FWC Law Enforcement Report
January 25, 2019
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending January 3 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Land was conducting resource inspections on the Escambia River. He encountered a group of subjects who were duck hunting. Officer Land began checking each subject’s firearm to ensure it was only capable of holding three shells. One of the subjects informed Officer Land that his shotgun did not have a plug in it. Officer Land inspected the firearm and found that it could hold more than three shells. It is not legal to use a firearm capable of holding more than three shells to take migratory birds. The appropriate action was taken for the violation.
Officers Allgood and Jackson located a baited site on Escambia River Wildlife Management area. Officer Allgood continued to monitor the baited site for several days. Officers Allgood and Hutchinson along with K9 Zara saw a boat parked near the baited stand. The officers approached the subject and after a short interview, the subject admitted to placing food attractant in the management area. The subject was issued a resource citation for placing bait in the Wildlife Management Area.
Officer Allgood was on water patrol working duck hunting on the Escambia River. He saw a group of duck hunters and conducted a resource inspection after the hunt was over. During the inspection, Officer Allgood found one of the subject’s shotgun was unplugged and could hold more than three shells. Officer Allgood issued the group several citations to include hunting waterfowl with a shotgun capable of holding more than three rounds and multiple license violations.
Officer Allgood was on water patrol on the Escambia River working duck hunting. He conducted a resource inspection on a group of duck hunters. The inspection revealed that a subject had taken four wood ducks using lead shot. Officer Allgood issued a resource citation to the subject for taking ducks with lead shot.
Officer Allgood checked a mullet harvester underneath the Highway 90 Bridge in Milton. During his inspection of his fish and fishing license, Officer Allgood smelled a strong odor of cannabis coming from the subject’s bag located next to him. The officer explained he smelled cannabis and asked the man where it was. The man admitted to having cannabis in the bag. During the inspection of the bag, Officer Allgood found cannabis, methamphetamine, a metal pipe with residue in it, another metal pipe and a small digital scale. The subject was placed under arrest and transported and booked in the Santa Rosa Jail.
Officer Cushing was working the Escambia River WMA at location known to be frequented by duck hunters. After legal shooting hours expired, he heard 18 shotgun shots from a group of subjects. Officer Cushing waited until they returned to land and questioned the two subjects about legal waterfowl shooting hours. Both subjects admitted to shooting after hours. In addition, one of the subjects was using an unplugged shotgun. The appropriate state citations were issued.
Officers Cushing and Clark conducted a fisheries inspection of a recreational fishing vessel returning through the Pensacola Pass. Officer Clark discovered several closed season gray triggerfish in the vessel’s cooler. Officer Clark documented the state violations accordingly.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Land witnessed a pickup truck transporting a large quantity of used tires on the highway. The vehicle was not displaying the proper decal to transport more than 25 waste tires. Officer Land conducted a traffic stop to address the violation. There were three individuals in the vehicle. The driver did not possess the required permit to haul more than 25 waste tires, he was driving with a suspended driver’s license and he was in possession of drug paraphernalia. The two passengers both had warrants out of Okaloosa County. The appropriate actions were taken to address the violations.
While on patrol during the recent archery season on Eglin WMA, Officer Jones found a baited hunting site. After checking the area for several days without contact with the subject, he seized all hunting equipment at the site as evidence. After an investigation Officer Jones was able to identify the owner of the hunting equipment and was able to file charges for placing bait on a wildlife management area.
Officer Mullins was on water patrol on the Escambia River working duck hunting. He heard several shots that were after the legal hunting hours. The officer located four subjects who admitted to shooting after hours. Upon inspection Officer Mullins discovered one of the subjects with an unplugged shotgun, and another hunting with no valid hunting license. Officer Mullins issued the appropriate citations and warnings.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Company Makes $200K Proposal To Make Century A Renewable Energy Showcase
January 24, 2019
A California company is proposing about $200,000 worth of energy saving upgrades at three Century town properties, NorthEscambia.com has learned.
