No Honor: Thieves Caught On Camera Stealing From Local Farmer
October 9, 2015
Two thieves apparently had no honor when it came to stealing deer corn being sold on the honor system by a Walnut Hill farmer.
About 6:30 Tuesday morning, the two men stopped at the farmer’s roadside bin on South Highway 99. They can be seen on surveillance video checking an honor box for cash and then loading up two bags of deer corn without making payment.
Both suspects are described as white males. One walked with a slight limp and appeared to be wearing some type of identification around his neck, similar to an employee badge. They were in an extended cab pickup with a camper shell. Both the camper shell and truck appeared to be red or maroon in color. The passenger rear-view mirror on the truck showed obvious damage.
Anyone with information on the theft is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
The complete surveillance video is at the bottom of this page.
Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Panel Backs Removing Confederate Flag From Senate Seal
October 9, 2015
Lawmakers took a step toward removing the Confederate battle flag from the Senate’s official seal Thursday, as a committee unanimously voted to establish a new seal without the Civil War banner.
The Senate Rules Committee’s recommendation, which follows a request by Senate President Andy Gardiner and Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner to re-examine the flag’s place on the seal, is another sign of a backlash against the symbols of the South’s rebellion in the 1860s. The backlash has come after a white supremacist massacred nine black churchgoers in South Carolina this summer.
The new seal is likely to go to the full Senate in January, in the opening days of the annual legislative session. It would take effect if approved by a two-thirds vote of senators.
Under the proposal approved by the committee, the Senate’s official insignia would still include other non-American flags that flew over Florida, including the 1513 Spanish flag, the 1564 French flag and the 1763 flag of Great Britain. The United States flag and the Florida state flag would also appear on the marker.
During a presentation to members of the panel, Rules Chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, highlighted post-Civil War rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court that held the decision by 11 Southern states to secede from nation was illegal.
Simmons said the Senate’s seal should include the flags of “those sovereignties that were legitimate sovereignties of this state.”
But it was impossible to escape the shadow that the Confederate flag has long cast over the politics of Florida and other Southern states. For many white Southerners, the battle flag is a commemoration of the military service and sacrifice of ancestors who fought against the Union.
For African-Americans, though, the banner is often a painful reminder of the brutal, slave-driven economy that was a central issue in the 1860 to 1865 war. Increasingly, white politicians have also joined in asking for the flag to be taken down in public spaces and otherwise set aside as a symbol of regional pride.
Joyner, a black Democrat from Tampa, said after the meeting that the effort to remove the flag from the seal is not an effort to wipe out the memory of what happened during the Civil War.
“I can remember it without seeing it on my lapel every day,” she told reporters after the meeting. “I mean, it’s reminiscent of a painful period. It’s time for healing, and I felt it was necessary to remove it.”
Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, had an even blunter way of putting it.
“Well, it is part of history, but the Nazi flag is part of history and shouldn’t be forgotten, but it also shouldn’t be lifted up,” he said.
Sen. Darren Soto, R-Orlando, pointed out several steps the Legislature has taken in recent years to promote racial reconciliation and bridge other gaps.
“It’s time for us to have the seal be consistent with our values,” Soto said. “We can’t revise history and choose which moments in our history to forget. But we can choose what we highlight in our seal that’s just and right.”
But the action is unlikely to halt all discussion of how the state memorializes the Civil War. Joyner voiced hope that lawmakers would also consider legislation (SB 154 and HB 243) seeking to ban government buildings or properties from displaying any flag used by the Confederacy.
The House and Senate could also consider legislation to replace a statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, whose likeness is one of two sculptures that represent the state in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Blackburn Running For Sheriff
October 9, 2015
Thursday, Rex Blackburn of Cantonment became the fifth candidate to prefile for Escambia County Sheriff in the 2016 general election.
Blackburn is running with no party affiliation. Incumbent David Morgan, Doug Baldwin, John Johnson and Ron McNesby have prefiled as Republicans.
Blackburn ran unsuccessfully for Escambia County School Board District 5 in 2000. He also prefiled for the Sheriff’s race in 2012, withdrawing his name during qualification week.
Ernest Ward Rolls To 42-22 Win Over W.S. Neal
October 9, 2015
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles defeated W.S. Neal Middle Thursday night 42-22. With win, Ernest Ward improves to a perfect 7-0 on the season.
EWMS will look to make it a perfect season next Thursday at 6 p.m. as they take on Escambia County Middle School of Atmore at the Escambia County High School stadium.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With Bank Robbery
October 9, 2015
An Escambia County man has been arrested for a Pensacola bank robbery.
Mario Antwan Likely, 39, turned himself in to the police after surveillance photos of him were released to local media. He has been charged with armed robbery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
The incident occurred just after 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Wells Fargo on Bayou Boulevard after the suspect handed a teller a note demanding cash. She complied and he left the area on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police said the money has not been recovered.
Santa Rosa Makes Largest Ever Heroin Bust
October 8, 2015
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office has made the largest heroin bust in the history of the county.
Detectives and the SRSO SWAT team executed a search warrant about 6 a.m. Thursday following a two month investigation.
