Century Man Charged With Pepper-Spraying Two Deputies And His Mother
June 24, 2021
A Century man is facing multiple charges after allegedly pepper-spraying two deputies and his mother.
Johnathon Robert Baldwin, 21, was charged with two counts of felony battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of felony resisting arrest and one county of battery in a domestic violence situation.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Offices responded to the Century Park Apartments on 2nd Street where Baldwin had reportedly sprayed his mother with pepper spray and was possible armed with a knife, bow and arrow, or a pellet gun.
The victim told deputies that Baldwin is schizophrenic and was in possession of pepper spray he had ordered on the internet because dead people speak to him and he was afraid of “the purge”. She stated she had removed several canisters of pepper spray from his room before he pulled a can of pepper spray out of his pocket and sprayed across the front of her body, including part of her face. She was evaluated on scene by Escambia County EMS.
When deputies arrived and entered the apartment, Baldwin was standing with one hand hidden. Deputies gave him several commands to show his hands before he ran at two deputies in an aggressive manner, raised his right hand and pepper-sprayed both, according to an arrest report. He then retreated to a bedroom and slammed the door. A deputy kicked the door open.
Two deputies attempted to take Baldwin into custody, but he pulled away and pepper-sprayed both deputies in their faces and eyes, the report states. With deputies fearing that Baldwin might have other weapons within his reach, he was tased and taken into custody.
Deputies learned Baldwin had overdosed on an antipsychotic drug, and he was transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital for treatment.
He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $3,000 bond.
Want A Smoked Boston Butt For The Fourth? Order Now From Tate Or Northview Football
June 24, 2021
Both the Tate and Northview quarterback clubs are selling smoked Boston butts will delivery in time for the Fourth of July with proceeds benefiting the Aggies or the Chiefs.
The Tate High Quarterback Club is selling Boston butts to be picked up July 3 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Aggie Shack. The Boston butts are $40 and can be ordered before July 1 by clicking or tapping here.
The Northview Quarterback Club is selling Boston butts for $40 each. Payment can be made via Venmo @northviewhs-chiefs. They can be picked up July 2 at Travis Nelson Park in Bratt from 4-7 p.m.
(Editor’s note: These are independent fundraisers. You’ll need to choose which school to order from and support, or order from both!)
Century Council Backs Off City Manager Job Review, Opts To Extend The Process
June 24, 2021
The Century Town Council this week declined to conduct a performance review as scheduled for their interim city manager, instead opting to table it for a future date after a workshop and individual meetings.
The council was set to review the performance of Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather, but backed out of the schedule agenda item. Council members were to have submitted written evaluation forms to he town clerk, but all five failed to do so.
“I don’t see it as fair to him or the council tonight,” Council President Luis Gomez said, adding that he though the generic evaluation form was inappropriate for a city manager position.
“If we jump the gun and start having discussions tonight, it wouldn’t be fair to Mr. Prather because there’s issues in the contract that need to be discussed further. There’s some language still in the contract that should have been changed in December of last year,” Gomez said. He said the contract language is not a “big problem”, but offered no specifics.
Instead, Gomez proposed a council workshop to discuss the “future endeavors of the city manager”, but he said he did not want Prather at the meeting.
“Then each council member, that night, if they have any gripes or any praises, put it in writing or any expectations of the position of city manager, but his record is going to all be on the table,” Gomez continued. He said council members could individually meet with Prather, and those written reviews would be presented to the mayor and Prather before a another council meeting for public review.
The council has not set a date for a workshop meeting to begin the process.
Prather was hired in December 2019, and his contract was extended for a year in December 2020. He is paid $1,200 a week ($40 per hour) to work 30 hours on a schedule of his choosing. He is also paid a $600 per month vehicle allowance, but receives no other benefits.
His contract specifies that the mayor and town council will meet with him “at least every three months for the purpose of defining goals and performance objective”.
Pictured: Century Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Walk-off Homer Deflates Blue Wahoos, Birmingham Barons Win 7-6
June 24, 2021
After picking up three walk-off wins last week, Pensacola falls 7-6 to Birmingham in walk-off fashion on Wednesday night.
With the game tied a 6-6, Micker Adolfo launched a 0-2 fastball into the right field bullpen to give the Barons a 7-6 win at Regions Field on Wednesday.
Alberto Guerrero (L, 1-1) was brought into the ninth inning after the Wahoos tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. After inducing a flout from Zack Granite, Guerrero tried to throw an 0-2 heater above the zone that unfortunately found the heart of the plate before Adolfo turned it into a game winning homer. Adolfo is now tied for the league-lead in homers with 11 this season.
For the Wahoos it was a game that slipped away earlier than the ninth. Pensacola led 5-0 after two innings having scored thrice in the first and twice more in the second. After Jerar Encarnacion was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the top of the first, Lazaro Alonso line a two-run single to make it 3-0.
In the second inning, the Wahoos had runners at second and third with two outs before JJ Bleday lined a two run single to left center to make it 5-0.
In the early going, that offense seemed to be plenty for Max Meyer, who cruised through three innings to begin the game. However, the righty ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Barons strung together four, two-out hits before the inning ended. After Jameson Fisher hit a two-run triple to get the Barons on the board, Laz Rivers hit a two-run homer to make it 5-4.
The Wahoos saw their lead disappear in the bottom of the seventh after a defensive miscue. With the bases loaded and one out, Zack Leban forced Carlos Perez to hit what appeared to be an inning-ending double play ball. However, after the flip to second was successful for the forecourt, Riley Mahan’s throw to first sailed over the head of Alonso, which brought home two runs.
Pensacola would tied the game in the bottom of the eight after stringing together three consecutive singles of their own, capped off by Devin Hairston’s RBI single to center.
Blake Battenfield did not factor in the decision for the Barons, despite having one of his shortest outings of the season. Prior to the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Perez (W, 2-0) retired the Wahoos in order to setup the Barons in the bottom of the ninth.
The series between Birmingham and Pensacola continues on Thursday. The Blue Wahoos will send RHP Edward Cabrera (0-0, 2.08) to the mound for his second start with the Wahoos while the Barons will send LHP John Parke (1-2, 4.20) to oppose him.
by Chris Garagiola, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
One Injured In Crash Near Tate High School
June 23, 2021
One person was injured in a crash Wednesday afternoon near Tate High School.
The vehicle came to rest in a ditch on Tate Road at East Kingsfield Road following the crash about 3:10 p.m. The injured person was transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Seven People Injured In Crash Involving ECAT Bus
June 23, 2021
Seven people were injured in a multiple vehicle crash involving an Escambia County Area Transit bus Wednesday morning.
The crash about 8:40 a.m. in the area of on East Fairfield Drive near Davis Highway, near the Pensacola Village Apartments. The wreck also involved a passenger van.
No one on the bus was injured, but seven people from other vehicles were transported to area hospital with minor injuries, according to Escambia County.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation.
Photos courtesy Al Showers/WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Woman Gets 20 Years For Sexual Activity With Young Teens
June 23, 2021
An Escambia County woman has been sentenced to state prison for sexual activity with two young teens.
Circuit Judge Jan Shackelford sentenced Leigh Ann Rhodes, 34, to 20 years. She previously entered no contest pleas to three counts of lewd or lascivious battery and one count of transmission of harmful materials to a minor. She was sentenced to serve five years of sexual offender probation upon release from prison, and was also designated as a sexual offender.
The charges stemmed from an arrest made in August of 2020 after the Department of Children and Families received a hotline tip that Rhodes was engaged in sexual behavior with two young teenagers. Rhodes was interviewed by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators and admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with the minors. Both minors were interviewed by members of the Child Protection Team at the Gulf Coast Kid’s House and detailed the sexual abuse. Cellphone evidence also corroborated the sexual activity, according to prosecutors.
New Nine Mile, I-10 Traffic Light Is Now Active
June 23, 2021
The new traffic signal at Nine Mile Road at the I-10 eastbound ramps was activated on Tuesday by the Florida Department of Transportation. It had been in flash mode to alert drivers for a week. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Council Moves Meetings Back To Town Hall After COVID-19 Decline
June 23, 2021
Now that COVID-19 numbers have declined, the Century Town Council has voted to move their meetings from a large community center venue back to their relatively small council chambers.
After holding meetings via Zoom for much of 2020 due to COVID-19, the council returned to in-person meetings at the Century Community Center back in January to allow room for more social distancing.
Beginning with their next meeting on July 6, the Century Town Council now will meet at the town hall at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
A bill list review will be held at 6:45 p.m. to be followed by a regular council meeting at 7 p.m. on the following dates:
- July 6 and 19
- August 2 and 16
- September 7 and 20
- October 4 and 18
- November 1 and 15
- December 20
Pictured top: A panoramic view of a recent Century Town Council meeting at the Century Community Center. Pictured below: The community center allowed for more social distancing. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Register Now For Tate Softball’s Summer Camp
June 23, 2021
The Tate Lady Aggies will host their annual softball camp the evening of July 1
The camp is for anyone age six to eighth grade. Pre-register at this link or register at the field on the day of the camp. The cost is $50 which includes a camp t-shirt (sizes are limited).