year’s Jay Peanut Festival Has Been Canceled Due To COVID-19 Concerns
August 18, 2021
The Jay Peanut Festival has been canceled again this year due to COVID-19 concerns.
The Gabbert family made the announcement Tuesday due to concerns over the coronavirus.
“It makes us sad. This is a bad time in history and we pray that we all come out of this in one piece, and soon. We pray that we can have the Peanut Festival in October 2022,” the family said in statement.
“There is no way that we can limit how many people come; it being an outside show with free admission and parking. We can’t control whether people wear a mask or not, or if they get the COVID-19 shot or not. We do not know of any other way to handle this problem,” they stated.
The annual festival was also canceled last year due to the pandemic.
The Jay Peanut Festival dates back to 1990 when the Gabberts started the event in memory of their daughter, Melissa, a 19-year-old who died earlier that year from cancer.
The Jay Peanut Festival at the Gabbert Farm has been a fall tradition on the Gulf Coast, showcasing the history, agriculture, food and fun of Santa Rosa County. What started as a chance for local kids and farmers to show off their best of the season has become an annual event covering 15 acres and drawing about 70,000 people to the Gabbert farm.
The event included tours of the 1930s Farm Museum, food booths, dozens of arts and crafts vendors, pony rides, games and fun. The Jay Peanut Festival was also a chance to try all varieties of peanuts – boiled, green, fried, candied and more.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Man Tried To Lure Juveniles Into Vehicle At An Escambia County Park
August 18, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said two juveniles reported that a man tried to lure them into a vehicle at a park.
An individual driving a newer model sports car approached the juveniles at a park on Quina Way in the Brentwood area. He told them if they got inside the vehicle, they would receive money, ECSO said. The juveniles declined the offer and ran away from the park.
The individual was described as a black male with a short haircut and no facial hair. He was wearing an orange shirt. Deputies searched the area, but were unable to locate the individual or his vehicle.
Anyone with information or that is approached by this vehicle is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or 911 for an emergency.
File photo.
Escambia, Alabama, Man Charged With Trying To Meet Child For Sex. Deputies Were Waiting Instead.
August 18, 2021
An Escambia County, Alabama, man thought he was going to meet a 16-year old for sex, but he was meet by law enforcement.
Blake Thomas Martin, 45, was charged with electronic solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said investigators assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task force received text messages that were meant for an underage child, leading to the undercover operation.
Martin “sent messages asking for sex and even stated that he knew it was illegal to have sex with someone under 16 years old,” said Jackson. “Investigators, posing as the child, agreed to Martins’ request for sex. Martin came to the agreed location and was arrested by investigators immediately.”
A search of Martin’s pockets found three condoms, a breath mint, one Viagra, one oxycodone pill and marijuana, according to the sheriff’s office. A subsequent search warrant executed at Martin’s residence on Keego Road resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine and electronic devices.
Martin remained in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center with bond set at a half million dollars.
EREC Line Crews Help With Power Restoration After Tropical Storm Fred
August 18, 2021
Line crews from Escambia River Electric Cooperative departed before daybreak Tuesday to assist following Tropical Storm Fred.
They worked to help West Florida Electric Cooperative in Calhoun, Florida, restore power to thousands. West Florida Electric reported 10,000 customers without power Monday night. By 10 p.m. Tuesday, all but 814 had been restored.
EREC crew members are Tony Moody, Gary McCaskill, Jonathon Tutt, Tyler Prescott, Brandon Smith and Kyle Strickling.
West Florida Electric and EREC are both served by the same power supplier, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Get Series Opening Win Over Shuckers
August 18, 2021
The Wahoos fended off a late comeback-bid from the Biloxi Shuckers to win Tuesday’s series opener 2-1 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Leading 2-0 in the top of the eighth, turned a two-out error into a potential game-tying rally. After Galli Cribbs mishandled Alexander Palma’s groundball, Andrew Nardi walked back-to-back batters, which loaded the bases for Biloxi. That forced the Wahoos to bring in their closer, Colton Hock (S, 14), for a four-out save. The Shuckers brought in Chad Spanberger to pinch-hit (creating a right-on-left matchup), and he was able to draw a walk, which brought home Hayden Cantrelle (pinch-ran for Palma).
Fortunately for the Wahoos, Hock induced an inning-ending groundout from Gabe Holt to end the threat for the Shuckers. In the top of the ninth, Hock worked around a two-out single from Mitch Longo to close out the game and his 14th save of the year.