EMESGY, a consulting company in Torrance, CA, presented written proposals for potential cost saving energy upgrades from ADC Energy of California to the electrical systems at the Century Town Hall, the “Ag Building” community center on West Highway 4 and the former Helicopter Technology building in the Century Industrial Park. The industrial park building is currently unoccupied.
On October 29, Hawkins emailed the general Escambia County District 5 address inviting Barry to attend a presentation from Mark Endo of EMESGY. The presentation was set for the following afternoon.
On November 27, Century Mayor Hawkins forwarded a copy of the proposals in an email to Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry. “I’m hoping to get your approval on using economic money to do these. If we can do either City Hall or the Community Center would be great,” Hawkins wrote.
Barry said he did not respond to either email, and he has not presented the proposals to the Escambia County Commission.
Escambia County has committed $105,000 for economic development in the Century area this fiscal year. Proposals for the money are presented to Barry who in turn seeks approval of the entire commission at a regular meeting. So far, the commission has approved only $24,500 to the University of West Florida Haas Center for a market analysis.
The Proposals
“ADC Energy is patented technology that allows transmission of low-voltage DC to travel long distance using existing wiring. It is now possible for you to battery power your entire facility with ADC Energy,” the company states on its website.
The proposals were in three phases. In the first phase, lighting in each building would be upgraded to “24V Battery powered facility lighting.” The second phase would add solar panels, and third phase would be a solar-powered HVAC system.
The total cost of the equipment, design and installation totaled $197,642 for just the first phase, itemized as follows:
- Town Hall: $34,593
- Community Center: $43,368
- Industrial Park Building: $119,681
Endo proposed the project would be a “renewable energy showcase … to secure massive visibility in local, national, and international media viewed by domestic and international audiences” in an email to Hawkins.
The email also stated, “Century and EMESGY will invite Miami International University (MIU) who is the 4th largest R & D University in the US to work with Century to establish an offsite joint R & D initiative with MIU funding, new jobs, and technology development.”
According to their website, the Miami International University of Art & Design “is one of The Art Institutes, a system of schools throughout North America,” and MIU offers degrees in design, fashion and media arts.
Endo suggests in his email that notification be sent to governors, senators, local to international media, and educational institutions to alert them of Century’s renewable energy initiatives and make Century a showcase.
Hawkins has not presented the proposals to the Century Town Council.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Tased During Traffic Stop, Charged With Two Felonies
January 24, 2019
A Cantonment man tased by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies during a traffic stop is facing two felony charges.
Dalan Lamar Beasley, 29, was charged with felony trafficking in methamphetamine, resisting an officer with violence and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
Deputies in an unmarked vehicle conducted a traffic stop January 18 on a Dodge Dart driven by a female on West Hope Drive, near I-10 and Highway 29, due to a tint violation.
When Beasley exited the passenger side of the vehicle, he did not comply with multiple orders from the deputies, according to an arrest report. Instead, he struggled against deputies and placed his hand down his pants. As he continued to “violently resist” he was tased before being taken into custody.
During a search, deputies found a bag containing methamphetamine in Beasley’s groin area. Inside they car, they found a marijuana cigarette.
Beasley was booking into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $66,000.
The female driver received warnings for a window tint violation and improperly wearing a seat belt.
Century Prison Visitors Caught With Contraband
January 24, 2019
The Florida Department of Corrections continues their zero tolerance policy for any type of contraband.
On January 19, staff conducted a pat search of a visitor and discovered two concealed bundles of marijuana. During a subsequent search of their vehicle, additional packaged bundles of marijuana were located. The visitor was arrested for introduction of contraband and possession. The suspect’s name was not released by the FDOC.
On January 20, the institution’s K-9 team alerted on two separate visitors. The first visitor admitted to having consumed narcotics, prior to their arrival. Their visit was terminated. The second visitor was found to have marijuana, located in their vehicle. Their visitation was also terminated.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
ECAT Holds Workshop On North Escambia Community Transportation Service
January 24, 2019
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) held their first in a series of workshops Wednesday night on expanded local service in North Escambia.
The North Escambia Transportation Service Pilot Project will roll on February 20.
