Man Gets 15 Years On Long List Of Charges In Cantonment Drug Case
December 18, 2019
A has been sentenced in Cantonment drug case.
Derrow Peterson, Sr. to 15 years in state prison. He must serve the full sentence as a minimum mandatory.
Peterson, 49, entered a plea on October 7 to the charges of trafficking in cocaine (400 grams or more but less than 150 kilograms), trafficking in hydrocodone, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of alprazolam with intent to sell, possession of clonazepam with intent to sell, possession of diazepam with intent to sell, possession of tramadol with intent to sell, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On July 18, 2018, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office narcotics investigators served a search warrant at a residence on Horsemens Path as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.
Peterson, his girlfriend, and two of their children were located in the residence. Peterson was located in the master bathroom, and all of the narcotics were found in the master bathroom. he admitted possession of the narcotics and also the firearm, located in the master bedroom. Peterson is a convicted felon and has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for possession of controlled substances with intent to sell.
Portion Of Highway 29 To Be Dedicated To FHP Trooper Killed 30 Years Ago In Cantonment
December 18, 2019
A portion of Highway 29 will be dedicated Friday to the memory of a fallen Florida Highway Patrol trooper killed in wreck in Cantonment.
Highway 29 from Neal Road to Nine Mile Road will be designated as the “Trooper Milan D. Hendrix Memorial Highway”.
Hendrix was on routine patrol duty about 10 p.m. on the night of June 1, 1989, when he was involved in an accident with a log truck on Highway 29.
He was southbound in front of the paper mill in Cantonment as an empty log truck turned onto Highway 29. The patrol vehicle went under the trailer. Witnesses said he may have been in a pursuit at the time.
“Trooper Hendrix served the residents of our state with great honor as a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper” said Major Warren Fast, Florida Highway Patrol, Troop A Commander. “His service and dedication will forever be remembered.”
At the time of his death, Trooper Hendrix was 37 years old and had served the residents of Florida with the Florida Highway Patrol for nine years. Milan Hendrix’s brother, Marque Hendrix, was also a FHP trooper that patrolled North Escambia county. He has since retired after 30 years on the force.
A formal dedication ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Pensacola FHP station at 150 Stumpfield Road.
FBI Returns Control Of Deadly NAS Shooting Building Back To Navy, Holds Moment Of Silence
December 18, 2019
The FBI has returned control of Building 633, site of the deadly shooting December 6 onboard NAS Pensacola, to the U.S. Navy.
Tuesday, FBI Special Agent in Charge Rachel Rojas and NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Captain Tim Kinsella co-led a moment of silence on the steps of the Naval Schools Command in honor of the three victims lost in the attack. Eight others were injured.
The FBI then transferred the facility to NCIS and the Navy.
The FBI said the physical search for evidence in the building is complete, but the FBI will continue 24/7 command post operations to track any and all leads.
Meanwhile, the building will remain closed indefinitely for repairs.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
December’s Seventh Residential Fire Occurs In Escambia County
December 18, 2019
Escambia County Fire Rescue has placed another red bulb on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath, bringing the total to seven structure fires so far this December. Last year’s campaign concluded with seven red bulbs.
The seventh fire occurred in the 1400 block of North W. Street on Monday, December 16.
At 8:06 a.m., ECFR received multiple calls reporting smoke and flames coming from a two-story building. Upon arrival, units saw a working fire showing from a private dwelling. ECFR contained the fire in the building of origin and brought it under control in an hour. One apartment was a total loss, but the rest of the structure remained intact. The State Fire Marshal found that a series of overloaded extension cords caused the fire.
Smoke alarms were not present at the time of the incident. If your home does not have a working smoke detector, please call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376) or 850-436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Police Honor Officer And Sergeant Of The Month
December 18, 2019
The Atmore Police Department is recognizing two of their own for their professionalism and dedication.
Officer Logan Weber (pictured above) was named Officer of the Month for November, and Sgt. James Beasley (pictured below) was named Sergeant of the Month. The awards, presented by Lt. Ken Sessions, are given for “providing outstanding police services to the citizens of Atmore with the highest order of integrity and dependability and in a manner that exemplifies the goals of the department”.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Board Seat Empty For 10 Months Is Now Filled
December 18, 2019
After a 10-month vacancy, a vacant seat on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Board has now been officially filled.
Dr. Cedric Alexander was sworn in as the District 3 member during a Tuesday board meeting.
“I feel privileged to have this opportunity to serve the residents of District 3,” said Alexander, “and to carry on for Mr. McCorvey, who accomplished so much during his many years on the ECUA Board.”
On November 26, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Alexander to the District 3 seat that was left empty after the death of board member Elvin McCorvey on January 20.
Alexander, a Pensacola native, is a retired law enforcement executive. He began his career as a deputy with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in 1977. He served as a police officer and detective in Orlando and Miami, as deputy chief and chief of police of the Rochester Police Department in New York and as federal security director with the United States Department of Homeland Security overseeing the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
In 2013, he was appointed chief of police for DeKalb County, Georgia and later transitioned to deputy chief operating officer/public safety director for the department. He served as deputy mayor for the City of Rochester. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology and his master’s degree in family therapy from St. Thomas University and his doctorate in clinical psychology from Wright State University.
Lots Of Deliveries On The Road This Christmas Season. This Was Probably The Biggest.
