Silver Alert Canceled After Missing 74-Year Old Found Safe
March 19, 2021
UPDATE 1:20 PM — Linda Chong has been safely located, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Silver Alert for a missing 74-year old woman.
Linda Chong was last seen at the BJ’s Wholesale Club on Davis Highway on March 16 around 4 p.m. She was not reported missing until the following day.
Linda was driving a white Hyundai Azera with handicap Florida tag number Z7YWY.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Update: Missing Gonzalez Teen Found Safe
March 19, 2021
UPDATE: Kassidy Leigh Brantley has been safely located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing teen from Gonzalez.
Kassidy Leigh Brantley, 14, was last seen Thursday, March 18 about 11 p.m. in the 700 block of Rusty Lane off Pauline Street. She is described as 5-feet, 6-inches tall and about 125 pounds. A clothing description was unknown.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
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.