Investigation Finds Escambia Deputies Were Justified In Shooting Armed Man At Busy Intersection
March 19, 2021
The State Attorney’s Office has determined that Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were justified when they shot and killed an armed felony suspect at a busy intersection last year.
Mickee Fabiano McArthur, 28, was killed after he pointed a gun at deputies at the intersection of 9th and Langley avenues after a vehicle pursuit.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a request from a bail bondsman for assistance in arresting McArthur on several local felony warrants including kidnapping, aggravated assault and robbery with a firearm. Deputies began to pursue the suspect in the area of 9th Avenue and Bayou Boulevard, near Target.
After deputies performed a PIT maneuver at 9th and Langley, McArthur fled his vehicle with a firearm in his hand. Seven seconds later, he turned toward deputies with the firearm in his hand, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation. Three deputies fired at McArthur, killing him at the scene.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Raising Franchise Fees Charged Gulf Power And EREC; Customers Will Pay Up.
March 19, 2021
The Town of Century is in the process of finalizing new franchise agreements with Gulf Power and Escambia River Electric Cooperative.
In 1994, the franchise fees for both utilities were increased from 3% to 5%, and now the council is raising the fee to 6%.
While the franchise fee is technically charged to the utility, both Gulf Power and EREC tell NorthEscambia.com that they pass the full cost of the fee on to their customers.
The town council has held a first reading of a new agreement with Gulf Power that will become official after one more meeting. They are also setting their sights on an increased fee for EREC.
Gulf Power customers with an average 1,000 kwh monthly usage pay about $140 a month, according to Florida Public Service Commission documents. The franchise fee increase will cost customers in the Century town limits about $1.40 per month.
FWC Tightens Deer Regulations Related To Chronic Wasting Disease, Including Import From Alabama
March 19, 2021
At a recent meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule changes that prohibit importing or possessing whole carcasses or high-risk parts of deer from any place outside Florida. FWC is also dropping a provision that currently provides a broader exemption for deer imported from Alabama.
Under the approved rules that go into effect July 1, people may import into Florida: deboned meat; finished taxidermy mounts; antlers; hides; and skulls, skull caps and teeth if all soft tissue has been removed. In addition, the rules allow an exception for deer harvested from a property in Georgia or Alabama if such property is bisected by the Florida state line and is under the same ownership. However, the new rule amendments do not include the permit option allowed under a FWC executive order to import whole deer or high-risk parts from properties in Georgia or Alabama.
The FWC has been testing deer for CWD since 2002 and the disease has not been detected in Florida. This infectious disease of the brain and central nervous system is always fatal for members of the deer family and there’s no known cure or effective vaccine. Currently, there is no scientific evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans.
The abnormal proteins or prions that cause CWD can be transmitted through direct animal-to-animal contact as well as indirectly through contact with the saliva, urine, feces, blood and carcass parts of an infected animal. It can even spread through soil. Leaving CWD infected carcasses or carcass parts on the land can contaminate the soil and the CWD prions are capable of infecting other deer for years.
Suspicious Fire That Destroyed Large Shed In Century Under Investigation
March 19, 2021
A suspicious fire in Century destroyed a large shed.
Firefighters arrived on scene Thursday to find the structure on fire in a lot off Ivey Street in Century, behind the Dollar General store.
The shed, which approximately 12-feet by 24-feet in size, was destroyed in the blaze. There was no electricity or any other utilities connected to the shed.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Florida Bureau of Fire, Ason and Explosives Investigations.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Found Guilty Of Assaulting Escambia County Deputies
March 19, 2021
An Escambia County jury has found a man guilty of the October 29 assault of deputies outside a gas station.
Jeffery Lamar Andrew Hall was convicted of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on law enforcement officer (two counts), battery on law enforcement officer, resisting officer with violence, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He will sentenced on May 20.
On October 5, 2019, Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy Aaron Myers was dispatched to a Tom Thumb on West Highway 98 for a possible burglary in process. The incident began when Myers arrived and approached a car and observed the defendant in the passenger seat inhaling from a glass smoking pipe.
Myers informed Hall that he was being arrested for a narcotics violation and that he needed to exit the car.
Hall refused and began punching and kicking the deputy. Hall continued to fight deputies and pulled out a box cutter that cut Myers. The deputies were able to finally subdue Hall with the use of a taser.
The glass pipe contained methamphetamine.
Tate Aggies Beat West Florida 11-2
March 19, 2021
The Tate Aggies beat West Florida 11-2 Thursday night.
Tucker Griffin earned the win for the Aggies, allowing one hit and no runs in two innings, striking out four and walking one. Riley Lowery, Jaydon Fryman, Jackson Penton, and Jordan Jarman also took the hill.
The Aggies had 15 hits, led by Dalton Bowen who went 4-4 with two runs and an RBI. Jaydon Fryman, Zak Licastro and Jackson Penton each had two hits for Tate. Dylan Godwin, Drew Reaves, Tanner Rouchon, Paul Whitson and Jordan Jarman, added one hit each.
Jadin Moreno gave up six runs on five hits over two innings, striking out two for West Florida. Hoot Rathbun homered for the Jags. Dawson Butalla and Gavin King had a hit apiece.
Photos by Laura Glodfelter for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Convicted Of Raping 16-Year Old Girl As She Walked To The Library; He Is Facing Up To Life In Prison
March 18, 2021
A Century man is facing up to life in prison after being convicted by a jury of grabbing a 16-year old girl she walked to the library in Century and raping her.
Na’Keetric Devonte Davison was convicted of kidnapping, sexual battery using threats of force or violence, attempted sexual battery, trespassing and criminal mischief. He will be sentenced in late May and designated as a sexual predator.
