Inmate’s Family Sues DOC, Warden Over Stabbing Death At Century CI
October 14, 2017
The Florida Department of Corrections is being sued in federal court by the family of inmate that was stabbed to death in June at Century Correctional Institution.
The family of Jorge Slaughter, 33, filed the negligence-wrongful death lawsuit this week against the DOC and Century CI Warden Randall Bryant, claiming that Slaughter was not adequately protected from being stabbed. Inmate Robert Hunt, 26, had been charged with stabbing Slaughter on June 19 in a Century CI common area.
“On June 19, 2017, at approximately 10:54 p.m., the claimant was notified by an employee of Century Correctional Institution that her son, Jorge Slaughter was involved in an altercation and was deceased. The employee for Century Correctional Institution provided no further information and Century Correctional Institution has been uncooperative in communicating with the claimant,” the suit states. “Information was later gathered from another source that there was no attempt by any correctional officer or employee of Century Correctional Institution to prevent or stop a fight…”
The suit alleges Hunt “held a reputation as a white supremacist, not only by association or gang affiliation, but also by identity”, and numerous tattoos including a swastika on his arm. As such, the FDOC should have taken steps to prevent any conflicts, the suit states, including keeping Hunt under close supervision within an armed perimeter or under direct armed supervision.
“It is clear that Mr. Hunt was allowed to walk about freely within Century Correctional Institution with a metal weapon prior to stabbing Mr. Slaughter multiple times in the abdomen, killing him. A search by Defendants FDOC and Bryant’s correctional staff of Mr. Hunt’s person while clothed…could have been conducted to prevent Mr. Slaughter’s murder,” the lawsuit states.
The Florida Department of Corrections would not comment on the pending lawsuit.
“The health and safety of our inmates is a top priority of the Department. As this is active litigation, we are unable to provide information at this time,” Ashley Cook, press secretary for DOC, told NorthEscambia.com in an email.
Hunt was arrested and charged with homicide on August 3. He remains in the Escambia County Jail. The federal lawsuit references an August 5 NorthEscambia.com article as providing the latest information available to the public at that time.
The family is seeking funeral and burial expenses, loss of earnings and claims his mother, Anice Slaughter, has lost the “support and services” of her son, suffers mental pain, and suffered the funeral expenses of her son.
In an August press release, the FDOC said Hunt stabbed inmate Slaughter multiple times in the abdomen with a metal weapon inside the G Dorm. The entire incident was captured on video by security cameras inside the dorm. Inmates who witnessed the incident identified Hunt as Slaughter’s attacker. Witnesses also told the FDLE that Hunt attacked slaughter over an unspecified debt that Slaughter owned Hunt.
Slaughter, 30, was serving a 30 year sentence out of Miami-Dade for armed burglary, grand theft and robbery. Hunt was serving a 15 year sentence out of Polk County for attempted robbery with a gun or deadly weapon. He had previously served a year and a half for aggravated assault with a weapon and methamphetamine possession.
Celeste North Named NHS Homecoming Queen (With Photo Gallery)
October 14, 2017
Celeste North was named Northview High School’s homecoming queen for 2017 Friday night.
Pictured below are Freshman Maid Franki Daw, Junior Maid Madison Sherouse, First Runner-up Anna Nelson, Homecoming Queen Celeste North, Second Runner-up Bailee Hinote and Sophomore Maid Chloe Smith.
For homecoming parade info, click here.
For homecoming game info, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Over 1,300 Volunteer During United Way’s Day Of Caring
October 14, 2017
Over 1,300 volunteers fanned out across Escambia County Friday for United Way’s 25th Annual Day of Caring.
It was 25-years ago that the United Way of Escambia County introduced the Day of Caring as, a community-wide initiative to connect volunteers and resources with local agencies and schools in need of support. Since 1993, the Day of Caring has coordinated nearly 26,000 volunteers insuccessfully completing 2,294 projects across Escambia County.
Pictured: CDAC Behavioral Healthcare helps organize teacher planning materials at Jim Allen Elementary School during the Day of Caring on Friday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Catholic Cruises Past The Northview Chiefs (With Photo Gallery)
October 14, 2017
The 1A Northview Chiefs lost their homecoming game to the 3A Catholic Crusaders 41-22 Friday night in Bratt.
The Chiefs scored on their opening drive….a 10 and a half minute drive capped by a two-yard touchdown run from sophomore Trent Peebles. With a missed extra point, the Chiefs held a 6-0 lead in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
“I though we had a great first drive,” Northview head coach Derek Marshman said.
