Citizens Targets 45.5K Policies For ‘Takeout’
April 9, 2015
Another 45,500 policies have been approved to move to the private insurance industry from the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
The Office of Insurance Regulation this week approved the latest round of private-insurer “takeouts” by two companies — Heritage Property & Casualty and Mount Beacon. The takeouts are scheduled to occur in June.
Based upon prior takeouts, not all the targeted residential and commercial-residential policies will change hands. Policyholders are allowed to reject the takeout offers. Citizens reported that it had 631,879 policies as of January 31, a vast decline from a high of 1.5 million policies in 2012.
Deputy Arrested On Additional Charge
April 8, 2015
A former Escambia County senior deputy has been arrested on an additional charge.
Mark Smith was arrested last month and charged with felony sexual assault and misdemeanor battery. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that an additional victim was identified, and Smith was arrested on an additional charge of battery.
Deputy Walter Michael Thomas, Jr., was also arrested last month and charged with felony sexual assault.
Douglas Albert Manning, 47, and Leah Giannotti Manning, 40, (pictured left) were arrested and charged on outstanding warrants for sexual battery and child neglect.
The original case, investigators said, involved sexual offenses with subjects under the age of 18.
Package Thief Arrested
April 8, 2015
An Escambia County man has been charged with stealing packages from doorsteps after they were dropped off by a delivery man.
John Clifford Wilson IV was charged with grand theft and multiple burglary counts.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators obtained surveillance video from two of these thefts that showed a dark blue SUV pulling up to the residence and two males removing packages that was posted on social media. Another citizen recognized the vehicle driving through his neighborhood, captured the vehicle on video and wrote down the tag number before contacting deputies. Wilson was identified from the information and arrested
Additional arrests are expected, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Careless Driving Causes Four Vehicle Crash Involving Two Semi Trucks, Dump Truck
April 8, 2015
There were no serious injuries in a four vehicle accident Wednesday morning at Highway 97 and Meadows Road.
The accident involved two semi-trucks, a dump truck and a pickup truck. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 31-year old Brian K. Smith of Bay Minette was northbound on Highway 97 in a 2014 Kenworth tractor-trailer approaching Greenland Road when he failed to stop behind a northbound 2007 dump truck waiting to turn left.
Smith swerved, with the left wheels and front of his trailer striking the dump truck driven by 59-year old David Chavers of Cantonment. The dump truck was pushed into a northbound Ford F350 driven by 59-year old David Forbes of Uriah, AL.
Meanwhile, 42-year old Christopher G. Robbins of McDavid swerved his northbound 2013 Volvo tractor-trailer, striking the right side of dump truck.
The four vehicles involved in the crash came to rest mostly off Highway 97 in three corners of the intersection. Both Meadows and Greenland Roads were blocked by the crash, while Highway 97 remained opened.
Chavers and Forbes received minor injures but refused transport to the hospital. Smith and and Robbins were uninjured.
Smith was cited by the FHP for careless driving.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Museum In Molino To Be Renamed In Honor Of Lillian King
April 8, 2015
The Escambia County Commission is set to rename Molino’s museum after Lillian Fillingim King.
Lillian King was instrumental in the establishment of the Molino Community Complex — housing the Molino Mid-County Historical Society Museum, the Molino Branch of the West Florida Public Library, multiple meeting rooms, and an auditorium — in the former Molino Elementary School.
She also established the Molino Mid-County Historical Society in 1999, of which she served as president from the museum’s inception in 2013 until her passing in 2015.
On April 9, the Escambia County Commission is expected to approve a resolution official renaming the Molino Mid-County Historical Society Museum as the “Lillian F. King Museum”.
King passed away February 27, 2015, at the age of 73.
Pictured top: Lil King holds ribbon for the ribbon cutting of the Molino Community Complex in October 2012. Pictured below: West FLorida Library Administrator Darlene Howell presents a certificate of appreciation to Lil King and the Molino Mid County Historical Society for the groups efforts at the Molino Branch Library in April 2014. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged In School Bus Hit And Run
April 8, 2015
A Cantonment woman is facing multiple charges for fleeing the scene of a school bus crash on Mobile Highway Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 18-year old Danielle Jocelyn Lee was charged with third degree felony leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, and cited for failure to exhibit a driver’s license on demand, no proof of registration, no insurance and violation of right of way.
