Woman Pleads Guilty To Throwing Drink At Congressman Matt Gaetz
August 2, 2019
The woman accused of throwing a drink at Congressman Matt Gaetz during a June town hall meeting in Pensacola has pleaded guilty in federal court.
Amanda L. Kondrat’Yev, 35, was charged with assaulting a U.S. Congressman for throwing the drink at Gaetz as he was leaving his “We Won’t Back Down” town hall event at a Pensacola restaurant. The drink hit Gaetz in the back as he was making his way to his waiting car outside the main entrance of the Brew Ha Ha Restaurant.
She will be sentenced in October.
Free School Supplies, Haircuts And More Saturday In Molino
August 2, 2019
Victory Assembly of God will hold their Day of Hope Saturday, August 3 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The event will feature free backpacks, school supplies and student haircuts. Children must be present to receive supplies, and everything is while supplies last.
Victory Assembly of God is located at 1895 Victory Road (along Highway 29, just south of Barrineau Park Road and the Molino Forestry fire tower).
Two Escambia Deputies Honored By MADD For DUI Enforcement
August 2, 2019
Escambia County Deputy Sam Shelley (pictured left) and Deputy William Henley were both recognized at the MADD Northwest Florida annual ceremony for DUI Enforcement.
Henley received the Century Award for making over 100 DUI arrests in Escambia County during 2018 and was a nominee in the individual category for Outstanding Dedication to DUI Enforcement.
Deputy Sam Shelley was an Outstanding Dedication to DUI Enforcement (Individual Category) nominee.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida’s Five Day Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Is Underway
August 2, 2019
Florida’s five-day Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is underway until through Tuesday.
During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items will be exempt from tax including:
- Certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item
- Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item
- Computers and certain accessories selling for $1,000 or less per item
For a detailed list of items included, click here.
ECSO: Video Shows Suspect Open Fire In Ensley Neighborhood
August 1, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to identify a man captured on video firing a gun in an Ensley neighborhood.
The ECSO released the video Thursday showing the incident about 10:50 a.m. July 22 in the 8800 block of Figland Avenue. The video appears to show the suspect exit a dark colored sedan and walk down the street with a firearm. He walks back and forth on the street, looks around, and fires multiple shots before running back to the vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Cantonment Man Accused Of Threatening To Shoot Son During Argument
August 1, 2019
A Cantonment man is accused of threatening to shoot his son during an argument.
Douglas Leon Benjamin, Sr., 57, was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
During an argument, Benjamin allegedly displayed a firearm in his waistband and stated he was going to shoot his adult son at their trailer on Pettway Circle in Cantonment. The victim said Benjamin pulled out the gun, pointed at him and stated that he (the son) was going to die tonight, according to an arrest report.
Benjamine dropped the revolver during the argument, and the son picked it up and handed it to a cousin who hid it in a field until law enforcement arrived, the report states. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office retrieved the firearm, loaded with four rounds, from the field.
Benjamin told deputies he did get into a verbal argument, but he denied that he ever possessed or displayed a firearm during the altercation. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Escaped Inmate Tracked Through North Escambia Remains On The Run
August 1, 2019
An escaped inmate that was tracked through the North Escambia area remains on the run.
Travis Wyatt Dawson, 41, escaped from Loxley Work Release at about 9 p.m. July 10.
Authorities believe he was in the area of Rockaway Creek Road and Miller Road in Nokomis, FL, on July 12. The US Marshals and officers from the Alabama Department of Corrections were assisted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Atmore Police Department and other agencies in a manhunt in both Florida and Alabama along and near Rockaway Creek Road. That manhunt turned up empty.
Dawson was reportedly armed with a machete when he carjacked a minivan from a relative on Miller Road on Sunday, July 14. . The vehicle was later found abandoned in Mobile.
Dawson was sentenced to 20 years in 2013 on a possession of a controlled substance conviction in Escambia County, AL.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Alabama Department of Corrections at (800) 831-8825, the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or 911.
