Alabama High Speed Chase Ends With Fatal Crash In Cantonment
August 1, 2020
A high speed chase of a stolen vehicle that began in Bay Minette ended with a fatal crash some 60 miles away in Cantonment Saturday morning.
The chase ended on Highway 29 in Cantonment near the Companion Animal Clinic when the driver entered the median, lost control and traveled off the roadway into a tree, according to a witness. The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol said investigators were not able identify the suspect on scene because he had no identification on his person.
For a photo gallery from the crash scene, click here.
The owner of the truck told NorthEscambia.com that he was inside the Jet Pep convenience store on Highway 31 near Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette when the clerk asked if that was his truck being driven away.
Bay Minette Police said one of their officers spotted the stolen vehicle near McMeans Avenue and West 7th Street.
“The officer attempted to stop the suspected stolen vehicle and the driver of that vehicle refused to stop. A vehicle pursuit was initiated,” Bay Minette Police said in a statement. “The pursuit continued into Escambia Florida, where the suspected stolen vehicle contacted a Bay Minette patrol car. This contact caused the stolen vehicle to lose control and strike a tree on Highway 29 in Escambia County Florida….During the vehicle pursuit the driver of the stolen vehicle struck two Bay Minette Police cars multiple times intentionally.”
Bay Minette Police and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office chased the king cab Chevrolet pickup truck out of Bay Minette and into Escambia County, Alabama. Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said his department was notified of the chase, and one of his officers followed at a safe distance on Highway 31 from Cindebran Drive and south on Main Street to the Florida line.
Video obtained by NorthEscambia.com (posted below), shows Bay Minette Police and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office continuing to chase the vehicle south on Highway 97. The FHP said the Bay Minette Police Department was the lead agency on the chase.
Witnesses also told NorthEscambia.com that the chase traveled into Cottage Hill on Williams Ditch Road and onto Wishbone Road, a dead end street. That’s where the truck was temporarily blocked in by a black law enforcement vehicle. Witnesses said the driver then turned around and headed directly toward an struck a Bay Minette officer’s Tahoe.
Another witness said that a “black tahoe” and other black law enforcement vehicles were directly behind the truck when it wrecked on Highway 29. Sgt. Melanie Peterson of the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office said that ECSO assisted but did not participate directly in the chase.
The vehicle owner described the suspect only as a white male.
“I didn’t get a good look at him,” the owner of the truck said. “I just saw him drive away.”
At the time he spoke exclusively to NorthEscambia.com, the truck’s owner said he had not yet been contacted by police, but he had about the crash.
“The keys were in the vehicle,” he said. “…But things always have a way of working themselves out.”
The investigation into the crash is continuing by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
7-Year Old Shot And Killed In Pensacola Saturday Morning
August 1, 2020
A 7-year old girl was shot and killed in Pensacola Saturday morning, likely by another child.
Pensacola Police said it happened in the 600 block of North “B” Street where the victim was found on the front porch of a home.
Police said the victim was possibly shot by another small child.
One person was detained after he was found hiding in the yard of the home and was chased by officers. His role in the incident is unclear at this time, and he is being questioned in connection with it.
Pensacola Police are continuing their investigation and have not released further information.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
More Inmates And Staff Test Positive For COVID-19 At Century Prison
August 1, 2020
More inmate and staff COVID-19 cases as Century Correctional Institution have been reported by the Florida Department of Corrections.
There are now four positive inmate cases, up three from the first case reported earlier in the week. Four additional correctional workers have tested positive for a total of 20.
There have been 13 other inmates tested since the start of the pandemic. Ten were negative and three are awaiting results. As of Friday evening, there were three inmates held in medical isolation and 269 in medical quarantine, according to FDC.
Inmates in medical quarantine are monitored by health services staff and receive temperature checks twice a day for signs of fever. If an inmate begins experiencing symptoms indicative of COVID-19, FDC will place the inmate in medical isolation and a COVID-19 test will be administered.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Sends Crews To Restore Power After Hurricane Isaias
August 1, 2020
Nearly 70 Gulf Power lineworkers and support personnel are headed to help restore power after Hurricane Isaias passes the Atlantic coast of Florida.
