Cantonment Man Charged With Battery Of Deputy
November 1, 2019
A Cantonment man was charged in connection with battery of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy at a local trailer park.
Kristopher Karl Jernigan, 42, was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence. He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $20,000 bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded a report of juveniles burglarizing a vacant mobile home at a trailer park on Old Chemstrand Road.
The trailer park owner told deputies that she believed one of the juveniles to live in the neighboring mobile home.
The deputy walked over to the mobile home where Jernigan was extremely angry and yelling obscenities, and Jernigan was warned that he could face arrest for impeding the investigation, according to an arrest report.
Jernigan walked toward the deputy with clenched fists, at which time the deputy informed him that he was under arrest. As the deputy attempted to pull Jernigan’s hands behind his back, he “brutally threw his left elbow back, striking the left side of my neck just under my ear. Jernigan then threw his right elbow and struck me in my right shoulder,” the deputy’s report states.
Jernigan then tried to escape, running inside the trailer, the arrest report states. The deputy believed he ran into the residence possibly to retrieve a firearm or other weapon. He quickly ordered several child and people in the street to get out of the area as he called for backup.
As a supervisor arrived on scene, Jernigan stepped into the front doorway.
“I grabbed Jernigan and assisted him onto the front porch of the trailer, where his head hit the floor cause a slight cut over his eye,” the deputy wrote. After a continued struggle, he was handcuffed.
The deputy suffered a cut on his thumb and lump on his neck just below his ear but did not require medical attention.
New FWC Regulations On Importing Deer Carcasses From Alabama
November 1, 2019
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued an executive order that regulates bringing deer carcasses into the state from Alabama and Florida. The order went into effect Friday, November 1 in an attempt to reduce the risk of chronic wasting disease spreading into Florida.
Under the order, carcasses of deer, elk, moose, caribou and all other members of the deer family may not be imported into Florida from anywhere, except for legally harvested white-tailed deer originating from Alabama or Georgia, provided they meet certain requirements.
The order prohibits importing deer carcasses and parts except for deboned meat; finished taxidermy mounts; antlers; and hides, skulls, skull caps, and teeth if all soft tissue has been removed.
The executive order allows exceptions for white-tailed deer legally harvested in Alabama or Georgia provided the person possesses an FWC Georgia/Alabama Carcass Importation Permit prior to the carcass being imported into Florida; reports the carcass importation within 24 hours of entering Florida using the FWC’s online Georgia/Alabama Carcass Importation Reporting Form; and disposes of any remains using FWC-approved deer carcass disposal options.
White-tailed deer legally harvested from Alabama or Georgia properties that are bisected by the Florida state line and under the same ownership are exempt from importation permit, reporting and disposal requirements.
If CWD is detected in Georgia or Alabama, importing a carcass from that state would then be prohibited.
CWD is a transmissible disease of the nervous system that is fatal to deer, elk, moose, caribou and other members of the deer family. It remains undetected in Florida since surveillance measures were initiated in 2002 but is currently found in 26 states. It was most recently detected in Mississippi and Tennessee. The transportation of infected deer, elk, moose and caribou carcasses is one of the known risks for introducing CWD to new areas.
As part of its ongoing CWD surveillance program, the FWC is asking anyone who sees a sick, abnormally thin deer or finds a deer dead from unknown causes to call the CWD hotline, 866-CWD-WATCH (866-293-9282) and report the animal’s location.
Eight Teens Arrested In Crime Ring
November 1, 2019
Eight individuals ranging in age from 14 to 18 have been charged in a vehicle theft, vehicle burglary and robbery ring across three counties.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests on Thursday.
Those charged are: Terrance Anton Harris Jr., 18; Kody Allen Gresh, 18; Tony Lorenzo McGee, 16; Oreion Emanuel Lane, 17; Shawn Ladarius Albert, 14; Jacobi Donell Brown, 18; Roy Donta James III, 18; and Jacquavious Lamar Savage, 18.
“This group of young criminals have burglarized and stolen vehicles from Baldwin County, Alabama, Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties in Florida,” the ECSO said in a statement. “In Escambia County alone, over the past two weeks, this group of suspects have burglarized a large number of unlocked cars and stolen 30 vehicles.”
The ECSO said the investigation is “far from over” and additional arrests are expected.
Friday Night Football Finals
November 1, 2019
Here are Friday night football finals from around the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Northview 40, Jay 7
- West Florida 40, Tate 26
- Pine Forest 49, Gulf Breeze 7
- Escambia 52, Pensacola High 7
- Pensacola Catholic 29, Milton 28
- Oak Mountain, Ala. 27, Pace 24
- Vernon 36, Port St. Joe 13
ALABAMA
- Escambia County (Atmore) 24, Marion 16
- Escambia Academy (Atmore) 48, Fort Dale Academy (Greenville) 28
- T.R. Miller 7, W.S. Neal 6
- Flomaton 22, Southern Choctaw 8 (Thursday p.m.)
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Discrimination Lawsuit Against Sheriff David Morgan Settled
November 1, 2019
A discrimination lawsuit again Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan has been settled out of court.
The federal suit was filed by former Col. Laura Montoya against Morgan, the county and other employees of the Sheriff’s Office. Montoya claimed she was passed over for promotions, berated and demoted because of race and gender.
A $100,000 settlement was reached in the case by the Florida Sheriff’s Risk Management Fund (“FSRMF”), which is ECSO’s insurer, and Montoya, according to a statement released Thursday afternoon by the Sheriff’s Office.
The complete statement from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is below.
