Peanut Butter Drive Continues
November 20, 2015
The Escambia County Extension office, along with the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences and the Florida Peanut Producer Association are collecting peanut butter now through next week to help take a bite out of hunger.
The groups are accepting donations of unopened jars of peanut butter to be donated to local food pantries during Farm-City Week.
Unopened jars of peanut butter of any brand can be dropped off until November 25 at any of the following locations:
Escambia County
- Escambia County Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 North W Street
- Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor
- Gilmore Services, 31 East Fairfield Drive
Peanut butter collected in Escambia County last year was donated to food pantries in Molino, Bratt and Century.
Pictured: The Godwins of Godwin Farms in Santa Rosa County, (L-R) Steven, Laryn, Valarie, Kylei, Rachael. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Inmate Dies In Escambia County Jail
November 19, 2015
An inmate died at the Escambia County Main Jail after being found unresponsive Wednesday from an apparent medical condition. Escambia County Corrections medical personnel discovered 21-year old Samuel Devon Averheart unresponsive in the infirmary unit and called emergency medical services at 3 a.m. with crews arriving on scene at 3:09 a.m. He was pronounced dead at 3:23 a.m.
Averheart was arrested on Tuesday, November 10, charged with felony violation of probation and held without bond. He was moved to the infirmary on Tuesday, November 17 after being evaluated, treated and released on the same day by a physician at a local hospital for a medical condition. Jail records show he was housed alone and checked every hour by medical staff since being released back into custody, according to a statement by Escambia County, which operates the jail.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
Escambia Man Convicted On Federal Child Exploitation Charges
November 19, 2015
A federal jury has convicted an Escambia County man on child exploitation charges.
Robert M. Grafton, Jr., 29, was convicted of attempted enticement of a minor for sex and he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography just prior to jury selection in Pensacola.
At trial, the government presented evidence that, in May 2015, Grafton communicated online with an undercover law enforcement officer for the purpose of meeting a 12-year-old special needs child for sexual activity. Grafton was arrested when he arrived at the arranged meeting location in Pensacola. A search of his cellphone and digital media at his residence revealed numerous images and videos of child pornography.
For the attempted enticement of a minor charge, Grafton faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. For the possession of child pornography charge, Grafton faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 27, 2016.
The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Pensacola Police Department, Gulf Breeze Police Department, and other agencies that are part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
Century Man Allegedly Attacks Victim With Machete In Sheriff’s Precinct Parking Lot
November 19, 2015
A Century man was jailed after allegedly ramming his truck into another pickup, pinning his wife, and going after a man with a stick and machete in the parking lot of the Sheriff’s Office precinct in Century.
Norman Tracy Tedder, 49, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill, battery, aggravated batter with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief with property damage. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Deputies responded to a reported disturbance at a home in the 7000 block of North Century Boulevard, adjacent to the parking lot of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Century Precinct and the Century Courthouse.
A victim told deputies he went to the address to pick up Tedder’s wife because she thought he was going crazy. Tedder allegedly tried to ram the victim’s truck, and Tedder’s wife was wedged between the two vehicles. The victim stated that after his truck was hit, he pulled over in the parking lot and ran toward the precinct. He told deputies that Tedder ran over to him with a large stick and struck him before retrieving a machete and busting out the taillight on his truck.
The victim stated that he feared for his life as Tedder swung the machete at him.
Multiple witnesses, who were at an ECAT bus stop in the parking lot, corroborated the victim’s story, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman struck by Tedder’s pickup told deputies that she got in the way, and she was unintentionally hit by her husband. She suffered an apparent broken leg, according to an arrest report.
A witness in the vehicle with the man that was attacked told deputies the altercation started because Tedder sent nude photos of his wife to his phone. The witness had texts and pictures on his phone to back up the story, the report states.
Escambia Man Arrested For Arson; Suspected In Four More Fires
November 19, 2015
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office has arrested an Escambia County man for purposely setting a fire at a Pensacola business, and they said he is suspected in at least four more blazes.
David Matthew McIntyre, 37, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a charge of arson. He was released with a GPS monitor on $50,000 bond.
On November 2, State Fire Marshal investigators from the Pensacola field office responded to and conducted a fire examination at 2009 East Olive Road in Pensacola. A building located near the rear of Ruth’s Uniforms had burned and investigators determined that the fire had been intentionally. A neighborhood canvas identified McIntyre as a possible suspect and witness statements led to an arrest warrant being filed for his arrest. Days later, he was arrested for arson without incident, bond was set at $50,000, and McIntyre was ordered to wear a GPS monitor until trial.
