Woman Arrested in Escambia County After DUI Crash And Alleged Assault On Officers
July 10, 2025
A Cantonment woman is facing multiple following charges following a series of incidents that began with a single-vehicle crash on Williams Ditch Road in Cottage Hill. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene after witnesses reported erratic driving and a collision involving a red Kia Sorento.
Kristy Lee Mabire, 47, was charged with DUI, resisting arrest with violence, bribery of a public servant, and battery on a law enforcement officer.
According to the arrest report, Mabire was found sitting near the crashed vehicle, which had its airbags deployed. Witnesses described her behavior as “maniacal,” and the trooper noted signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and the smell of alcohol. When questioned, Mabire denied drinking but became uncooperative, attempting to walk away from the scene. The trooper and deputy detained her after she resisted their efforts, the report states.
According to the FHP report, she later asked the trooper if he wanted a sexual favor, but he declined.
“She stated that she said that to only see if I was a good guy. l believed that she asked me that in an attempt to bribe me from placing her under arrest,” the trooper wrote in his report.
During transport to the Escambia County Jail, Mabire allegedly became combative, kicking the glass partition in the FHP vehicle and attempting to assault the officer. Upon arrival at the jail, her behavior escalated further, culminating in an alleged assault on the trooper, whom she reportedly kicked in the groin, FHP said. Mabire was placed in a holding cell after additional combative behavior.
Medical staff at the jail determined Mabire required evaluation at Baptist Hospital due to her condition. The report states that during transport in an ambulance, she continued to yell and act aggressively. After being medically cleared, she was returned to the jail and booked.
Mabire faces felony charges for her actions, including bribery of a public servant and battery on an officer, as well as misdemeanor charges for DUI and obstruction without violence. She is being held at the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The incidents were captured on body cameras, patrol vehicle cameras, and jail surveillance systems, according to the report.
Mabire remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $15,000.
Atmore Man Charged With Child Sex Abuse
July 10, 2025
An Atmore man has been charged with the sexual abuse of a child.
Charles Edward Hawkes, 46, was charged with sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 and enticing a child for immoral purposes.
The Atmore Police Department said the investigation began after a family member reported that a child had been sexually abused.
Atmore Police worked with the Department of Human Resources and the Child Advocacy on the case.
Hawkes was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
Germany’s Butting Selects Loxley For $61 Million Steel Pipe Production Facility
July 10, 2025
Butting, a global stainless steel pipe manufacturer, announced plans Wednesday to establish its North American headquarters and first United States production facility in Loxley — just across the state line from North Escambia — as part of a $61 million growth project.
The company’s plans will unfold in two strategic phases, triggering the creation of up to 100 high-quality jobs with wages significantly above the county average.
Butting, founded in 1777 and headquartered in Knesebeck, Germany, is an internationally recognized leader in stainless steel pipe technology, clad pipes, customized spools and components, as well as cryogenic pipe and valve technology systems.
With operations in Germany, Finland, Brazil, Canada, China, and now the U.S., the company continues to expand its global presence. The new Alabama facility will be constructed on a 50+ acre site in the established Loxley industrial corridor.
“Our decision to locate in Baldwin County was driven by the area’s overall attractiveness to live and work, a skilled labor force, proximity to key transportation routes and welcoming business environment,” said Adrian Rochofski, CEO & Managing Director of Butting USA.
“We’re excited to grow our footprint in the United States and call Loxley our home in North America.”
“Butting’s decision to launch its North American headquarters and manufacturing operation in Baldwin County is a powerful endorsement of Alabama’s strengths in workforce readiness, industrial infrastructure and global business relationships,” said Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“This investment not only brings high-paying jobs to Loxley but also supports the growth of a German industry cluster that will generate long-term economic benefits across the region,” she added. “We’re proud to welcome Butting to Alabama, and we look forward to building a lasting partnership.”
