Home Invasion, Shooting Took Place At Home Used For Drug Distribution, ECSO Says
February 26, 2020
The reported home invasion that ended with a shooting Monday off Nine Mile Road was at a residence being used for drug activity, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call on Sunnehanna Boulevard shortly after 2 p.m. Monday. They discovered it was possibly a home invasion, and the suspect had been driven to a local hospital and dropped off.
The ECSO obtained a search warrant, and what they found inside the home added another angle to the investigation.
“We did a search warrant that uncovered evidence of narcotics distribution inside,” ECSO Major Andrew Hobbs said. “But the homeowner is not being forthcoming and stories don’t match. At this point we are not sure if it was a home invasion or a drug deal gone bad.”
The alleged suspect was dropped off at West Florida Hospital with gunshot wounds by someone driving a pickup truck. A deputy spotted the pickup in the parking lot and gave chase. After the pickup collided with several vehicles, the chase was called off.
At last report, there had been no arrests in the case as deputies work through their investigation.
“The person sitting in the hospital with gunshot wounds is not being cooperative and neither is the homeowner,” Hobbs said.
Photos courtesy Renee Beninate/WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Breaking Into Home, Maybe Even Swinging On The Porch
February 26, 2020
A Century man has been charged after allegedly breaking into an unoccupied home, perhaps even swinging on the front porch while he was there.
Christopher George Pace, 37, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of burglary and criminal mischief with property damage.
A Cantonment man reported that someone burglarized a house he owns in the 300 block of Front Street in Century. When he arrived at the home, he was unable to open the front door, crawled through a window and discovered the front door had been secured from the inside using a 2×4. He said the windows inside his house had been covered by items left inside to make repairs, such as tar paper, plywood and insulation boards, making it impossible for anyone to see inside of the home. The owner also reported that the backdoor was unlocked and that a window with a broken pane was slightly opened at the bottom.
He placed a camera in order to identify who had been entering his home and later captured a man he recognized as Pace at the window and door, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. A neighbor also reported seeing a white male matching Pace’s general description sitting in the home’s front porch swing.
When deputies made contact with Pace, he told them he owned that house, not the victim, the report states. The victim denied the claim, stating that he has owned the property for the past 10 years and Pace has not right of any kind to the home.
Escambia River Gun Club’s Foundation Presents Law Enforcement Student Scholarships
February 26, 2020
Representatives from the ERML Sportsman Foundation visited the George Stone Technical College’s Criminal Justice Training Center on Feb. 25 to present two students attending the GSTC Law Enforcement Academy with scholarship checks for $1000 each to help the students cover the cost of tuition and lab fees
The ERML Sportsman Foundation presented scholarships Tuesday to two students at the George Stone Technical College’s Criminal Justice Training Center.
Pierce Cotton and J.T. McDaniel received $1,000 each to help cover the cost of tuition and lab fees.
“You guys are the next generation of law enforcement officers. You are the people that protect us. The Escambia River Gun Club has always been supportive of law enforcement and, we give scholarships. So,two of you guys are going to get scholarships today,” said Mike Roberts, member of the Escambia River Gun Club and president of the ERML Foundation. “A lot of times you guys might feel that you are not appreciated. You really are. The people who do appreciate you are the good guys. The ones that don’t appreciate you, they are the bad guys and they are the ones that you are going to be putting in jail.”
The GSTC Criminal Justice Training Center requires 770 hours of training
Pictured: (L-R) ERML Foundation President Mile Roberts; GSTC Criminal Justice Training Center students Pierce Cotton at J.T. McDaniel, Foundation Treasurer Richard Holsher and Foundation member Bob Drandridge during a scholarship presentation Tuesday. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Junkyard Training: Firefighters Practice Extrication Skills
February 26, 2020
Escambia Fire Rescue firefighters hit the junkyard Tuesday to practice their vehicle extrication skills.
Crews focused on speciality equipment carried by Squad 3 — the county’s special operations team. They used battery-powered “Jaws of Life” and a strutting system, which much like an Erector set that can be used to stabilize a vehicle.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Softball Takes Two From Escambia; Flomaton Baseball Beats Northview
February 26, 2020
SOFTBALL
Tate 5, Escambia 1 (varsity)
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Escambia 5-1 Tuesday night.
Avery Beauchaine earned the win for the Aggies, pitching a complete game allowing four hits and one run while striking out eight.
At the plate for the Aggies: Hannah Halfacre 2-4, R, RBI; Avery Beauchaine 1-4, RBI, 2B; Lilly Locke 1-2, R; Christina Mason 2-2; Ryleigh Cawby 1-4, R; Cam Wolfenden 1-1, R; Madison Holland RBI; Sophia Jones 1-3, RBI; Courtney Lundquist 2-3, R, RBI, 2B.
Tate 14, Escambia 7 (JV)
BASEBALL
Flomaton 6, Northview 3
The Flomaton Hurricanes defeated the Northview Chiefs 6-3 Tuesday night after falling behind in the bottom of the second.