Gulf Power will help Florida Power & Light recover from the potential impact of Hurricane Isaias, which is currently forecast to brush the east coast of Florida. Even if the storm does not make landfall, winds and feeder bands could cause outages, flooding and other damage.
We understand how difficult it is, especially during these unprecedented times, to be without power, and what a critical role electricity plays to provide comfort for those at home and to help communities get back up and running,” said Marlene Santos, president of Gulf Power. “We will take all necessary measures to keep our crews safe and well as they work to restore power, as well as the communities that we will be working in. We stand ready to assist our FPL family in any way possible.”
The crews will follow COVID-19 safety guidelines to keep everyone safe, including social distancing, increased sanitation measures and wearing masks where appropriate. In addition, the crews are planning to be self-sufficient to limit contact with other teams. Signs on trucks remind the public to honor the 6 feet social distancing requirements that help keep the crews safe while they work.
Nearly 70 Gulf Power lineworkers and support personnel are headed east in advance of the storm so that they can get to work as soon as the storm has passed. Traveling with the team is Gulf Power’s new community response vehicle, which can serve as a mobile command center for the crews as well as a charging station for customers that are without power. The Gulf Power team joins resources from other out-of-state energy companies to ensure customers of its sister company FPL get their power back on safely and as quickly as possible.
Gulf Power has also released approximately 120 contractors who can also assist the FPL team, including debris removal and power restoration needs.
No Word On Injuries In Cantonment Rollover Wreck
August 1, 2020
There was no word on injuries in a rollover crash Friday evening in Cantonment.
The crash was reported about 6:40 p.m. on Pine Top Lane near Well Line Road. A SUV found overturned off the roadway in a brushy area. No one was around the vehicle, and the crash had apparently happened earlier in the afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details. Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Central Water Works Reopens Office After Temporary COVID-19 Related Closure
August 1, 2020
Century Water Works has reopened their business office to the public following a temporary closure due to COVID-19.
In late June, “a few” staff members learned they had been exposed to COVID-19, and the office was closed “out of concern for the health and safety” of customers, the utility said.
Even with the office reopened, customers can still leave payments in a secure dropbox on the front of the building, pay their bill by mail, make a credit or debit card payment by phone or pay online. Staff members are also available to provide customer service by phone or email.
Central Water Works has continued to respond to service requests as usual.
Central Water Works serves about 1,000 members in the McDavid, Century and Flomaton areas from their business office on Byrneville Road.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
August 1, 2020
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period from May 29-June 11 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
(Editor’s Note: FWC fell behind in issuing reports during the pandemic.)
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Specialist Allgood was at the Navy Point Boat Ramp when he observed a vessel violate the idle speed zone. When he spoke to the operator about the violation several signs of impairment were detected. Standard Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST) were conducted and the operator was arrested for boating under the influence and booked in the Escambia County Jail.
Officer Specialist Allgood along with Officer Graves worked a detail concentrating on fisheries enforcement in the gulf water off Pensacola Pass. Four citations were issued to different vessels for possession of red snapper during a closed season.
Officer Specialist Allgood and Officer Manning documented several violations dealing with fisheries enforcement. They issued three citations for possession of red snapper in closed season, five citations for possession of triggerfish in closed season, one citation for possession of an undersized amberjack and one citation for not landing a shark in whole condition.
Officer Specialist McHenry and Pettey conducted a fishery inspection on a vessel with several people fishing for spotted seatrout. A fisheries inspection located five spotted seatrout over 19 inches. Only one spotted seatrout over 19 inches is allowed on a vessel. The vessel operator was issued a citation for the violation.
Lieutenant Lambert was at the Navy Point Boat Ramp when he observed a personal watercraft (PWC) violating the idle speed zone. When Lieutenant Lambert stopped the vessel and spoke to the operator in reference to the violation, he noticed several signs of impairment. Standard Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST) were conducted and the operator was arrested for boating under the influence. The operator later refused to give a breath sample and was booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Officers Matechik and Rockwell were on federal fisheries patrol in the Gulf of Mexico when they observed a fishing vessel with three occupants. As they approached the vessel with their emergency blue lights on, they witnessed movement on the vessel and two fish were thrown overboard. They observed two red snapper floating alongside the vessel. A resource inspection also located a Spanish mackerel fillet. The appropriate enforcement action and citations were issued.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Roberson and Hutchinson were patrolling the Escambia River when they observed two subjects on a vessel near the bank of the river. After watching the vessel, the officers approached and contacted both subjects. The officers observed untagged bush hooks, live game fish and a flathead catfish in the vessel. Further investigation revealed the subjects had set out several bush hooks earlier in the evening and had baited one of the lines with a live gamefish. The subjects were both issued citations for possessing untagged bush hooks and for using gamefish as bait on bush hooks.
Officer Ramos patrolled the Blackwater River concentrating on public safety in the congested waterway. He conducted two separate Boating Under the Influence (BUI) investigations resulting in the arrest of each impaired operator and transport to the county jail. Officer Ramos contacted 50 vessels and issued 30 boating warnings or citations to boaters. Common violations included insufficient number of personal flotation devices (PFD), operators on personal watercraft not wearing a PFD, and infants on a vessel without a PFD. Various other safety, registration and restricted area violations were also addressed.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Motorcycle Burns After Crash In Bratt That Injured Two
July 31, 2020
Two people were reportedly injured in a single motorcycle crash in Bratt Thursday night.
The wreck was reported about 8:30 p.m. on Still Road about a mile north of Gobbler Road.
A passerby found the wreckage burning in a ditch and evidence of injuries, but no one around. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, extinguished the fire and searched the area for a victim.
It was later learned that two people on the motorcycle had been taken by private vehicle to Jay Hospital; one was reportedly in serious condition.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated and has not released details. Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Burglary Of A Church
July 31, 2020
A Cantonment man has been charged with stealing from an Escambia County church.
Jeffrey Sheriff, 39, is charged with burglary, grand theft and criminal mischief with property damage of $1,000 or more. All of the charges are felonies.
He allegedly broke into the Apostolic Global Church in Pensacola and stole a computer. Sheriff told deputies that he bought the computer from some he met in an alley behind the church, according to an arrest report.
Sheriff remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $15,000.
Escambia School District Approves New School Year Calendar
July 31, 2020
With the delay of the first day of school to August 24, the Escambia County School Board has approved a new calendar for the 2020-2021 school year.
The highlights are below, or click here for a printable pdf.
First Semester/First Nine-Week Grading Period
- August 17 – First day for teachers.
- August 21 – First day for Education Support staff members.
- August 24 – First day for students.
- September 7, Labor Day Holiday– All schools and offices will be closed.
October 27 – Last day of the first nine-week grading period.
- Second Nine-week Grading Period
- November 11, Veteran’s Day Holiday– All schools and offices will be closed.
- November 23 – 25, Fall Holiday – Teachers, students, 10-month and 11-month employees do not work these days.
- November 26 & 27 – Thanksgiving Holiday – All schools and offices will be closed. All students and staff will be off.
- December 21, 2020 to January 1, 2021, Winter Break and Holidays – All schools and offices are closed.
- January 4, 2021 – First day back for school staff and teachers.
- January 5, 2021 – First day back for students.
- January 15, 2021 – Last day of the second nine-week grading period and first semester.
Second Semester/Third Nine-Week Grading Period
- January 18, 2021, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – All schools and offices will be closed.
- March 15-19 – Spring Break – All students, teachers, 10-month and 11-month employees are off. Schools will be closed. District offices will be open.
- March 26, 2021 – Last day for the third nine-week grading period.
Fourth Nine-Week Grading Period
- April 2, 2021 – Teacher Work Day/Non-student day.
- May 31, 2021, Memorial Day – All schools and offices will be closed.
- June 2, 2021 – Last day for students, last day of the fourth nine-week grading period and the second semester.
- June 4, 2021 – Last day for teachers and 10-month employees.