The community meeting was held in Byrneville, and there is another meeting on calendar Thursday, January 31 at the Molino Community Center at 5 p.m. ECAT officials say at least one other meeting in Century will be scheduled.
The North Escambia Transportation Service Pilot Project is a door-to-door on demand transportation project that is funded through a $50,000 Transportation Disadvantaged Mobility Enhancement Grant. The project will service Walnut Hill, Davisville and Bratt on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Century, Molino and McDavid on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
ECAT Division Manager Tonya Ellis announced that the service hours had been updated to 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. to allow connections to the ECAT Route 60 bus that connects Century, Molino and Cantonment to the rest of the ECAT system.
To qualify for the program, participants must live north of Quintette Road within Escambia County and complete a short application (click to download). All trips will require a 24-hour advance reservation by calling (850) 595-0501 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. The participant’s fare will be $1 for each trip.
The service is available for anyone living in the service area that completes the application and meets one or more of the following conditions:
- Persons with no other means of transportation that do not live on a bus route
- Persons age 60 or older
- Persons with disabilities
- Persons that have an economic hardship
Pictured: ECAT Division Manager Tonya Ellis explains the North Escambia Transportation Service Pilot Project during a public workshop Wednesday night at the Byrneville Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Beulah Road Closure At Nine Mile Begins Friday
January 24, 2019
Beulah Road at the intersection with Nine Mile Road will be closed beginning Friday, January 25 at 8 p.m. Traffic will be detoured from Nine Mile Road to Rebel Road onto Beulah Church Road, back to Beulah Road.
The road closure is expected to remain in effect for approximately three nights from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Every effort will be made to expedite construction to reopen the road before Monday, January 28 at 5 a.m.
Construction will consist of upgrading and installing new pipe.
If other lane or roadway closures are necessary beyond the anticipated time periods, another notice will be issued.
Click the detour map to enlarge.
Jay Weightlifters Advance To Regionals
January 24, 2019
Six Jay High School girls weightlifters advanced to the regional finals this week at Baker.
Royals earning advancement at last week’s district meet at Baker, along with their weight class and district rank, were:
Carsen Arrant — 119 lb.class, 2nd
Ella Nelson — 101 lb. class, 2nd
Carlyn Watson — 154 lb. class, 3rd
Hailey Grenier — 154 lb. class, 4th
Bailey Lopez – 110 lb.class, 5th
Alexa Pabo – 110 lb.class, 6h
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hurricane Michael Insured Losses Top $5.26 Billion
January 24, 2019
More than 142,000 insurance claims have been filed from Hurricane Michael, with estimated insured losses topping $5.26 billion, according to information posted on the state Office of Insurance Regulation website.
The number of claims and estimated losses have steadily climbed since the Category 4 hurricane slammed into Northwest Florida on October 10.
The latest figures, reflecting claims as of Friday, showed total estimated insured losses of $5,266,239,147.
An overall total of 142,057 claims had been filed, with 85,508 claims in Bay County. The next-highest number of claims, 13,805, was in Jackson County, followed by Leon County with 9,668 claims; Gulf County with 8,064 claims; Gadsden County with 5,917 claims; Calhoun County with 4,016 claims; and Franklin County with 2,205 claims.
Hurricane Michael made landfall in Mexico Beach in southeastern Bay County and caused widespread damage in Northwest Florida before moving into Georgia.
by The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Cantonment Couple Charged With Smuggling Meth Into Road Prison
January 23, 2019
A Cantonment couple with a history of crime together is facing more charges — this time for allegedly smuggling meth into the county road prison.
Robert Clinton Wooten, 37, and Camie Denean Linton, 36, were charged with smuggling methamphetamine into a detention facility.
The Escambia County Road Prison and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit teamed up to arrest the couple. Wooten was an inmate at the Escambia County Road Prison in Cantonment and was ” orchestrating the delivery of methamphetamines to other inmates” with the help of Linton according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office.
Both are now being held without bond.
December Child Neglect Arrest
In December, both Wooten and Linton were each charged with two counts of felony child abuse after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a welfare check on their residence at the request of the Department of Children and Families.