Pictured top: Officers from the Alabama Department of Corrections speak to an Escambia County (FL) deputy and a citizen a roadblock on Miller Road on July 12. Dawson allegedly carjacked a minivan just a few yards from this location two days later. Pictured below: An Escambia County (FL) Road Prison K-9 team searches near a Rockaway Creek Road bridge that spans the Alabama-Florida state line. Pictured bottom: An Escambia County (FL) deputy helps maintain a perimeter around a neighborhood along Rockaway Creek Road at Grubbs Street in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three People Suffer Raccoon Bites In Escambia County; Health Dept. Issues Warning
August 1, 2019
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County is urging residents and visitors to protect themselves from the risk of rabies exposure by avoiding contact with wild and stray animals after three people in Escambia County recently suffered racoon bites.
Kimberly Pace, FDOH-Escambia health educator consultant, declined to specify the geographic area in which the individuals were bitten. She said, “at this time FDOH-Escambia wants to ensure that all county residents are taking the precautions.”
The FDOH-Escambia advises against feeding or attempting to feed all wild and stray animals.
Rabies is a viral disease that infects the central nervous system. Without proper treatment, rabies can cause brain infection and death. Rabies is transmitted by a rabid animal by a bite, a scratch, or by contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, or mouth. A series of “rabies shots” can protect a bite victim from developing the rabies infection, if given soon after the bite occurs.
“Rabies is a fatal infection but is preventable,” notes FDOH-Escambia’s director, Dr. John J. Lanza. “It is important to not feed or pet wild and stray animals, to avoid animals that appear to be acting strangely, and to keep pets vaccinated against rabies. Persons who are bitten by a wild animal or an animal who has not been vaccinated against rabies should seek immediate medical care. Proper medical treatment of an animal bite can be life-saving.”
In Florida, raccoons, foxes, bats, and cats are the animals most frequently diagnosed with rabies. Other animals that are at high risk for rabies include dogs, bobcats, skunks, and otters. Because of their proximity to people, stray and unvaccinated cats and dogs pose a special risk.
You cannot always tell if an animal has rabies by looking at it. To protect yourself and your loved ones against rabies follow these steps:
- · Teach your children not to go near wild and stray animals, and never keep them as pets.
- · Vaccinate your dog, cat, ferret, or horse to protect against rabies. Keep vaccinations up-to-date.
- · Do not feed your pets outside. The food may attract wild animals.
- · Make sure your garbage is securely covered. Open garbage attracts wild and stray animals.
- · Spay or neuter your pet to reduce its tendency to roam or fight.
- · Do not let your pets roam freely or allow them to interact with wild or stray animals. Keep them in a fenced yard or on a leash.
- · Call Escambia County Animal Control, at 850-595-0097, to remove stray animals from your neighborhood.
- · Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come into contact with people and pets.
- · If your pet is bitten by another animal, immediately seek veterinary assistance for your animal and contact Escambia County Animal Control.
- · If you are bitten by a wild animal, or by any animal that is acting strangely, seek medical care as soon as possible so that a physician can evaluate your risk of rabies infection and administer the rabies vaccine if appropriate.
File photo.
Century Man Charged With Burglarizing Century Apartment Twice
August 1, 2019
A Century man is facing four felony counts for allegedly stealing a game system and other items from a local apartment.
Brandon Dewayne Jackson, 33 was charged with two felony counts of grand theft, burglary of an occupied dwelling and burglary of an unoccupied conveyance.
He is accused of stealing a PlayStation 4, a HDMI cable a house keys from a woman’s unit at the Century Woods Apartments on West Highway 4. The items were allegedly taken on two different dates after he got into an argument with the woman.
Jackson remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $25,000.
Medical Examiner Submits Resignation
August 1, 2019
District One Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrea Minyard has submitted her resignation effective September 30.
She cited problems the office faces with understaffing and an inadequate, overcrowded facility.
State Attorney Bill Eddins says he has been completely satisfied with Minyard’s work.
Minyard has served the district that includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties for the past 14 years.
Photo courtesy WEAR 3.