FDLE Charges Escambia County Man With Child Porn Possession
April 23, 2021
An Escambia County man was arrested on child pornography charges Thursday.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers charged 33-year old Anthony Tidwell with 15 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.
The investigation began when agents discovered an IP address being utilized to request child sexual abuse material on a peer-to-peer network. Agents traced the IP address to Tidwell’s residence.
FDLE agents executed a search warrant at Tidwell’ home with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation found images depicting children as young as six years old, according to FDLE.
Tidwell was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond. Additional charges are dependent upon completion of forensics exams, FDLE said.
Jay High’s Jada Lowry Signs With Pensacola State Volleyball
April 23, 2021
Jay High School senior Jada Lowry signed with Pensacola State College volleyball Thursday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO: Cantonment Man Wanted On Multiple Felony Warrants
April 22, 2021
UPDATE: THIS SUSPECT HAS BEEN CAPTURED.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a Cantonment man wanted on multiple charges.
Hunter Grant Myrick, 31, is wanted on two counts of failure to appear, grand theft of a vehicle, two counts of fleeing and eluding, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, kidnapping and driving while license suspended as a habitual offender.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Alabama Semi Truck Driver Killed In Highway 97 Crash In Davisville
April 22, 2021
The driver of a semi truck was killed in a single vehicle crash in Davisville early Thursday morning.
The log truck was northbound on Highway 97 north of Nokomis Road about 6:20 a.m. when it left the roadway for an unknown reason, struck a culvert, went airborne and collided with a large oak tree.
The 52-year old Mobile, Alabama, man was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Highway 97 was closed for nearly three hours between Nokomis Road and Meadows Road for the crash investigation.
The Florida Highway Patrol no longer releases the names of traffic victims. The Walnut Hill, Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Fire Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Allegedly Beat His Child’s Mother With A Stick, Broom Handle And Belt; Battered His Mother
April 22, 2021
A Molino man is accused of striking his child’s mother with a stick, broom handle and a belt before pouring water and alcohol over her. He is also accused of the battery of his mother in an unrelated incident.
Pedro Yamirr Lopez-Nava, 18, was charged with felony aggravated battery using a deadly weapon and misdemeanor battery.
The victim stated she and Lopez-Nava had an argument in the driveway of the their Molino home. She said the argument turned physical when he grabbed a stick from the yard and began beating her, according to arrest report. She ran inside where Lopez-Nava beat her with a broom handle, threw a bucket of water and then alcohol on her, and demanded that she clean up the mess from the incident, the report continues.
The victim suffered injuries including bruises “from her right eye all the way to her right knee”, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
In an unrelated incident days later, Lopez-Nava allegedly committed battery against his mother.
The ECSO responded to Taqueria Olgys restaurant on W Street where they found Lopez-Nava sitting on a stool in front of his mother, and both of them were crying, deputies said. Speaking through another one of her sons acting as an interpreter, the mother told deputies Lopez-Nava tried to get her to leave but she refused. He became angry and grabbed her left arm trying to pull her off her seat but she continued to refuse, the report states. The mother told deputies Lopez-Nava is methamphetamine user, and she claimed he has hit her before.
Lopez-Nava remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $4,000.
Cantonment Man Sentenced To 15 Years For Attempted Murder At Gas Station
April 22, 2021
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to prison for attempted murder at an Escambia County gas station in May 2020.
William David Nicholson II, entered a plea to attempted first degree premeditated murder with a firearm, possession of firearm by a convicted felon, criminal mischief ($1000 or greater) and, on a second case, to grand theft.
He was sentenced to 15 years in state prison with a 10 year minimum mandatory on the attempted murder charge and a three year minimum mandatory sentence for possession of firearm by convicted felon. Nicholson, who was sentenced by Judge Jennie Kinsey, will be required to serve the minimum mandatory sentences day for day.
On May 13, 2020, Nicholson attempted to sell marijuana to the victim. The victim did not pay Nicholson for the narcotics.
Nicholson seemed to realize this shortly after the transaction had occurred, and a brief high speed chase ensued between their two vehicles. After pulling into the parking lot of a gas station in the 8600 block of Pine Forest Road at I-10, Nicholson exited his vehicle with a firearm and fired two shots toward the victim. At least one projectile went into the victim’s vehicle, striking the victim. The victim suffered a non-life threatening injury to the head and was taken to a local hospital.
Nicholson then fled the scene.
Nicholson has multiple prior felony convictions including three for burglary, grand theft and three for grand theft of a firearm.
Tate High Softball Honors Seniors
April 22, 2021
Tate High School softball honored the Class of 2021 during senior night this week before shutting out Washington 10-0. Tate softball seniors are (pictured L-R) Abbie Burks, Cam Wolfenden, Hannah Halfacre, Taylor Greene, Courtney Adams and Madison Holland. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Beat Escambia (With Photo Gallery)
April 22, 2021
The Tate Aggies defeated the Escambia Gators 8-1 Wednesday night.
Tanner Rouchon pitched four innings for Tate, allowing five hits and one run while striking out one and walking three. Riley Lowery and Jadon Fryman closed the game for Tate.
Rouchon went 2-2 with and Dylan Godwin was 2-4 to lead Tate in hits. Zak Licastro, Jordan Jarman and Frankie Randall added one hit each for the Aggies.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Laura Glodfelter for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Honors Barry Tweedie For Devotion To Free Speech, Exchange Of Ideas
April 22, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Board and the ECUA Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC) honored the late Barry Tweedie this week by dedicating the podium in the ECUA boardroom in his name.
Tweedie passed away on January 4, 2021, at the age of 68. He is a former member of the CAC and was actively involved with ECUA. He faithfully attended meetings and provided his insights into the management of water, wastewater, and sanitation systems over the course of many years.
“We dedicate this podium to Barry Tweedie, to honor his devotion to free speech and enthusiasm for the honest exchange of ideas in shaping policy,” a plaque placed on the podium states.
“This would mean so much to him if he was here,” his wife Paula Tweedie said. “Y’all meant so much to him; you enriched his life so much. To have something dedicated to him, not only just as a token, but something that is lifelong, that will remain here. That would mean so much to him.”
“Barry was one of the outstanding citizens,” former ECUA board member Larry Walker said. Tweedie ran unsuccessfully against Walker multiple times for the District 5 ECUA seat.
“America has precious few of those types of citizens. At ECUA over the past 25 or so years, Barry was really the only one,” Walker said. “He was the only citizen that faithfully came to our board meetings and our committee meetings. He was just as informed as any member of the CAC ever was. He was a wonderful citizen. ECUA is a lessor organization because of his loss. I appreciated him very much always, and I do to this day. Let’s all try remember that we all need to be good citizens in the Barry Tweedie mold.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County COVID-19 Daily Hospitalizations Remained Below 35 For Past Month
April 22, 2021
The number of Escambia County COVID-19 hospitalizations remained below 35 each day during the past month.
The number of people hospitalized due to the virus on Wednesday was 32, after a low of 20 over the last month. In mid-January, the number reached a high of 291.
“We are glad to see these numbers coming down for our community and for our hospitals,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said.”Please continue to take preventative actions, including wearing a mask, washing your hands often, and staying home if you are sick.”
The numbers in the graph indicate daily hospitalizations in Escambia County and are provided daily by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospital. The daily numbers are not cumulative.
Data sources: Escambia County, City of Pensacola, Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist and West Florida hospitals. Graphics: City of Pensacola.