Phase 1 of the project will focus on establishing Butting’s North American headquarters, engineering functions, the fabrication of high-quality stainless-steel spools, components and cryogenic pipe systems.
Phase 2 will see a vertical integration buildout of the U.S. production operations, integrating two state-of-the-art stainless steel welded pipe mills, expansion to further cryogenic production portfolio, and expanded fabrication capabilities, to further serve key industrial sectors across the United States.
The official groundbreaking of Phase 1 is expected in Fall 2025, with construction and hiring ramping up in the next few weeks.
Ninth-Inning Explosion Sends Wahoos To Thrilling 16-9 Win
July 10, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
In an epic back-and-forth affair on Wednesday night, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos dealt the final blow with an improbable eight-run ninth inning for a 16-9 win over the Columbus Clingstones.
Trailing 9-8 in the top of the ninth inning, the Blue Wahoos completed their comeback from a 9-5 deficit with a go-ahead two-run home run from Nathan Martorella. Grant Richardson added a two-run blast, his second homer of the night, and Michael Snyder and Cody Morissette tacked on run-scoring hits for an eight-run frame that marked Pensacola’s biggest inning of the season.
The 16 runs and 18 total hits marked the most in a game this season for the Blue Wahoos, who moved past the Clingstones and back into first place in the second half South Division race.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 2-0 in the early innings with a Martorella RBI double and Shane Sasaki RBI single off Clingstones starter Amos Willingham, who contributed 2.0 innings in a planned bullpen game.
Pensacola starter Jacob Miller had an uncharacteristic night, serving up two home runs in a start for just the second time in his professional career. A solo homer from Ethan Workinger and two-run shot from Stephen Paolini gave the Clingstones a 3-2 lead after three innings.
Richardson’s first homer of the night tied the game 3-3 in the fourth, and Josh Zamora blasted a two-run shot in the fifth to give the Blue Wahoos a 5-3 lead. Once again the lead didn’t take, as the Clingstones charged back with six runs in the sixth off Miller and Jesse Bergin. David McCabe hit an RBI double, and seven other Clingstones added singles to take a 9-5 advantage.
Pensacola chipped away, scoring two in the seventh on a Zamora RBI single and another in the eighth on a Snyder fielder’s choice. Will Kempner (W, 2-1) held serve with 2.0 scoreless innings of relief to send the game to the ninth, where Austin Smith (L, 0-3) was tasked with protecting a 9-8 Clingstones advantage.
Smith didn’t record an out, surrendering the Martorella and Richardson homers and ultimately giving up six runs before position player Kobe Kato came on to get the final three outs of the inning. Josh Ekness worked a quiet bottom of the ninth to seal an improbable 16-9 Blue Wahoos win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Thursday.
Small Plane Crashes Near Highway 29 In Bluff Springs
July 9, 2025
A small single-engine plane crashed Wednesday evening in Bluff Springs.
A witness reported the plane flying just over the treetops before the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a freshly plowed field. The witness said the plane then flipped over. The crash, which occurred around 6:45 p.m., was several hundred feet east of Highway 29, just north of Bluff Springs and Byrneville Roads.
The pilot and a passenger were able to walk away from the crash and depart in a private vehicle. Authorities were told that they said they were going to an area hospital, but that was not confirmed.
According to Federal Aviation Administration registration data, the 1967 Cessna 172H belongs to an individual in Atmore.
The FAA was notified of the crash and will be in charge of the investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The Owner Of This Gonzalez Cemetery Has Been Dead For Decades. Now The County May Take Over.
July 9, 2025
The Jordan Cemetery in Gonzalez is 163 years old, and there’s no official caretaker.
It was founded by owner John H. Hamn in 1862, but he died in 1938.
Now, the Escambia County Commission is considering the use of public resources and funds to provide maintenance for the cemetery at 2300 East Kingfield Road. Florida statutes allow the county to take over maintenance of an abandoned cemetery.