Escambia Fire Rescue Responds To Smoke Reported In Century Prison Dorm
November 1, 2019
Multiple area fire departments responded to Century Correctional Institution early Friday morning after a report of light smoke and fire alarms in one of the dorm units.
The smoke was reportedly traced to an electrical problem in a heating unit. There were no injuries reported in the 1 a.m. incident.
The Century, McDavid, Walnut Hill, Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department and Escambia County EMS responded to the call.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Photos: Trunk Or Treaters Enjoy The Night
November 1, 2019
Several churches and community organizations held Trunk or Treat events Thursday night to provide a safe alternative for children.
Instead of going door to door in a neighborhood, children go car to car or tent to collect their candy.
“The turnout has been great, and the kids are having a great time,” Century Chamber of Commerce President Mary Bourgeois said during the chamber’s event at Showalter Park. It was the first time the chamber held a trunk or treat with several community groups and businesses taking part. Volunteers from Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were also on hand with a special witch’s brew, and a few brave souls took the plunge in a dunking booth despite cold windy conditions.
At Highland Baptist Church in Molino, children also enjoyed trunk or treating, receiving candy in family friendly environment.
For a photo gallery from the Century Chamber event, click here.
For a photo gallery from the Highland Baptist event in Molino, click here.
NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
3-Year Old Struck And Killed By Vehicle In Atmore
October 31, 2019
A young child was struck and killed by a vehicle Thursday night in Atmore.
It happened in the Fillmore Drive driveway entrance to the the Lil’ Angels daycare located directly across from Rachel Patterson Elementary School on Rockaway Creek Road.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said the 3-year old was hit by a vehicle driven by a teenage sibling. When officers arrived at the daycare, the child was found in the driveway and pronounced deceased at the scene by medics.
“According to witnesses at the scene, a female was seen exiting the daycare and began walking to a vehicle. Witnesses said two small children followed behind her and when the vehicle began moving, one of the children was struck. The other child was not injured,” Brooks said.
The driver of the vehicle was later identified as the child’s 15-year old sister.
Brooks stressed that the accident was in no way related to Halloween or trick-or-treating.
Names have not been released. The accident remained under investigation Thursday night.
Editor’s note: The age of the child has been updated to 3; police first stated on scene that the child was believed to be 4-years old.
Pictured top: The vehicle that struck and killed a 3-year old child Thursday night in Atmore. Pictured below: Officers investigate the accident at the rear entrance to the Lil’ Angels Daycare. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Placed On Lockdown Due To Threat
October 31, 2019
Ransom Middle School was placed on a brief lockdown Thursday morning due to a threat.
The written threat was located within the school, but it was not immediately known if it was left Thursday or sometime previously, according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Andrew Hobbs. He said surveillance video was being reviewed as the investigation continues.
Escambia County School District Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross said the lockdown was brief, lasting only about 15 minutes before it was lifted.
The exact nature of the threat was not released by the school district or Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Parents were notified of the lockdown by a telephone callout from the school.
File photo.
Century Considers Millions In Proposals To Fix Gas, Sewer Problems With Little Upfront Cash
October 31, 2019
Century is considering two proposals to bail the town out of million of dollars of trouble with the natural gas department and aging wastewater treatment facility (WWTP) without much upfront cash.
Millions In Sewer System Problems
The nonprofit Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) has created an asset management plan that identifies the most urgent and critical needs in the town’s water system. The plan is a requirement for participating in the State Revolving Fund Program. Century may receive financing or a grant up to 90% of an estimated $7 million plus price tag to fix the WWTP and sewer system to bring them into compliance with Florida Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
If the town receives a 90% grant, they hope to cover most or all of the 10% match with funds from Sen. Doug Broxson and the state, and Commission Steven Barry and Escambia County.
Installing Gas Meters At No Real Cost
Florida Gas Utility (FGU) is proposing to connect Century to the Peninsula Pipeline Company (PPC) and the Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) Transportation Service Agreement, build a gate station for the town, connect to the town’s existing delivery system, and replace every natural gas meter not covered an existing agreement with Pensacola Energy.
Century currently receives service from the Gulf South Pipeline on a “pay as you go” type rate for the quantity of pipeline capacity at $1 per dekatherm, which is 1 million BTUs.
FGU is recommending a 20 year term with the additional connection to Peninsula Pipeline at a cost of 40 cents per dekatherm. There would be a contracted capacity of 120 dekatherm per day in summer, 750 dekatherm per day in winter. That’s higher than the town’s historical usage, allowing for growth. There would be a 273,000 minimum over the first five years.
Century would also need additional capacity at a cost of 6 cents per dekatherm, using excess capacity from the Town of Jay. The total expected cost would be 46 cents per dekatherm, compared to $1 from Gulf South.
Under the agreement, FGU would build a new gate station to connect to PPC and pay the estimated $200,000 to $250,000 cost normally paid by the customer. In addition, PPC would build Century’s part of the station and charge the town for the actual cost of such work plus a negotiated markup estimated at $50,000 to $75,000.
Pensacola Energy is under contract to replace 10 commercial gas meters, including the meter at Century Correctional Institution. FPU will replace all other meters, both commercial and residential, for the actual costs plus a negotiated markup over time. The cost is estimated at $75,000 for 500 meters at $150 per meter.
In order to pay for the gate station and meter replacements, FGU will bill Century the 46 cents per dekatherm for the pipeline capacity. The town will also repay the gate station at 22 cents per dekatherm and 33 cents per dekatherm for the meter installations for a total of $1.01 per dekatherm, just a penny over the current costs on Gulf South.
Pictured: Century’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. NorthEscambia.com photo.