During the defendant interview process, McIntyre was questioned about and admitted to several other fires that had occurred in previous years in the Pensacola area. Additional charges related to these fires are forthcoming.
They include:
• Ruth’s Uniforms, located at 2009 East Olive Road in Pensacola
• Attitude’s Bar, located at 100 East 9 Mile Road in Pensacola
• Residential fire, located at 8146 Binkley Street in Pensacola
• Knight’s Inn Hotel, located at 5829 Pensacola Boulevard in Pensacola
• Hope’s Treasures, located at 43 West 9 Miles Road in Ensley
If convicted, McIntyre faced 20 years in prison.
Keep The Wreath Green Fire Safety Campaign Begins December 1
November 19, 2015
Escambia County Fire Rescue, in collaboration with City of Pensacola and Santa Rosa County, will be launching its annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign beginning Tuesday, December 1. This initiative was designed to promote fire safety during the month of December, with officials hoping to reduce the number of fires during a time of serious fire danger with simple, life-saving tips.
During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 23 different county fire stations. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.
There were nine fires reported in Escambia County during the 2014 Keep the Wreath Green campaign.
Pictured: A December 1, 2014, mobile home fire on Pine Forest Road. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
County: Storm Damage Was Not Tornado (With Photo Gallery)
November 19, 2015
A Cantonment home was damaged as a line of thunderstorms moved through Escambia County Wednesday afternoon when a large limb from oak tree came crashing down on the roof, and officials say a tornado was not to blame.
The home is located on Highway 95A near Danielle Lane. Two people in the house escaped without injury, and they are not expected to be displaced, according to Escambia County officials.
The tree limb damaged the roof of the home and a window was knocked out. Other small trees in the area were toppled or snapped, and small yard items such as lawn chairs were blown about as the storms moved through before 1 p.m.
The damage was consistent with straight line winds or a microburst, according to Joy Tsubooka, Escambia County spokesperson.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Auburn Fans Win Northview High Food Drive
November 19, 2015
Students at Northview High School collected over 500 pounds of food during a college-theme food driver for Manna Food Bank. Auburn fans at the school came out on top, contributed about one half of the total food.
Pounds donated by fans were as follows:
Auburn: 243.76
University of Florida: 109.2
Alabama: 107.4
Florida State: 44.2
A total of 504.56 pounds of food were collected during the food drive.
Scott Wants More Funding For FDLE Crime Labs
November 19, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday said he will propose spending $8.5 million to upgrade Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime labs, as the state grapples with a massive backlog of untested rape kits.
Scott said in a news release the money would go to lab equipment, improvements to a DNA database and crime-scene vehicles.
“The $8.5 million investment we are announcing today is critical to giving innocent victims the answers they rightfully deserve, including the thousands of women who have been victims to absolutely horrific, violent crimes,” Scott said in a prepared statement.
The issue has drawn heavy attention since Attorney General Pam Bondi held a news conference in September and disclosed that thousands of rape kits were untested across the state. Bondi called for more funding for crime labs, and lawmakers also have proposed bills aimed at speeding up the testing of evidence in sexual-assault cases.
Bondi issued a statement Wednesday thanking Scott for the funding proposal, which will be considered during the 2016 legislative session. “Sexual assault is a horrific crime that has profound effects on its victims, and processing these kits will unbind key DNA evidence linked to unsolved crimes in Florida and beyond,” she said.
Oberley Signs To Swim For U.S. Air Force Academy
November 19, 2015
Tatiana Nicole Oberley signed a Letter of Intent to swim for the U.S. Air Force Academy Thursday afternoon.
Present for the signing were her parents Mark and Virtudes Oberley and her older brother Ensign Joshua Oberley. Also attending were her coaches from the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club, head coach Phil Kraus and head age group coach Greg Johnson. Tatiana is a senior at Pensacola Christian Academy where she carries a 4.0 GPA. She is a three time USA Swimming Scholastic All American. She currently plans to major in history at the Air Force Academy.
Pictured: (L-R) Coach Greg Johnson, Ensign Joshua Oberley, Virtudes Oberley, Tatiana Oberley (seated), Mark Oberley, and Coach Phil Kraus. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.