Alex Cash went six innings for the Hurricanes, striking out five while allow three runs on one hit. Jackson Steele tossed on inning in relief.
Cash went 1-4 with one run at the plate. Also for Flomaton: Sam Smith 2-4, 2RBI, 3B; Jackson Steele 2-3, 2R; Jerry Carnley 1-3, R, RBI; Dalton Kent 1-1 , R; Will Rolin 1-2, R; Will Smith RBI.
Northview’s Adam Aliff went for two innings, allow three runs on one hit while striking out four. Bradley Freeman threw four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out two.
For Northview: Jamarkus Jefferson, 1-4, R; Bryce Korinchak R; Dalton Burke R; Adam Alif RBI.
Tate Girls Tennis At 2-0 After Win Over Washington
February 26, 2020
The Tate High Aggies girls tennis team is off to a 2-0 start to their season after 3-2 win over Washington Tuesday.
The Aggies had big wins with Emily Grover (8-8, 10-8), Kasidy Butler (8-5), and Taji Williams, who was down 3-1 but charged back to an 8-5 win.
Tate’s next match is at Navarre on Thursday.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlargge.
Pensacola Police Officer Steven Grogan Passes Away After Battle With Brain Cancer
February 25, 2020
Pensacola Police Officer Stephen Grogan has passed away after battling a rare form of brain cancer.
Officer Grogan passed peacefully just before 7:00 am today at his home with his family by his side.
After being diagnosed at age 31 with glioblastoma in 2017, he underwent multiple rounds of a chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He was able to successfully recover and return to work, but in early 2019 a new tumor was found.
He was a U.S. Marine combat veteran when he joined the Pensacola Police Department in 2016. Grogan is survived by his wife Christina and two little boys.
“I’m proud of the community we live in. They showed a huge amount of concern and support to us and Officer Grogan’s family, and it is appreciated more than they can ever know,” Police Chief Tommi Lyter said.
Mayor Grover Robinson said “I was deeply saddened to learn of Officer Grogan’s passing this morning. It was truly an honor to know him, and to witness his dedication to his family and service to the City of Pensacola. Our hearts are grieving this tremendous loss along with Officer Grogan’s family, the Pensacola Police Department, and the entire community.”
Funeral services and other arrangements have not yet been announced.
To help his family, you can donate here.
Longtime Retired Alabama State Trooper Jimmy Dean Passes Away
February 25, 2020
The Atmore community is mourning the loss of longtime retired state trooper James (Jimmy) Dean.
Dean passed away Saturday at the age of 53 with 25 years of service in law enforcement. He graduated from the Alabama State Trooper Academy in 1995 and retired after 22 years. Shortly after his retirement, he continued to serve his community as a Poarch Creek Indian Tribal police officer.
He was a 1984 graduate of Escambia County High School in Atmore, where he was a member of the 1983 state championship football team. He pursued a collegiate baseball career that began at Patrick Henry Junior College, where he led the team in hitting his freshman year. He then transferred to the University of Montevallo for a short time before finishing his career at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) where he was named Offensive Player of the Year while at AUM.
Visitation will be held Wednesday at Petty Eastside Chapel from 6-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at the McCullough Christian Center with burial to follow at Serenity Garden Cemetery.
For the complete obituary, click here.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Resident Shoots Deer In Golf Course Community
February 25, 2020
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending February 6 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Specialist Clark received information of deer being shot in a residential golf course community. The complainant found two separate deer shot in her driveway four days apart.
Officer Specialist Clark and Officer Long went to the residence and talked to the homeowner. As they looked around the property, they noticed a fresh blood trail from the complainant’s residence extending across the road to one of the neighbor’s backyard. There they found a hole with fresh corn and a salt block commonly used to attract deer. There was also evidence of fresh blood trails in the property owner’s driveway.
Officers Clark and Long contacted the owner who admitted to shooting the deer and possibly another one that ran off. The subject had deer meat in a cooler outside his front door and a fresh head of a six-point buck buried by his sidewalk. The subject was cited accordingly.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
No report received for Santa Rosa county.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Downtown Atmore Buildings Coming Down, Being Replaced By Green Space
February 25, 2020
An Atmore bank is working to bring new life to a large portion of a downtown block.
Work is underway on the former Western Auto property and adjacent buildings at 121 South Main Street, next to the First National Bank & Trust’s main office. New green space, lights and sidewalks will be added following demolition, and remaining buildings will feature murals depicting Atmore.
“We’re bringing life and opportunities back into community spaces that have been left empty for some time,” said Greg Davis, project lead for the bank. “Transforming this historic vacant property into beautiful, open green space not only fosters growth and stronger communities but also contributes to a cleaner and healthier Atmore.”
The property is almost across the street from the historic Strand Theatre and the Atmore Hardware building that are currently undergoing renovations and restoration. (Click here for an earlier story.)
Pictured top: A drawing of plans for part of the 100 block of South Main Street in Atmore. Pictured below: The buildings that are being demolished. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