Deputies found “a deplorable residence with black mold on the ceiling and walls,” according to a Sheriff’s Office report. They also found cans of rotting food with insects, floors completely covered with piles of clothing and trash, food containers with flying insects inside, and a syringe in a Styrofoam cup that was covered with spider webs, according to the report. The electricity did not work in parts of the residence.
The children’s grandmother told deputies that the children did not have any food and would beg her to bring them food.
DCF took custody of the children and placed them with another family member.
Wooten and Linton are awaiting trial on the child neglect charges.
December Traffic Stop
On December 12, deputies were patrolling the area of Pace Parkway and Mintz Lane when they spotted a vehicle driven by Wooten who was known not to possess a driver’s license. Linton was also in the vehicle, according to an arrest report, and her book bag was found to contain four syringes with an unknown red liquid, a plastic bag with a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine and a bowl that contained methamphetamine.
Linton was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Wooten was charged with habitual driving with a suspended license. They are awaiting trial on the charges.
Jim Allen Elementary Meth Charges
In 2017, Wooten and Linton were charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia after they were spotted by a deputy turning into Jim Allen Elementary School to drop off a child. After the child was dropped off and they exited the campus, the deputy conducted a traffic stop.
A search of the vehicle revealed drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine and other items in the center console. Wooten received 36 months probation in the case. Charges against Linton were later dropped.
Wooten is now facing an additional violation of probation charge in the case.
Weather Stations Installed At All Escambia District High Schools
January 23, 2019
Weather observations are now available in real-time from each high school in Escambia County.
Recent tragedies involving students participating in outdoor sports and activities in harsh weather conditions have led to an increased focus on finding ways to predict conditions which may be hazardous to students. Advance knowledge of extreme temperatures and humidity levels is important, especially for students and staff members participating in outdoor activities or events, according to the Escambia County School District.
Visit escambia.weatherstem.com to see the weather observations.
The traditional system of measuring temperature and humidity, known as the heat index, has been improved by adding measurements of radiation from the sun and wind to provide a new metric known as a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT).
“Using a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature to gauge the heat and humidity is far more accurate because it also considers wind speed and solar radiation. However, conditions can change quickly and getting updated readings every half-hour takes the proper equipment and dedicated manpower. Many schools around the state do not have the equipment or an extra trained, responsible person to dedicate to this, so athletic directors across Florida are very happy to have weather stations from WeatherSTEM to rely on instead,” explained Escambia County School District’s Director of Athletics Roger Mayo.
“We are pleased to announce that all Escambia County public high schools now have access to real-time, WBGT information and predictions provided by WeatherSTEM,” added Mayo.
Each WeatherSTEM unit has a variety of sensors that collect data including solar radiation, ultraviolet radiation, amounts and the rate of rainfall, wind speed and wind direction. They are powered by a solar panel and they transmit the data collected to WeatherSTEM where the data can be compiled into a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature which provides guidance to principals, coaches, band directors as well as other instructors and student leaders. Each station includes placement of sensors in two locations, one high and one at field level. The height of the first location also allows a camera to transmit a view of the sky above the school’s field.
Escambia County’s Superintendent Malcolm Thomas explained that installing the stations at the high schools will be beneficial to all ECSD schools. “The information available to us will reduce the chance of our students experiencing heat stroke by giving us information about increasing water breaks, having ice available or canceling outdoor activities all together. Installing the WeatherSTEM equipment is a great investment, especially if even one student is prevented from experiencing hazardous conditions.
“When you look at the data available at Escambia.WeatherSTEM.com, such as the temperature and humidity levels, you will see that our elementary and middle school administrators will be able to use the results from the high schools closest to their campus to get information to adjust plans for outdoor activities,” said Thomas.
Principals, coaches and teachers will be able to receive alerts when conditions reach a set level, or when predictions warn of dangerous levels. These predictions will give coaches and other instructors the ability to plan when they may need to adjust their schedules, practice in the morning, start practice later, stay inside or bring extra water and ice.
Pictured top: The WeatherSTEM station on the press box above Northview High School’s football stadium. Pictured below: The weather station at Tate High School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