Kyle Nicolas (W, 2-0) did much of the heavy lifting for Pensacola to begin the game. The right-hander pitched five shutout innings and allowed three hits and four walks while striking out seven. In three starts at Blue Wahoos Stadium, Nicolas has pitched 15 shutout innings and has allowed a total of five hits, 11 walks, and has struck out 23.
Offensively, Pensacola took the lead in the third inning after Cribbs doubled and later scored on an RBI single from Peyton Burdick. The Wahoos doubled their edge in the fifth inning, when Burdick reached on an error and scored on JJ Bleday’s team-leading 17th double of the year. Chris Chinea also turned in a multi-hit performance with his 2-for-2 night that included a walk.
The home stand continues tomorrow night with RHP Max Meyer (6-1, 2.00) toeing the slab for Pensacola. Biloxi will send RHP Noah Zavolas (4-6, 5.01) to oppose him. Meyer in five previous starts against the Shuckers 3-0 with a 0.37 ERA (1 ER / 24.1 IP).
Flomaton’s Hurricane Lake Closed Due To Alligator
August 17, 2021
Hurricane Lake in Flomaton is closed due to an alligator in the lake.
Town officials said the gates to the lake and the walking trail around it are closed until further notice. The rest of the park remains open.
Hurricane Lake will remain closed until the alligator is removed in the next few days.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Accidental Electrical Fire Guts Beulah Building
August 17, 2021
Fire gutted a metal outbuilding Monday in Beulah, and now Escambia Fire Rescue has determined it was an accidental electrical fire.
Firefighters arrived to find flames and smoke showing from the building in the 7600 block of Mobile Highway, near the Escambia County Equestrian Center.
Crews brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes, but the building and contents were a total loss.
There were no injuries reported.
The Beulah, Ensley, Bellview, Osceola, and Brent stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, along with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County EMS.
Editor’s note: The top reader submitted photo was apparently taken through a window and shows some reflections.
Reader submitted (top) and courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Killed Her Special Needs Daughter Inside Her Hospital Room, PPD Says
August 17, 2021
A woman has been charged with allegedly killing her 14-year old special needs daughter while she was in her bed at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Jessica Bortle, 34, of Bonifay, was charged with manslaughter for the death of 14-year old Jasmine Singletary.
Pensacola Police said Singletary — a special needs patients with a neuromuscular disorder — was in her room at Sacred Heart with her grandmother and Bortle.
Jasmine unexpectedly lost consciousness and stopped breathing, police said. Hospital staff began life saving procedures, but those efforts were unsuccessful and Jasmine died.
The autopsy showed that Jasmine had suffered massive injuries to her ribs and her liver. Those injuries were not present when she was admitted to the hospital.
Pensacola Police investigators said they determined that the injuries were caused by Bortle. An arrest report states told police that she “slammed the hospital table into Singletary’s abdomen and then leaned onto the table with her weight” after she became angry after Jasmine cussed at her over color crayons.
The report indicates the grandmother gave a similar account of Singletary’s actions.
The investigation is ongoing.
“The Pensacola Police Department extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Jasmine Singletary,” the department said in a release.
“The loss of Jasmine was an unimaginable tragedy for those who loved her and it was heart-breaking for the nurses and doctors in our Children’s Hospital who cared for her. We send our deepest sympathies and our prayers for her family and all who knew her,” Ascension Sacred Heart said in a statement Tuesday morning.
ECSO Report: Man ‘Beat’ Wife, Bit Her Ear, Shot At Her As She Ran For Help
August 17, 2021
A local man is charged with assaulting his wife, “beating” her, biting her ear and shooting at her as she ran away.
William Scott Taylor Janes, 49, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and battery domestic violence.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Enon community southwest of Walnut Hill where the victim told deputies that her husband assaulted her, bit her ear and shot at her.
Janes was taken into custody, with deputies noting in their report that he appeared to be heavily intoxicated and had blood on his pants.
The victim told deputies that Janes had been drinking heavily for days and became angry because she wanted to go to church without him. He then “beat her” and bit her ear causing a permanent injury, according to an arrest report. She refused to elaborate further on the specifics of “beat her”.
She ran toward a neighbor’s house and heard at least two gunshots as he stated that he was going to kill her, the report continues.
According to the ECSO, Janes stated that he had been drinking, went to sleep, and did not remember anything else.
Janes remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $95,000.