FWC Law Enforcement Report
December 19, 2015
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending December 17 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Manning, Barnard and Pettey worked information they received about an individual trespassing and hunting on private property. After several days of working the information, they discovered the suspect’s car in the area. The officers staged around the area and Officer Manning stopped the individual as he was leaving. Officer Manning spoke to the individual and he claimed to have permission to hunt on an adjacent property.
Officer Manning discovered the subject had an active warrant for his arrest and that he was driving on a suspended license. While speaking to the subject, he admitted to being a convicted felon. He said that he knew he wasn’t supposed to possess firearms but just could not help it because he liked to hunt too much.
Officer Manning confirmed the subject was a convicted felon and seized the three firearms in his possession. Officer Manning arrested and transported the subject to the Escambia County Jail. In addition to the active warrant, the subject was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, knowingly driving on a suspended license and hunting without a license.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Santa Rosa County officers conducted a detail in conjunction with the Aviation Section targeting illegal night hunting. Aviation personnel contacted Officer P. Rockwell when they spotted a vehicle shining a light in an open field in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of deer. The aviation personnel provided Officer Rockwell the necessary coordinates to intersect and stop the vehicle. During the stop, a loaded shotgun with a chambered round and a spotlight were discovered. The driver and passenger were issued a citation for attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light.
During the fall dog training season on the Eglin Reservation Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Officer Jones received a complaint from a citizen stating that an individual stole his hunting dog. An investigation conducted by Officers Jones and Tolbert indicated the following events. The complainant and his companions encountered an individual who had a dog in his vehicle that appeared to be a dog owned by the complainant. At about the same time, they saw the individual throw something into the woods and then drive away. They went to the location and found a dog identification collar belonging to the complainant. The complainant followed and confronted the individual and retrieved the dog. Later in the day, a radio tracking collar that had been used on the same dog was found in the woods at the same location as the identification collar. The collars had been cut. Several witnesses were interviewed and gave sworn statements including the suspect. An arrest warrant was obtained charging the suspect with grand theft.
Officer Jones was on foot patrol in the Eglin Reservation WMA near the Okaloosa/Santa Rosa County line. He made contact with a hunter in a tree stand who was hunting with archery gear. Officer Jones also found feed distributed on the ground near the stand. There was no open hunting season on Eglin at that time. Officer Jones charged the hunter with hunting during closed season, hunting over bait and possession of marijuana. The hunter’s hunting equipment was seized as evidence. Eglin Range Patrol rescinded his Eglin privileges.
Multiple officers from Escambia and Santa Rosa County focused on the opening of the second phase of waterfowl season. Officers utilized Division aircraft and vessels to locate hunters. During the detail, multiple violations were addressed to include taking migratory birds with the use of an unplugged gun, no hunting license, no federal duck stamp and other permit violations.
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.
Ernest Ward Middle Holds Christmas Program (With Gallery)
December 19, 2015
Ernest Ward Middle School held a Christmas program Friday morning, complete with a sing-along, puppets and a variety of traditional Christmas carols.
For a photo gallery click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Obama Commutes Sentences For Two Local Drug Offenders
December 19, 2015
Two local area men were among 95 people whose prison sentences were commuted Friday by President Barack Obama.
The Pensacola man was William James Griffin, Jr. who was convicted in 1999 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was first sentenced to 252 months in prison, 10 years supervised release and a $1,000 fine. In 1989, his sentence was amended to 240 months imprisonment.
Obama commuted Griffin’s sentence.
Michael Reese Coffman of Milton was convicted in 2005 of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Obama commuted Coffman’s sentence.
Both men will be eligible for release on April 16.
Latest Jobs Numbers Show Unemployment Decrease
December 19, 2015
The latest job numbers released Friday show the unemployment level decreasing in the three county North Escambia area.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate fell slightly from 5.1 percent in October to 4.9 percent in November. There were 6,867 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 5.9 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment decreased from 4.4 to 4.34 percent from October to November. Santa Rosa County had a total of 3,186 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 4.9 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment decreased from 6.5 percent in October to 6.4 percent in November. That represented 943 people unemployed in the county during the month. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Escambia County, Alabama, was 7.1 percent.
Florida’s unemployment rate fell to 5 percent in November from a revised 5.2 percent in October, according to figures released Friday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The November mark puts Florida even with the national unemployment rate for the first time since January. The state had been above the national rate since that time. Florida’s October’s figure was initially projected at 5.1 percent. In a news release, Gov. Rick Scott focused on the creation of 35,600 private-sector jobs across the state during November, nearly reaching the 36,600 private-sector jobs reportedly created in October, which was a 10-year high.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.0 percent in November, was up from October’s rate of 5.9 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 6.1 percent.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Bratt Elementary First Graders Hop On Polar Express, Visit With Santa
December 19, 2015
Mrs. Trice’s first grade class at Bratt Elementary School wrapper up their year with a visit from a Santa Claus and a trip aboard the Polar Express. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Salvation Army Thief Arrested
December 19, 2015
An Escambia County man who allegedly burglarized a Salvation Army thrift store earlier this week has been arrested.
David Lamar Jones, 32, no permanent address, was charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools, grand theft, and criminal mischief.
Officer Brandon Byrd was dispatched to the Salvation Army Family Store, 3870 North Davis Highway, just after 10 a.m. Monday to investigate a burglary.
Employees told Byrd the store had been burglarized some time between 5 p.m. December 12 and 10 a.m. Monday December 14 and that an undisclosed amount of cash had been stolen.
Jones, who was employed by the Salvation Army at the time of his arrest, was identified by employees through surveillance video.
Meanwhile, Detective Eric Hubley said an investigation continues into the theft of two Salvation Army donation kettles on December 12. In that incident, a man collected the two kettles from volunteers in front of Sam’s Club on Airport Boulevard. The suspect, who was wearing a red apron similar to one worn by Salvation Army volunteers, said he was early because the Army’s van had broken down.
Anyone having information on the incident is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433- STOP.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Hosts ‘Shop With A Cop’
December 19, 2015
Dozens of Escambia County children had the chance to “Shop With a Cop” Friday afternoon.
Each child received $125 to shop with a deputy from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. They were able to gift shop for family members and themselves.
The children were selected with the help of the Escambia County School District, and the shopping trips were make possible thanks to donors.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Highway 29 Crash Near Molino
December 18, 2015
Two people were injured in a two vehicle accident Thursday night on Highway 29 in Molino.
One person was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola by LifeFlight as a “trauma alert”, while a second person was transported by Escambia County EMS to a Pensacola hospital. Further details on their conditions were not available. A third victim refused medical treatment.
The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. But both vehicles overturned off Highway 29 near Rawhide Lane, just north of Highway 95A. At least one of the vehicles snapped a utility pole. One vehicle, a Saturn car, came to rest on its side while a Chevrolet Silverado pickup came to rest partially on the Saturn.
The seriously injured victim was trapped in the Saturn as firefighters were forced to remove the roof of the vehicle to free him.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not yet been released as they continue their investigation. The Molino, McDavid and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Florida Supreme Court Signs Off On Medical Marijuana Proposal
December 18, 2015
In a key step for supporters of legalizing medical marijuana, the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would go on the November 2016 ballot.
Justices said the proposal, spearheaded by the group People United for Medical Marijuana, meets legal tests that include dealing with a single subject and having a clearly worded ballot title and summary. The Supreme Court does not consider the merits of proposed constitutional amendments but reviews them, in part, to make sure voters would not be misled.
“(The) ballot title and summary fairly inform voters of the purpose of the proposed amendment — the state authorization of medical marijuana for patients with debilitating medical conditions,” the 15-page opinion said. “The language is clear and does not mislead voters regarding the actual content of the proposed amendment.”
People United for Medical Marijuana, which is led and heavily financed by Orlando lawyer John Morgan, still needs to submit 683,149 valid petition signatures to the state by a Feb. 1 deadline. As of Thursday morning, it had submitted 400,032, according to the state Division of Elections website.
“The unanimous decision by the Florida Supreme Court to approve the new medical marijuana constitutional amendment is a huge victory for hundreds of thousands of sick and suffering Floridians who could benefit from the passage of such a law,” campaign manager Ben Pollara said in a text message. “While we still must collect the required number of petitions before officially being placed on the 2016 ballot, we are confident that we will and that Florida voters will approve this amendment in the general election.”
The group, also known as United for Care, tried to pass a similar constitutional amendment in 2014 but fell short of getting approval from 60 percent of voters, as is required by law. About 58 percent of voters supported the measure, which drew opposition, in part, from a group heavily funded by Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.
Supreme Court justices split on the wording of the 2014 initiative, ruling by a 4-3 margin that it could go on the ballot. Attorney General Pam Bondi argued that the ballot language could deceive voters about the extent of marijuana use that would be allowed.
But supporters revised the 2016 proposal to address concerns raised about the 2014 initiative by Supreme Court justices and opponents. With the changes, Bondi did not contest the 2016 proposal at the Supreme Court.
The proposal, in part, would allow patients with “debilitating” medical conditions, as certified by physicians, to get medical marijuana. The initiative lists a series of conditions that could be considered debilitating, including cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott last year approved a measure that allows limited types of medical marijuana for certain patients, such as children with severe forms of epilepsy. But those types of cannabis purportedly do not get users high.
The proposed constitutional amendment, however, would make available euphoria-causing marijuana to a larger number of patients. The Florida Department of Health would have regulatory powers.
“We conclude that the initiative has a logical and natural oneness of purpose, specifically, whether Floridians wish to include a provision in our state Constitution permitting the medical use of marijuana,” the Supreme Court opinion said, addressing a requirement that initiatives deal with single subjects. “The proposed amendment’s provision regarding the specific role for the Department of Health in overseeing and licensing the medical use of marijuana is directly connected with this purpose.”
by Jim Sanders, with contribution by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
School Toy Drive Shuts Down Classroom
December 18, 2015
A toy drive in Atmore shut down one classroom. Escambia County High School teacher Tiffany Oliver challenged her students to bring in toys for a local toy drive. She challenged them to donate enough toys to block her classroom door to win a “get out of an assignment” pass. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.