On August 21, 2019, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Highway 29 and McCurdy Street Wednesday where a teen female exiting the wood line told deputies she had been raped by a man that fled the area on foot.
A passerby called 911 to report a disturbance after seeing a man pull the teen into wooded area. The motorist’s intervention allowed the teenage victim to escape from Davison.
The 16-year old female was obviously hysterical, standing with her jeans unzipped and her hair in disarray. She told deputies she was walking south on the sidewalk to the Century Branch Library when she was approached from behind by a a man that asked her for some change. She stated the man, later identified as Davison, grabbed her and pulled her into a wooded area adjacent to the sidewalk. Davison then grabbed her by the throat, slammed her to the ground and told her not to scream or he would kill her, the report states.
The teen told deputies that Davison then sexually assaulted her before telling her again that he would kill her if she screamed out. He then took her wallet from inside her purse and fled on foot into the woods.
The teen was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
A perimeter was established, and Davison was tracked by deputies and K-9 units from the Escambia County Road Prison and the Century Correctional Institution.
NorthEscambia.com was there as Davison was found inside a small storage building used as a meeting room adjacent to the New Calvary Church at Zion and Jackson streets. He had kicked in the door of the building in order to gain entry, according to an arrest report, and consumed several bottles of water and a bag of chips. He as apprehended wearing only his underwear after hiding his clothes in a refrigerator inside the building. The hidden clothing matched the description provided by the victim. Other evidence was collected at that time that helped corroborate the crime.
For an exclusive NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the scene and arrest, click here.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Updated: Woman Struck And Killed By Train Near Nine Mile Road
March 18, 2021
A person was struck and killed by a train Wednesday night off Nine Mile Road.
It happened on the railroad tracks south of East Nine Mile Road, near Nims Lane. The 58-year old female was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The ECSO has not released the victim’s name as they work to contact her next of kin and the investigation continued.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century Council Rejects Two New Hires By The Mayor, Saying He Violated The Town Charter
March 18, 2021
The Century Town Council has rejected two employees hired by the mayor because they say he violated the town’s charter.
After the town received five applications for an entry-level service worker in the street department and 50 applications for a citizen services clerk office position, Mayor Ben Boutwell and staff members made their selections and offered jobs to two people. The service worker was already on the job, and the clerk was set to start late this month.
The service worker the mayor hired has nine years experience as millwright at a lumber mill, five years in maintenance at a chemical plant, and six years in home construction. The office worker selected by Boutwell has almost 20 years experience at an area bank as a bookkeeper, loan assistance, teller and accounts payable clerk, and holds an associate degree from Pensacola Junior College.
But at a recent meeting, town council president Luis Gomez said the two were not hired in accordance with the town charter. The charter states that the mayor will present his employee selections to the town council to be approved or denied. The council can only vote yes or no on the mayor’s choice; the charter does not give the council any authority to hire anyone not recommended by the mayor.
“The council was disregarded, blatant disregard,” Gomez told Boutwell. “We could have waited to tonight, and you could have did the proper protocol and said I recommend A and B for these two jobs. And then it would have been up to the council.”
“I’m not here to preach but I’m here to make sure that everything is done by the books because if we go by this charter, even though it’s 40 years old, it’s outdated we got to go by this charter,” Gomez added. “Right here it says you cannot hire somebody, and my understanding is you’ve already hired two people.”
“My understanding is that in May of 2013 there was some type of council meeting that the council gave the mayor at that time permission (to hire employees),” Boutwell responded.
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“In 2013 they should have amended this; this is the charter. This has not been amended,” Gomez said. “The council cannot even say Mr. Boutwell, Mayor Boutwell, you can do this.”
“We picked out the two that were the most qualified as a team that we felt was the best,” the mayor said. “And so if I should I have brought that person to y’all, then that’s what I should have done. I thought, because they were already a position in the budget, that I could hire them. That was my interpretation.”
“I will admit that I am wrong,” Boutwell stated.
While the positions were properly advertised before Boutwell’s hires, the council voted 3-2 to restart the process and readvertise the jobs. Council members James Smith and Sandra McMurray Jackson voted no.
“I would not want to be put in a position where I have put my resignation in on my previous job for Kim (Kim Godwin, town clerk) to call me in the morning and tell me that I’m sorry, but … I would not want that,” Jackson said.
Pictured top: Century Mayor Ben Boutwell. Pictured below: Luis Gomez, Century Town Council president. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Six Months After Hurricane Sally, $269.2 Million In Federal Assistance Provided
March 18, 2021
Just over six months ago, communities across 14 affected counties in Florida experienced the devastating effects of Hurricane Sally.
Since the hurricane made landfall September 16, 2020, federal assistance for recovery in those counties is approximately $269.2 million. This includes National Flood Insurance Program insurance payments; FEMA grants for temporary rental assistance, basic home repairs, and other needs not covered by insurance; and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.
Federal assistance for Hurricane Sally, as of March 16, 2021:
- More than $36.3 million approved in FEMA Individual Assistance:
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- More than $28.4 million approved for housing repair costs, home replacement and rental payments.
- Nearly $7.9 million approved to replace essential household items and for other critical disaster-related costs.
- 8,463 individuals and households were approved for housing assistance and other disaster-related costs such as home repair, rental assistance and replacing essential household items.
- More than 5,400 homeowners and renters displaced by the storm have received rental assistance.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration approved 2,141 low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses for more than $84 million.
- 4,758 claims filed with the National Flood Insurance Program primarily in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties; $144.5 million paid.
- Flood insurance specialists have contacted more than 360 insurance agents and more than 280 real estate professionals in the Hurricane Sally-affected area with flood-insurance and flood-risk information, claims and marketing support.
- More than $4.4 million in Public Assistance grants approved for Hurricane Sally-related reimbursements to state and local governments, and certain nonprofits.