Century High Speed Chase Suspect Extradited; Additional Details Released
October 26, 2016
A Century man that led law enforcement on a high speed chase from Pensacola to Baldwin County has been extradited back to Escambia County, and we are learning more about his previous crimes, including another run from deputies.
Roosevelt Lamont Dixon, 29, is in the Escambia County Jail on charges of flee and eluding law enforcement at a high speed, knowingly driving with a suspended license second offense, cocaine possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, robbery, driving with a suspended license first offense, aggravated battery and carjacking.
On October 20, an Escambia County deputy in an unmarked vehicle first spotted Dixon on Pensacola Boulevard near I-10 in a Dodge Charger. Dixon took I-10 to Davis Highway as deputies worked to get marked units in the area in order to conduct a traffic stop. He continued to Creighton Road. A traffic stop was attempted in the Rooms-To-Go parking lot on Davis Highway at Airport Boulevard. Dixon allegedly fled north on Davis Highway to I-10 back to Pensacola Boulevard.
The pursuit traveled north to Cantonment and Molino at speeds over 100 mph. The vehicle was chased into Alabama and Highway 112 before Florida deputies lost sight of it. Baldwin County law enforcement located the vehicle near the Foley Beach Expressway and I-10. Dixon was apprehended in a wooded area following a K-9 search.
Several schools in the North Escambia area were place on lockdown during pursuit as a precaution.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, this was not the first time Dixon had run from them.
On June 16, deputies conducted on a traffic stop on a Hyundai Sonata with no tag on Tulip Street near Century, just yards from the Alabama state line. The deputy reported that after the Sonata came to a stop, Dixon allegedly pushed the female driver out of the car, jumped into the car and fled, nearly running over her and taking her vehicle without her permission. Dixon fled into Alabama.
Dixon was also wanted since 2015 on drug charges after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and a SWAT team executed a search warrant at his home and recovered items including crack cocaine and spice.
Dixon remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Armed Robbery Suspect Found Passed Out In Lawn Chair Gets Life In Prison
October 26, 2016
An Escambia County man who was arrested for the armed robbery of a Highway 29 antiques store after deputies found him passed out in a lawn chair with the loot is headed to prison for life.
William George Kunkel, 61, was sentenced to life as a habitual felony offender by Judge Joel Boles after pleading guilty to robbery armed with a firearm and aggravated assault by threat with a firearm.
On August 28, 2015, Kunkel entered Dixie’s Antiques and Collectibles on Highway 29 armed with a handgun that he pointed at the clerk. After robbing the store of money and silver coins, Kunkel allegedly took an employee’s car keys with the intention of stealing her car.
The victim convinced him to allow her to give him a ride instead, and she drove Kunkel to the Circle K at Highway 29 and Kingsfield Road, according to investigators. Deputies were unable to locate him that afternoon.
Three days later, deputies responded to Pauline Street in Cantonment where they found Kunkel unconscious in a lawn chair. They reported finding methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in his possession along with the silver coins taken during the antique store robbery.
Kunkel was later identified in a photo lineup by the victim.
In 1984, Kunkel was sentenced to 30 years in state prison followed by five years probation for armed robbery. His prior criminal history also included attempted second degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, escape, and grand theft. He was on probation for the 1984 armed robbery when arrested for thee Dixie Antiques robbery.
Inmate On Inmate Stabbing At Holman Under Investigation
October 26, 2016
The Alabama Department of Corrections is reportedly investigating an inmate on inmate stabbing Tuesday evening at Holman Correctional Facility.
The incident happened about 5:30. The injured inmate was transported to an area hospital for treatment; his injuries were not considered immediately life threatening. The inmate suspected of the stabbing was removed from the general population.
Further details were not released Tuesday night.
Earlier this year, Correctional Officer Kenneth Bettis was stabbed at Holman and subsequently died from his injuries. The prison was also the scene of a riot that resulted in the stabbing of a correctional officer and a warden.
Tate Student Council Haunted House Is Saturday Night
October 26, 2016
The Tate High School Student Council will hold a Haunted House Saturday night. From 5-6 p.m. it will be a “kid friendly” scare level, while from 7-9 p.m. it will be “very scary”. The Haunted House will be in the Tate Cafeteria. $5 for a wristband, $1 for readmission. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary SGA Pumpkin Contest Nets $522 For Nemour’s Clinic
October 26, 2016
The fourth and fifth grade members of the Byrneville Elementary School Student Government Association (SGA) recently held a pumpkin decorating contest that raided $522 for the Nemour’s Clinic for Childhood Cancer Awareness. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
October 26, 2016
Ernest Ward Middle School has named Students of the Month for September. They are (L-R) Lane Wilson, eighth grade; John Bashore, seventh grade; and Kohle Harigel, sixth grade. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Highway 29, Molino Road Crash
October 25, 2016
There were no serious injuries in a wreck Tuesday night at the intersection of Highway 29 and Molino Road. No one was transported to the hospital following the 6:30 p.m. crash. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Silver Alert: Family Members Search For Missing Senior Citizen
October 25, 2016
Family members were out in the Beulah area Tuesday morning, looking for 83-year old Shirley Cooey who has been missing since Saturday night.
They handed out Silver Alert flyers with photos of Cooey and her vehicle at area convenience stories and scoured the area looking for her car.
Cooey was last seen in the 8700 block of Rebel Road. She may be traveling in a 2003, white Hyundai Sonata, Florida tag number K528XD. She has gray hair, blue eyes, is 5-foot 2-inches tall and weights 150 pounds.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts should call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or 911.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Surround School Bus Following Report Of Armed Person On Board
October 25, 2016
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies surrounded a school bus on Guidy Lane at 10 Mile Road Tuesday morning.
The Sheriff’s Office received a tip that there was a suspicious person, possibly armed, on board the bus. But deputies discovered that was not the case.
A juvenile reported hid his BB gun in some nearby bushes before boarding the bus. He he plans to retrieve the BB gun after school.
Century Man Sentenced For Stealing Copper Wire From Former School
October 25, 2016
A Century man has been sentenced to jail for stealing heavy duty copper wiring from the former Century High School and a boat motor from a private residence.
Nicholas Depue, 33, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft and petit theft. He was sentenced to 270 days in the county jail, with credit for 142 days previously served while awaiting trail.
The site foreman responsible for the demolition of the old Century High School following February’s EF-3 tornado told investigators that 100 pounds of salvage copper wire was missing from inside one of the campus buildings.
Upon contacting Advance Environmental Recycling in Flomaton, Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s investigators found that Depue had sold the stolen wire for scrap.
Depue also removed a wood covering over a window and broke the window to enter the Old Century High School. Inside the building he took about 28 pieces of heavy duty copper wiring about 6-8 feet in length valued at about $600. The wiring was then hid in bushes about 1,000 feet from the school.
When investigators contacted Depue at his Front Street home, he admitted to the theft and showed deputies where the wire was located. The wire was returned to the demolition company that removed the school.
Depue was also convicted of stealing a $4,000 Evinrude boat motor from a home on North Century Boulevard. The motor was attached to a 16-foot aluminum boat and was parked in the rear area of a yard. Depue then sold the boat motor to a Flomaton man for $800. The stolen boat motor was recovered.