Escambia Collects 4 Million Cubic Feet Of Hurricane Sally Debris
December 17, 2020
Contractors are continuing to pick up Hurricane Sally debris in Escambia County with a goal of completing the job by Christmas.
As of December 14, contractors had hauled 79,453 loads equivalent to 4,080,286 cubic yards collected. That is enough debris to fill 88% of the Superdome in New Orleans.
Ineligible piles are being marked orange. Indelible debris includes items from landscaping, land cleaning, garage cleaning, illegal dumping, debris located on private property and debris generated by businesses. The resident or business will be responsible for removal. More information is in the graphic on this page.
Second Person Shot And Killed In Less Than 24 Hours In Escambia County
December 16, 2020
The second fatal shooting in less than 24 hours in Escambia County is under investigation.
The man was shot and killed about 2 p.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of Concordia Boulevard, near Massachusetts Avenue. The man was pronounced deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
A man was killed and another injured in a shooting about 11:15 p.m Tuesday in Bellview.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
One Man Dead, One Injured In Escambia County Shooting
December 16, 2020
One person is dead and another injured after shooting late Tuesday night in Escambia County.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 2100 block of Dover Avenue near Buckingham Road in the Bellview area about 11:15 p.m.
Deputies found one man dead on the scene. A second man was found with multiple gunshot wounds to his back and legs. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The names of the victims have not been released.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation and has not publically named a suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
File photo.
Sheriff-Elect Simmons Names Retiring PPD Chief Tommi Lyter As ECSO Chief Deputy
December 16, 2020
Sheriff-elect Chip Simmons has named retiring Pensacola Police Chief Tommi Lyter chief deputy at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Lyter announced his retirement Wednesday from the Pensacola Police Department. He has more than 30-years of law enforcement experience, a master’s degree in public administration and is a graduate from the FBI Academy. During his time at the Pensacola Police Department he served on the K9 team, SWAT team, street crimes and investigation units, he was a field training officer, and a member of the dive team. In 2015, Lyter served as the assistant Pensacola police chief. In May of 2017, he was appointed chief of police by then Pensacola mayor Ashton Hayward.
“Sheriff-Elect Chip Simmons has been my mentor throughout my entire law enforcement career, so this opportunity was one I couldn’t pass up. I understand Sheriff-Elect Simmons’ vision and I look forward to assisting him in bringing community engagement on a larger scale and addressing violent crimes in our community. I have worked alongside the men and women who serve at the ECSO for more than 30 years and I have the upmost respect for them. I can’t wait to be a part of the team,” Lyter said.
“We continue to look for ways to improve our service to the citizens of Escambia County. When you have an opportunity to bring in someone of Lyter’s ability and experience, you take it. I have worked with Lyter for many years. He and I share a commitment to the highest levels of enforcement and engagement,” said Simmons, who was serving in the chief deputy position at the time of his election in November.
Lyter will take over the roll of chief deputy on January 5.
Lyter’s last day with the Pensacola Police Department will be December 27, at which time Deputy Chief Kevin Christman will be named the interim Chief of Police.
Fourth Suspect Arrested In Fatal Triple Shooting In Century
December 16, 2020
The fourth suspect in a fatal triple shooting November 30 in Century was arrested Tuesday night.
E’monee Long, 18, was taken into custody and booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton. He was awaiting extradition to Escambia County, Florida, to face charges of premeditated first degree homicide, conspiracy to commit home invasion robbery, aggravated battery and home invasion robbery.
Three other people were charged in the days immediately following the shooting:
— Kiaunna Shane Grice, age 30 of Century, was booked into the Escambia County Jail December 3 for first degree homicide, home invasion robbery, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
— Tacorius Cordale Stallworth, 22, was arrested December 2 for first degree homicide, home invasion robbery, and aggravated battery.
— Jaran Britt Myles, 26, was taken into custody December 1 at the Liquor Cabinet on Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road. He was jailed without bond on charges including first degree homicide, home invasion robbery, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine, three counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.
RELATED STORY: Myles Was Recently Released From Prison For 2015 Manslaughter
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the shooting about 11:35 p.m. Monday, November 30 in the 8200 block of Alger Road, just off North Century Boulevard.
Arrest reports obtained by NorthEscambia.com offer insight into the fatal triple shooting:
The victim, Joseph Christopher Smith, was found shot to death outside a shed near the mobile home. Multiple shell casings were found near the body, in the shed and leading away from the body. The inside of the shed had a couch, several chairs, tables and lamp. The items were in a state of disarray with the lamp glass shattered.
Two other adult males, Xavier Demarquese Walker and Lavor Chante Johnson were sitting near the mobile home when deputies arrived; both had been shot. They were transported by Escambia County EMS and Flomaton Medstar ambulance to a Pensacola hospital for treatment.
Walker stated he was seated in his vehicle when three people approached him, pointed guns at him and told him to get out of the vehicle. He said they “slapped him down” and put in a gun in face, saying “Don’t say nuthin, don’t make a noise”, according to the arrest report. Walker told investigators that he told them that he did not have “nuthin”. He told investigators that he recognized “Run-Run”, the street name used by Myles, and Stallworth, but did not recognize the third person.
