Private Investigator Murder Suspect Released On Bond

February 5, 2018

A woman charged with the murder of a private investigator was released on bond from the Escambia County Jail Monday afternoon.

Ashley McArthur is facing a first degree murder charge for the death of 33-year old Taylor Wright, a private investigator and former police officer. Wright’s body was found off Britt Road, just west of County Road 97 near Muscogee Road in Cantonment.

McArthur was released at 3:37 p.m. on a $400,000 bond and is required to wear a GPS tracking device. Under the terms of her bond, she must live with her mother in Gulf Breeze and must stay within Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. She cannot posses a firearm, and she is forbidden from returning to the property on Britt Road in Cantnoment.

On September 14, 2017, Wright’s girlfriend reported that she was missing. The girlfriend gave a sworn statement to Pensacola Police that Wright had not been seen or heard from since September 8. Prior to her disappearance, Wright had told her girlfriend that she had placed a large amount of money in a safe deposit box that belonged to McArthur, her friend. Wright said she had tried to get her money back from McArthur several times with no success. Wright was trying to get the money back from McArthur for court proceedings related to Wright’s pending divorce.

On September 8, Wright and McArthur met so Wright could get her money. Wright and the girlfriend communicated back and forth via text until about 11:20 a.m. When the girlfriend did not hear back from Wright after numerous texts, she called McArthur. McArthur answered and said Wright could not come to the phone because she was riding a horse.

The girlfriend continued to try to communicate with Wright with no success until 7:58 p.m. when she received a text from Wright’s phone stating that she needed time to think and get her life on track.

On September 18, McArthur met with a Pensacola Police detective. She told the detective that she had picked Wright up on the morning of September 8 and they drove to various locations during the day before going to McArthur’s family property in East Milton to ride horses. She said they were there for about an hour before heading back to McArthur’s residence in the Pensacola city limits about 4:45 p.m. McArthur claimed that she went inside her house, and when came back out shortly, Wright was gone.

During the investigation, McArthur’s bank records and cell phone records were obtained. Bank records show that on August 16, McArthur deposited a cashier’s check in Wright’s name for the amount of $34,000 into McArthur’s personal checking account. The money has since been spent.

On September 14, Wright’s girlfriend reported that she was missing. The girlfriend gave a sworn statement to Pensacola Police that Wright had not been seen or heard from since September 8. Prior to her disappearance, Wright had told her girlfriend that she had placed a large amount of money in a safe deposit box that belonged to McArthur, her friend. Wright said she had tried to get her money back from McArthur several times with no success. Wright was trying to get the money back from McArthur for court proceedings related to Wright’s pending divorce.

McArthur’s phone records never showed her in the area of the family property in East Milton, instead her phone showed her in the area of Beulah on September 8 from 11:52 a.m. until 1:44 p.m. and again from 2:40 p.m. until 3:33 p.m. Police discovered that McArthur’s family has property at 2201 Britt Road, in the same area as her phone indicated.

Pictured top and bottom: Taylor Wright. Pictured mugshot, inset: Ashley McArthur.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

County Bans Big Trucks In 9½ Mile Road Area, River Annex Road

February 5, 2018

The Escambia County Commission has voted to prohibit large trucks on several roads in the Cantonment and Ensley areas.

Vehicles over 10,500 pounds gross weight will not be allowed on:

River Annex Road, from Muscogee Road To Jacks Branch Road
Nine and One Half Mile Road, from Pine Forest Road to US Highway 29
Ten Mile Road, from Edendale Lane to Stefani Road
Edendale Lane, from Ten Mile Road to Nine and One Half Mile Road
Ashland Avenue, from Ten Mile Road to Nine Mile Road
Bowman Avenue, from Ten Mile Road to Nine Mile Road
Cove Avenue, from Ten Mile Road to Nine Mile Road
Fowler Avenue, from Nine and One Half Mile Road to Nine Mile Road

The truck ban will not include trucks servicing or having business within the area.

The vehicle weight restriction on River Annex Road is under consideration due to layout of intersections, narrow width, roadway condition and potential shoulder hazards.