According to paperwork filed with the county, the nearly four-acre cemetery contains 811 graves from 1862 to 2017. The “Find a Grave” website lists the most recent burial as being in late 2023.
Of those, over 100 were listed as unmarked in a 1980 survey. About 79 graves have markings that are illegible or have no inscription, while others are marked with just wood or simple concrete. There are 372 graves marked as historic.
Jordan Cemetery is listed as a Historical Cemetery in the Florida Department of Financial Services master site file.
If the county takes over maintenance, they will use staff and resources from the University of West Florida Archeology Institute to supplement the county’s maintenance efforts.
The county commission will consider the Jordan Cemetery maintenance proposal at their meeting on Thursday, July 10.
Pictured: The Jordan Cemetary on Kingsfield Road, as seen in undated photographs. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Deer And A Series Of Events Lead To Unoccupied Jeep Plunging Into Deep Culvert In Bratt
July 9, 2025
A woman’s Jeep Wagoneer ended up deep in a culvert in Bratt Tuesday night in a rather unique sequence of events.
The woman said it all started around 9:50 p.m. when she swerved to miss a deer on Pine Barren Road just south of Bratt Road. She successfully avoided hitting the deer, ran off the roadway, and came to a controlled stop in high grass on the side of the road. The woman and her passengers exited the vehicle unscathed.
But unknown to her at the time, she had parked on the edge of a culvert that is about 20 feet deep. Once she got out of the Jeep, it plunged into the deep culvert—and that deployed all of the vehicle’s airbags, prompting an automatic crash notification to emergency services.
First responders arrived to find everyone standing at the top of the culvert, which was dry and not filled with water. The Jeep was reportedly in park, and the engine was not running.
Authorities on scene said that while the incident was a bit perplexing, everything about the woman’s account of the events to the Florida Highway Patrol matched the scene.
The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Pleads Guilty To Possession Unregistered Machine Gun
July 9, 2025
An Escambia County man has pleaded guilty to charges of possession of an unregistered machine gun.
Prashant M. Jenkins Jr., 24, entered the plea in federal court.
Court documents state that on October 30, 2024, law enforcement officers found and seized from Jenkins’ residence an AR-style machine gun conversion device, a Glock pistol with a loaded magazine, a loaded AR-15 magazine, approximately 500 grams of marijuana, and other suspected drug trafficking paraphernalia. The conversion device, considered a machine gun under federal law, was not marked with a serial number and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the excellent work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal ATF agents to make our community safer by getting this dangerous individual off the streets. My office remains fully committed to aggressively prosecuting those who illegally manufacture and possess these dangerous weapons, fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by targeting violent criminals with the full force of the law.”
Sentencing is currently set for September 30, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Jenkins faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment and will be prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
Pedestrian Injured In Molino Hit And Run
July 9, 2025
A pedestrian was injured in a hit-and-run Tuesday night in Molino.
The incident was reported just after 9 p.m. in the 4200 block of Suncrest Lane, just off Sunshine Hill Road. The adult victim was later airlifted to a Pensacola hospital.
Further details, including a possible vehicle description, were not available as the Florida Highway Patrol continues its investigation.
File photo.
Beulah Road At Beulah Church Road Closed For Drainage Work
July 9, 2025
Beulah Road was temporarily closed Sunday at the Beulah Church Road intersection. It is expected to remain closed through July 24.
The closure is required for crews to construct drainage improvements. Signage is in place for a detour using Rebel Road, Mobile Highway, and Nine Mile Road.
The overall project will include
- Constructing a 6-foot sidewalk on the west side of Beulah Road from the Beulah Academy of Science to Nine Mile Road.
- Various sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, including Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades.
- Improvements at the Beulah Road at Nine Mile Road intersection.
- Stormwater management enhancements.
- Utility relocations.
- Guardrail installation.
- Signalization upgrades.
- New signing and pavement markings.
FDOT anticipates that the full project will be complete in late 2026.