Monica Nicole-Gonzalez Jones was arrested at 6583 Arlingwood Drive in Milton. Inside the home, deputies found 50 grams of heroin, cocaine and 50 grams of meth. Along with the drugs, detectives seized a vehicle and a handgun.
Jones was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $115,500. Deputies said additional arrests are expected in the case.
Man Shot Inside Vehicle In Century, Suspect Search Continues
October 8, 2015
THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED. CLICK HERE.
One person was shot inside a vehicle somewhere in Century Wednesday night, and the search for the suspect is continuing.
A female driver pulled into the Whataburger parking lot on North Century Boulevard with multiple bullet holes in her Dodge Charger. A male passenger who been shot fled the from the scene before authorities arrived, according to Sgt. Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The male gunshot victim reportedly called emergency officials to say that he had been shot and that he was headed to the Raceway store at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment (pictured left), and then called back to say he was on his way to the Walmart on Pensacola Boulevard in Ensley. He never arrived at either location. The victim eventually arrived for treatment at West Florida Hospital, reportedly in critical condition.
The female driver of the vehicle was not injured.
Deputies have not released where the shooting occurred, but they said that it did not occur at the Whataburger.
The vehicle in the restaurant parking lot had numerous bullet holes visible in the trunk and in the rear passenger door area. The back driver’s side passenger window and the rear window of the vehicle were blown mostly out of the vehicle. Trajectory rods place by a crime scene investigator seemed to indicate that the shots were fired from behind the Dodge Charger.
A spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said their investigation is active and continuing. More details will be posted as they become available on NorthEscambia.com.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: A vehicle with multiple bullet holes arrived at the Whataburger in Century Wednesday night. Picture top inset: Deputies await the arrival of a shooting victim at the Raceway on Highway 29 at Muscogee Road in Cantonment. Pictured bottom inset: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician processed the vehicle. Pictured below: Numbered trajectory rods show the paths of the multiple gunshots into the vehicle. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Four Arrested After Search Warrants Executed In Atmore
October 8, 2015
The 21st Judicial Drug Task Force, assisted by numerous local, state and federal authorities, simultaneously executed numerous search warrants in various locations across Atmore on Wednesday following a lengthy investigation.
Agents found and seized a substantial amount of illegal drugs, including marijuana and methamphetamines, and several firearms.
Four Atmore residents were arrested during the operation:
- Shelton “Chubby” McKenzie, 38, conspiracy to commit controlled substance crime;
- Richard McKenzie, 28, unlawful possession of marijuana first degree, unlawful possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also arrested on outstanding felony warrants from Florida and misdemeanor warrants from Atmore;
- Victor McKenzie, 25, arrested on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant
- Clarence Williams, 24, unlawful possession of marijuana first degree
Officials said more arrests are forthcoming.
The 21st Judicial Drug Task Force was assisted by Atmore Police, Poarch Police, U. S. Marshals, U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection air unit. In K-9 units took part from theEscambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Thomasville Police Department, Citronelle Police Department and Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office.
State To Test For Carcinogen Levels At Century Sheriff’s Precinct
October 8, 2015
An upcoming environmental site assessment will determine if benzine, a known human carcinogen, exists in dangerous levels at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office substation in Century.
In 1992, two 6,000 gallon underground storage tanks were removed from the property. At the time of the removal, an assessment revealed a concentration of benzene greater than the state’s target cleanup criteria. The property was entered into a program that would allow the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to conduct cleanup. As part of that program, the property was given a ranking score with cleanup priority is basked on ranking position.
The Sheriff’s Office Century Precinct score is a “26″, with the DEP currently working to cleanup properties with an assessment score of “30″ or higher. The FDEP is reassessing properties with low scores. If the score remains the same or reduces, the department will have the option of removing the property from the cleanup program list.
The Escambia County Commission is set to approve an agreement allowed FDEP to access the property for the assessment.
The single public building on the property, known also as the Billy G. Ward Courthouse, houses both the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Escambia County Clerk of the Courts.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia School Superintendent Candidate Arrested For Fraud, Identity Theft
October 8, 2015
An investigation by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and the Tallahassee Police Department resulted in recent identity theft charges against Gerald Howard Washington of Escambia County. Washington pre-filed in September to run for Escambia County School District superintendent in 2016.
Washington, 19, was charged with one count of criminal use of personal identification information (20 or more), a first degree felony, and one count of organized communications fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor, after stealing personal information from multiple job seekers in Tallahassee.
The investigation showed that Washington posted online advertisements claiming to be hiring for 1,100 positions in Tallahassee. He traveled by Greyhound Bus from Pensacola to Tallahassee, set up a temporary office, and personally met with many job seekers who believed he was a valid employer with actual job openings.
The job seekers provided personal information, including social security numbers and bank information, for the application. They also provided urine samples and a $25 fee. The individuals were told they were hired and given a start date, but the jobs did not exist.
“Mr. Washington used the hope of would-be job seekers against them. His victims were Tallahassee citizens seeking to better themselves and their families. Those who seek to commit fraud in Tallahassee will be investigated and prosecuted for their actions,” Tallahassee Police Department Chief Michael DeLeo said.