Walker said the gunmen walked him over to the shed and told him to knock on the door and say “It’s Xa”. Walker stated that when the door opened, the three suspects pushed past him and went inside. Walker said he “freaked out”, the report states, and jumped on the ground where he was shot in the leg by Stallworth.
The suspects took Smith outside the shed before shooting him multiple time because of money, Walker stated.
Johnson told investigators that he was walking back from the store when he was picked up in a vehicle driven by Smith. He said he went inside the shed with Smith when someone knocked on the door and said “it’s Xa”. Smith opened the door, and the three male suspects entered the shed.
The report states Johnson said one of the men pointed a gun directly at his head and then shot him in the leg. They then started shooting in all directions inside the shed, striking Walker in the leg.
One of the suspect said “Where’s the money” to Smith, who replied “Ain’t no money. Johnson stated that the suspects took Smith outside, and he heard numerous gunshots.
Johnson told deputies that after the suspects shot Smith, they began celebrating by firing their guns and yelling, “Yeah, we caught that [expletives] slackin” before fleeing the scene.
After receiving a tip Tuesday night, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office caught up with Myles as he walked out of the Liquor Cabinet on Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road in Gonzalez. Deputies gave him loud verbal commands, but he turned and walked back inside the store. The deputies drew their service weapons, entered the store and continued to give loud verbal commands. Myles entered one of the aisles and made movements near products on the shelf before placing his hands and surrendering, an arrest report states.
After and ECSO K-9 alerted on the vehicle, a search produced 24 MDMA pills, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, Alprazolam pills and suspected fentanyl.
A firearm was located inside the Liquor Cabinet.
Pictured: Deputies look for evidence at the scene of a of a triple shooting in Century as seen early Tuesday morning on Alger Road. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Ascension Sacred Heart Opens New ER On Nine Mile Road
December 16, 2020
Ascension Sacred Heart’s new emergency center opened Tuesday on Nine Mile Road.
The freestanding ER includes 13 treatment rooms and two trauma rooms staffed by emergency medicine physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists. The center also will include a lab, CT scanner and x-ray imaging.
“Our new Emergency Center will be open 24 hours a day and will include separate areas for treatment of children and adults,” said Dawn Rudolph, president of Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola. “This is part of our ongoing efforts to extend our outpatient services into the community and provide high-quality care at a time and place convenient to patients.”
The new ER, located at 1501 West Nine Mile Road by Stefani Road, will create approximately 50 new jobs. The freestanding center that will be supported by the Level II Trauma Center located at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Pediatric emergency services at the new facility will be supported by the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart.
“We are excited to bring specialized pediatric emergency care closer to the communities we serve,” said Will Condon, presidents of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital. “The new ER is an extension of our pediatric emergency department on the main campus of our Children’s Hospital and our pediatric subspecialists stand ready to assist with any condition that may walk into our new ER on 9 Mile Road.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Police Holding ‘Fill The Cruiser’ Toy Drive On Friday
December 16, 2020
The Flomaton Police Department will hold a “Fill the Cruiser” toy drive on Friday.
Gift donations for children ages 1-13 can be placed in the Flomaton police cruiser that will be parked outside the police department at 2125 Ringold Street. Gifts should be unwrapped so they can better organized.
The gifts will be distributed to local children in need. Any families in the Flomaton Police Department jusrdiction that may need the gifts, or anyone that knows of a family in need, can call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 and ask for the chief of police.
Boil Water Notice Issued After Old Chemstrand Road Water Main Break
December 16, 2020
A boil water notice has been issued following a water main break on Old Chemstrand Road.
Gonzalez Utilities Association has issued the boil water notice for customers in the following areas;
- 2nd Avenue
- 3rd Avenue
- 4th Avenue
- 5th Avenue
- 6th Avenue
- 7th Avenue
- 1415 to 1693 Old Chemstrand Road
Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes.
For questions or concerns, call Gonzalez Utilities at (850) 968-5434 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Boutique Air Offering Daily Flights From Pensacola To North Alabama
December 16, 2020
A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday for Boutique Air, the seventh airline at the Pensacola International Airport.
Boutique Air offers two daily flights between Pensacola (PNS) And Muscle Shoals (MSL) in north Alabama. The first flight lands in Pensacola at 10:42 a.m. and departs for Muscle Shoals at 11:12 a.m. The second flight lands in Pensacola at 4:48 p.m. and takes off at 5:18 p.m. returning to Northwest Alabama Regional Airport. The flight time between PNS and MSL is an hour and 20 minutes.
Boutique Air lauds a private flight for the cost of commercial and will operate a Pilatus PC-12 which seats up to 10 passengers. Boutique partners with United Airlines, which enables travelers to book and connect through the global United network. Passengers on Boutique Air flights can earn and redeem miles for flights through United’s frequent flyer program.
First COVID-19 Vaccine In Escambia County Arrives At Naval Hospital Pensacola
December 16, 2020
The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine in Escambia County arrived Tuesday in Escambia County at Naval Hospital Pensacola. The first vaccinations at the facility are expected to begin on Wednesday.
Vaccination is voluntary and, in addition to front line health care workers, commands are coordinating with installation leadership to administer vaccines to first responders, such as emergency management service personnel and security forces.
Naval Hospital Pensacola was one of the facilities selected to receive the vaccine in a phased, standardized and coordinated strategy for prioritizing and administering the vaccine.