December 17, 2019
There are a lot of deliveries on the road this Christmas season. This might just be the biggest in Escambia County. And it’s not going to fit under the tree.
Traffic on Highway 29 was backed up Tuesday morning as the super-oversized load traveled north on Highway 29. Escorted by the Florida Highway Patrol, the truck stopped at every intersection to make sure it would fit under the traffic lights.
There’s no word on what the delivery is or where it was headed. (So sorry if we ruined your Christmas surprise. And good luck on the wrapping.)
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Missing, Endangered Adult Last Seen At Molino Tom Thumb
December 17, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for missing and endangered adult last seen at the Tom Thumb at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
Collin Dewayne Book was last seen on Monday, December 16. He was wearing khaki shorts, and unknown color t-shirt, a brown leather vest with a satin back, and tennis shoes. He was also carrying a baby blue color backpack. Authorities said he may be in need of medical attention.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Collin Dewayne Book is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Police: Beulah Woman’s Tumblr Account Contained Over 700 Child Porn Images
December 17, 2019
A Beulah woman was charged after over 700 child porn images were found on a popular online social media and blogging service.
Katie Nicole Gibbons, 20, was charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography. Her bond was set at $250,000.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided cybertips to Pensacola Police about a Tumblr user that had allegedly posted what appeared to be child pornography. Police obtained a search warrant for the Tumbler account and discovered 732 images that appeared to be child pornography.
According to arrest report, Gibbons was the person behind that Tumblr account with images that showed both prepubescent girls and boys engaged in numerous sexual acts with other children or adults.
Pensacola Police investigators determined the IP address associated with the Tumblr account was from Gibbons’ home on Stiller Lake Road in Beulah, and the investigation then was then handed over to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. A search warrant was served at the home by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security.
Authorities seized 34 digital devices from the residence. No child pornography was found on any of the items seized, but some of the devices contained “deviant pornography” including beastiality, the arrest report states. Investigators noted that additional search warrants are forthcoming as the the activity occurred primarily in the cloud and was most likely not stored on the devices.
Gibbons’ statements after her arrest were redacted from the report.
The arrest report states of the 732 images, 51 are of kown children that have been rescued by law enforcement, 253 have been reported before but the children are likely still in the care and custody of their abusers, and 428 of the images are new and have never been seen before because they are yet unseen victims or the computer files have been altered from their original forms. There is no indication in the arrest report that any of the victims are local.
Century Hires Vernon Prather As Interim City Manager; Councilman Says He’s Not Their Savior
December 17, 2019
Over strong objections for one council member, the Century town council voted 4-1 Monday night to hire Vernon Prather as interim town manager.
“All the sudden he’s now wanting to be our savior. No thanks, I don’t need you,” council member James Smith told Prather during a Monday night council meeting before casting dissenting vote.
Prather began working for the town on a consulting basis as part of a $35 an hour package deal when now Interim City Manager Buz Eddy came on board in July. Prather later moved into the position of interim gas department manager.
The town advertised for a city manager but had only five applicants, including Prather. Eddy did not apply, telling the town council that he would stick around until a replacement could be hired. Eddy then recommended that the applications be scrapped and Prather be hired as interim city manager under an 11 month contract that begins January 1.
“You are trying to mini-mafia people,” Smith said Monday night. “You guys want to do things completely the wrong way.
Prather will be paid $40 an hour for 30 hours per week, or $1,200 per week as an independent contractor. He will have complete control over his work schedule and hours worked. If he exceeds 30 hours per week, he will not be paid overtime but will be allowed to take comp time off at his discretion. He will also receive a $600 per month vehicle allowance, but will not receive employee benefits such as vacation, retirement or insurance.
“We are still getting robbed, and I don’t like it. I got a huge problem with it,” Smith said.” We do not need a city manager, especially for this price. This is Century. How in the world are we going to support this budget? It just doesn’t make sense to me. Let’s get three more employees. Let’s hire three more people in the town of Century to help move Century forward…I’m not comfortable with this at all. For anybody to sit here and think it is ok, it’s a problem.”
Council president Ann Brooks said the town needs Prather right now, especially to oversee their gas, water and wastewater systems.
Prather served Gulf Breeze in various positions from 2006 to 2017, including director of public services, operations consultant and assistant city manager. He also hold wastewater and water system certifications.
Council member Sandra McMurray Jackson said she believes Prather will be worth his high price tag.
“You have to pay. If you take the cheap route out, you are going to get just what you get. Everything is costly now,” Jackson said. “You can hire 20 people but if they can’t do what needs to be done here, we are still right back where we started from. This man has not only the education background, he has the work experience that is very important, very important…Vernon is what we have. We gonna take what we have and we are going to work with it.”
The council will have the right to suspend Prather with full pay and benefits at anytime if the council and Prather mutually agree, or if the council votes to suspend him for just cause after he’s been given 10 days notice.
If the council terminates Prather before the expiration of the contract, they will owe him a lump sum cash payment of six weeks salary. Prather can be terminated for cause including criminal conviction. If Prather resigns, he will provide 45 days advance notice, unless all parties agree otherwise.
Pictured top: Vernon Prather addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. Pictured top inset; Councilman James Smith. Pictured lower inset: Council member Sandra McMurray Jackson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.