But remainder of the second half was not as kind to the Chiefs as Catholic fought back to a 35-6 lead at the half.
The Chiefs scored with 3:30 to go in the third when junior Daniel Merit recovered a Crusaders fumble and ran it in from 30-yards out, and scored again in the fourth when Jayden Jackson was in from 3 yards out.
“I thought we moved the ball well; I though we dominated upfront on the line of scrimmage. We had a few problems backside but that is gonna be fixed. This is the first time we have run this offense in a while so it was good to be able to move the football, but there are still things we’ve gotta fix and things we need to improved. We have a bye week next week to work on that,” Marshman said. “We continue to fight. It’s just a process and I know the kids are tired of hearing ‘a process’, I thought we finished great. We won the second half against a big school, probably one of the best schools we are going to play this year. They are a 3A but they are traditionally a power house in Pensacola.”
The Northview Chiefs are off next week. The Chiefs (1-7) will hope for a huge 1A upset on October 27 in Bratt as they host the Baker Gators (7-0).
For a game action photo gallery, click here.
For homecoming court photos, click here.
For homecoming parade photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Celebrates Homecoming With Parade (Photo Gallery)
October 14, 2017
The Northview High School Homecoming Parade rolled through Bratt Saturday afternoon.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For homecoming court info, click here.
For homecoming game info, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Gators Bite Tate (With Photo Gallery)
October 14, 2017
The Escambia Gators beat the Tate Aggies 53-10 Friday night at Emmitt Smith Field.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Gators would take a 19-0 lead in the second. The Aggies would find their first half performance was limited to just scoring on a 27-yard field goal from Matt Johnson with eight seconds to go in the half. It was 19-3 Escambia headed into the lockers.
Escambia added a third quarter touchdown before Tate answered early in the fourth on a 2-yard touchdown run from Hunter Riggan to make it 26-10. with 11:09 in the game. The Gators would bite back with two more fourth quarter touchdowns of their own.
Tate (4-2, 1-1) will travel to Pace (1-5, 0-2) next Friday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Jennifer Repine for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Rep. Frank White Files For Florida Attorney General
October 14, 2017
Republican state Rep. Frank White of Pensacola, a general counsel and chief financial officer for a group of auto dealerships, announced Friday he will run for state attorney general in 2018.
White, who was first elected to the House in 2016, joins a GOP primary battle that includes state Rep. Jay Fant of Jacksonville and former Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Ashley Moody. White touted his conservative credentials for the statewide seat.
“In our hometowns, our state, and across the nation, liberals in the courts and our government are working to erode the rights given us by the Creator,” White said in a prepared statement Friday.
The Cabinet post is open next year because term limits prevent Attorney General Pam Bond from seeking reelection.
Democrat Ryan Torrens, an attorney from Hillsborough County, has also filed to run for the seat. Moody has raised more than $1 million for the race through her campaign account and a political committee known as “Friends of Ashley Moody.” Fant has nearly matched Moody’s total by infusing his campaign with $750,000 of his own money.
White’s announcement should open up the state House District 2 contest next year in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.White is the only Republican who had opened a campaign account for the seat. Pensacola Democrat Raymond Guillory has also filed to run. White, who raised $83,600 for the re-election effort, defeated Guillory by more than 20 percentage points in 2016.
Cantonment Firefighters Share Fire Safety Info At Gonzalez Child Center
October 14, 2017
For National Fire Safety Week, crew members of Engine 419 of the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue visited and shared fire safety tips with the children of the Gonzalez Methodist Child Enrichment Center. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Finals
October 14, 2017
Here are Friday night finals from across the area tonight:
FLORIDA
Catholic 41, Northview 22 [Read more...]
Escambia 52, Tate 10 [Read more...]
Pine Forest 21, Washington 13
West Florida 49, Panama City Bay 14
Pensacola 41, Panama City Arnold 27
Navarre 28, Milton 7
Gulf Breeze 44, Pace 40
OPEN: Jay
ALABAMA
Thomasville 45, Escambia County (Atmore) 22
T.R. Miller 38, Flomaton 26
UMS-Wright 42, W.S. Neal 17
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Killed While Working On Dump Truck
October 14, 2017
An Escambia County man was killed when a dump truck he was working on somehow rolled over him.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 49-year old Daniel Meadows of Pensacola and 25-year old Christopher James Lyle Williams were working on a 1998 Mack dump truck in the parking lot of a vehicle repair business on Airport Boulevard. Meadows was under the truck when Williams entered the vehicle and it rolled forward over Meadows.
Meadows was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Any charges are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation.