Walnut Hill Man Charged With Violent Attack On Ex-Girlfriend
September 10, 2015
A Walnut Hill man is behind bars, charged with breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment on Truman Avenue and violently attacking her.
The victim told deputies that she and 29-year old Spencer Jamil Syria had been separated about three weeks, but he returned to her apartment and broke in. He then allegedly struck her multiple times in the face, kicked her, and placed his hand around her throat to prevent her from calling for help. He then, according to an arrest report, sexually assaulted the victim before fleeing her her SUV.
Syria was charged with burglary with battery, battery, battery by strangulation, sexual assault and obstructing justice. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $250,000.
Update: FSU Changes Gun Information In ‘Game Day’ Guide
September 9, 2015
A day after getting hit with a lawsuit by a gun-rights group, Florida State University on Wednesday updated information in a football “game day” guide about fans keeping firearms in their vehicles.
But the changes to the school’s “Game Day Plan 2015″ guide for fans won’t holster the legal challenge by Florida Carry Inc. Sean Caranna, Florida Carry executive director, said the group will continue seeking an injunction against university President John Thrasher and university Police Chief David Perry.
Meanwhile, another high-profile issue about guns on campus will heat up again next week when House and Senate panels consider controversial proposals (HB 4001 and SB 68) that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry firearms at colleges and universities. The idea stalled during this spring’s legislative session, but gun-rights supporters are bringing it back for the 2016 session.
The Florida Carry lawsuit stems, in part, from a 2013 ruling by the 1st District Court of Appeal that said the University of North Florida could not prevent firearms from being stowed in cars on campus.
The original version of FSU’s “game day” guide said weapons are prohibited on campus and that a “fan may not store firearms or other weapons in their vehicles parked on campus while attending the game.”
In updating the guide Wednesday, the university removed references to weapons from a section regarding parking. In another area of the guide, the school noted that while weapons and firearms are permitted in vehicles on campus, the items must be “securely encased in the vehicle.”
Caranna, who hopes to get a judge to rule before Saturday’s FSU home game against the University of South Florida, said only handguns must “meet the definition of being securely encased.”
“The new policy and the statements in their press release are insufficient and factually wrong,” Caranna said. “They could have saved us all a lot of trouble by giving us a call asking us and our attorneys to help them update the policy and come in compliance.”
Florida Carry and FSU graduate student Bekah Hargrove, a member of Florida Students for Concealed Carry, argue in the lawsuit that the “game day” guide fails to follow the 2013 ruling by the 1st District Court of Appeal.
The guide provides general information on parking, traffic patterns, tailgating, concessions, and other items such as banners, drones and smoking.
On Wednesday, the university acknowledged in a release that the guide hadn’t been updated to reflect the 2013 ruling. The school also pointed out in the release that while the out-of-date web site language existed, nobody had been cited for having firearms or weapons legally secured in vehicles.
Thrasher, a former powerful lawmaker, has been a key opponent of the legislative proposals that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on college campuses. The renewed proposals are scheduled to be heard next Wednesday in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee and the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
In a prepared statement Wednesday related to the Florida Carry lawsuit, Thrasher indicated he hasn’t changed his mind about those legislative proposals.
“While we fully intend to continue complying with Florida law, I nevertheless reiterate my strenuous opposition to the recent initiatives to permit the carrying of guns on university campuses,” Thrasher said. “I do not believe that arming students increases campus safety.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Woman Crashes Into Wooded Area
September 9, 2015
A woman escaped serious injury in a single vehicle crash near Walnut Hill Wednesday afternoon.
The 67-year old female lost control, ran off Meadows Road and traveled through a wooded area parallel the roadway about 2:45 p.m. The vehicle came to rest in a wooded area just off the road. The driver was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Atmore Fire Department also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Airlifted After North Century Boulevard Crash
September 9, 2015
A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash with a pickup truck Wednesday morning in Century.
The accident happened just after 6 a.m. on North Century Boulevard in front of the Panhandle Restaurant. The male motorcyclist was airlifted by LifeFlight to a Pensacola hospital as a trauma alert following the crash. The driver of the pickp truck was not injured.
Further details, including the names of those involved, has not yet been released as the Florida Highway Patrol continues their investigation.
Escambia County EMS, the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the accident.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Ongoing Abuse Of Teen
September 9, 2015
A Cantonment man has been charged after the alleged ongoing abuse of a developmentally delayed teen.
According to a Department of Children and Families investigation, Timothy Joe Dease, 40, was using Facebook to make sexual advanced to the victim, an underage female described as being developmentally delayed with several medical problems, and he had previously touched the victim in an inappropriate manner last Christmas.
Further investigation revealed that Dease began abusing the teen when she was 13, with a pattern of sexual abuse continuing for years, through age 16.
Dease was charged with multiple counts of lewd and lascivious behavior on a victim age 12 to 16. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $100,000.
Children’s Council Awarded $125K White House Grant
September 9, 2015
The Escambia County (AL) Children’s Policy Council has been awarded a $125,000 Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The coalition serves Escambia County, AL. The goal of the coalition is to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance coalition will achieve its goal by implementing strategies that include education, skills enhancement and support.
The grant was awarded in cooperation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Local Students Named National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists
September 9, 2015
Eight local high school students have been named semifinalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
The students are Jessica K. Amerson of Northview High School; Richard W. Fell of Pensacola Catholic; Anish A. Gupta, Scott A. McGaugh and Colin T. O’Brien of Pensacola High; Colby C. Gilley of Trinitas Christian; Lauren Claire Giffin of Washington High School; and Alexa R. Graham, homeschool.
About 16,000 national semifinalists were announced Tuesday. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
To become a finalist, the semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record through-out high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
Pictured: Jessica Amerson, Northview High School.
Escambia Jail Releases The Wrong Inmate
September 9, 2015
Escambia County corrections officers mistakenly released the wrong man from jail Monday, and so far authorities have not found him.
Correction officers meant to release Steve Watson on bond, but they retrieved the wrong inmate and mistakenly released Peter Watson instead. Peter Watson was being held on $2,500 bond on a shoplifting charge.
Shortly after the release, corrections officers realized their mistake and unsuccessfully searched the immediate area surrounding the jail, according to a county news release.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has been notified of the mistake, and jail administration is investigating the incident.
Authorities On The Hunt For Escaped Alabama Inmate
September 9, 2015
Authorities are searching for an escaped inmate from Baldwin County.
The Alabama Department of Corrections said work release inmate James Marshall Rigsby, 43, left from his assigned job location in Bay Minette on Tuesday. He was serving an eight year sentence for receiving stolen property in case out of Macon County, AL.
Rigsby is described as a white male, 6-feet 2-inches tall, 175 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information on Rigsby’s whereabouts is asked to call (800) 831-8825 or their local law enforcement agency.
Washington Pre-Files As Democrat For Escambia School Superintendent
September 9, 2015
Gerald Washington has pre-filed for Escambia Superintendent of Schools, as a Democrat for the 2016 election cycle, according to the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office
Washington is currently the only Democrat pre-filed for the office. Incumbent Malcolm Thomas and Jim Taylor have announced as Republicans.
Submitted photo.