The restriction on the other roadways is under consideration to curtail truck cut-through traffic, which is undesirable on the designated roadways which are residential in nature and not constructed to support or accommodate volumes of heavy truck traffic, according to county documents.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts

February 5, 2018

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Escambia County:

U.S. 98 (Garden Street), State Road (S.R.) 196 (Bayfront Parkway), (U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge through Gulf Breeze) Double Bridge Run- Drivers will encounter lane closures on the following from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 for the Double Bridge Run. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control.
U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road – Alternating lane closures on U.S. 29 north and southbound, from Muscogee Road to West 9 ½ Mile Road, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Saturday, Feb. 10 as crews pave.

State Road (S.R.) 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway to Scenic Highway – Intermittent and alternating lane closures between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Saturday, Feb. 10 continue as crews perform milling, paving, sidewalk and curb replacement.

Interstate 10 (I-10) / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I – The following traffic impacts are planned on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10A and 10B) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Thursday, Feb. 8:
- Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound and U.S. 29 north and southbound.
- The U.S. 29 on-ramps to I-10 eastbound will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
- The exit ramp from I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 south (Exit 10A) will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured to U.S. 29 north (Exit 10B).
- Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound exit ramp to U.S. 29 north (Exit 10B).
I-10 Widening from Davis Highway to the Escambia Bay Bridge – Intermittent and alternating lane closures on I-10, between Davis Highway (Exit 13) and Scenic Highway (Exit 17), and on Scenic Highway, between Whisper Way and Northpointe Parkway, from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Thursday, Feb. 8 as crews perform construction activities. The speed limit on I-10 will be reduced to 60 mph during nighttime lane closures.
U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Alternating lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb. 11 as crews perform construction activities.

U.S. 29 Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road – Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Saturday, Feb. 10 as follows:
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: Eastbound traffic will continue to be shifted on to the westbound inside lane as crews prepare the area for construction of the support column for the new center bridge deck. Lane restrictions are Sundays through Fridays.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures as crews perform drainage work and prepare for upcoming traffic shifts. Lane restrictions are Mondays through Saturdays
- Upcoming traffic shift: Southbound U.S. 29 traffic between Hannah Street and I-10 will be shifted west onto temporary pavement Sunday, Feb. 11 as crews construct drainage improvements. This traffic shift will remain in place for many months.

Santa Rosa County:

I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – Traffic on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange has been shifted to the east so crews can reconstruct the southbound lanes of Avalon Boulevard. The shift will be in place through spring 2018. Drivers will also encounter alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Friday, Feb. 9 as crews work to widen the roadway. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, will also be encountered as crews reconstruct the overpass.
U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb. 11 as crews perform construction activities.
Garcon Point Bridge Routine Maintenance Operations- Crews will perform striping operations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Wednesday, Feb. 7. This will be a slow-moving operation, drivers are reminded to use caution and to watch for workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic on from the north end of the Yellow River Bridge to just south of Hickory Hammock Road, will be shifted to the newly constructed travel lanes Wednesday, Feb. 7. Variable message boards will alert drivers of the new traffic pattern. In addition, traffic between Hickory Hammock Road and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is complete.

All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Tate Aggie Cheerleaders Take Third In State Finals

February 5, 2018

The Tate High School Aggie varsity cheerleaders took third in the state cheerleading finals Sunday at the University of Florida in Gainesville. During their season, the varsity Aggies place first in the region and finished first at every competition leading up to state. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule

February 5, 2018

Monday, Feb. 5

Escambia County Fire Rescue Firefighter Interviews – 8 a.m., Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” St.

Selection Committee, Facilities Management Director Short List of Applicants – 3 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place

Tuesday, Feb. 6

Escambia County Fire Rescue Firefighter Interviews – 8 a.m., Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” St.

Planning Board – Rezoning – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)

Planning Board – Regular – 8:35 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)

Committee of the Whole – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place

Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)

Wednesday, Feb. 7

Contractor Competency Board – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place

Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place

Thursday, Feb. 8

4-H Foundation and Financial Committee Meeting – 5 p.m., Langley Bell 4-H Center, 3730 Stefani Road

Friday, Feb. 9

Value Adjustment Board Regular Meeting – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place