Lee is accused of turning her blue Volkswagen left in front of a school bus driven by 43-year old Angela Jordan at Bellview Avenue and Mobile Highway. Following the crash, troopers said Lee fled the scene, later telling them that she was afraid. Lee was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
There were 28 children on the bus at the time of the crash. Two reported minor injuries, one transported to the hospital by EMS and the second removed from the scene by parents.
Senate Looks To Policies On Police Body Cameras Like Those In Pensacola
April 8, 2015
A Senate panel on Tuesday approved a bill that would require law-enforcement agencies to establish policies for the proper use of body cameras if the agencies allow officers to wear the devices. The City of Pensacola is one of just 13 Florida police departments currently using the cameras, with nine other departments testing their use.
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee unanimously passed the measure (SPB 7080), which would require law-enforcement agencies to establish policies and procedures addressing the proper use, maintenance and storage of body cameras and the data they record.
That includes training officers who use the cameras and performing “a periodic review of actual agency body-camera practices to ensure conformity with the agency’s policies and procedures.”
Currently, Florida law does not require police agencies to have policies governing the use of such technology.
“We’re saying to law enforcement: ‘OK, if you want to use ‘em, this is what they have to be,’ ” committee chairman Greg Evers, R-Baker, said.
But senators also emphasized their concern that the measure should not violate part of state law that makes it a third-degree felony to “intercept an oral communication.” Under the bill, that provision would not apply to police wearing body cameras.
“If I stop to get a cup of coffee as a law-enforcement officer and I capture other conversations that are occurring behind me or in front of me … we’re essentially listening in on conversations that are occurring in public,” said Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg. “And there is no consent provided for listening in on those conversations.”
But Evers said the recordings would only be used when officers are performing their duties.
“It’s only for law-enforcement activities,” he said after the meeting. “If by chance they happened to overhear another conversation … it’s erased, there’s no record of it, and it didn’t happen. Because there is a privacy concern that’s located in the bill and located here in this chamber that will see that that’s the way it is.”
Evers predicted the Senate would back the committee bill, which does not have a House companion.
Supporters of the measure include the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Police Benevolent Association, the Florida Public Defender Association and the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.
There could be additional funding for such programs. In December, President Obama proposed a three-year, $263 million legislative package to increase the use of body-worn cameras and expand such training for law-enforcement agencies. Part of the federal initiative would provide a 50 percent match to states and local entities that purchase body-worn cameras and requisite storage.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Escambia Weeds Out 90 Marijuana Plants In 2014; Santa Rosa 234
April 8, 2015
Last year in Escambia County, two people were arrested as 90 marijuana plants were destroyed from seven different sites, according to a report released by the state Tuesday. Across the state, Florida’s Domestic Marijuana Eradication Program resulted in the destruction of more than 31,500 marijuana plants and the arrests of more than 500 people during 2014.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services works to prevent the cultivation and distribution of marijuana through the Domestic Marijuana Eradication Program, which is a joint effort with the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Agency and local sheriff’s offices and police departments in 49 counties across the state.
Two of the marijuana sites in Escambia County were indoor operations with 27 total plants eradicated, resulting in two arrests. The other five sites destroyed by law enforcement in Escambia County were outdoors with 63 plants, resulting in no arrests.
Authorities in Santa Rosa County eradicated 171 plants from three indoor sites, resulting in four arrests, along with two arrests related to 10 outdoor grow sites with 63 plants. Authorities also seized one weapon related to a marijuana grow site in Santa Rosa County.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was reimbursed $1,750 for their eradication efforts by the program, while the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office was reimbursed $3,500.
“Our partnership with local law enforcement helps keep marijuana out of our communities, making them safer for the 20 million residents who call Florida home,” Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam said.
Pictured top and bottom: Marijuana plants previously seized in the Molino area. Pictured inset: An indoor grow operation near Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Century Takes Part In Mayors Day Of Recognition For National Service
April 8, 2015
Tuesday was the Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, with mayors across the country recognizing those who serve as volunteers. Century Mayor Freddie McCall recognized the service and volunteerism of the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) and AmeriCorps. VISTA. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 35 Years For Abusing Child
April 8, 2015
An Escambia County man is headed to prison on sex offender charges.
Nathan Matthew Kinard, 35, was sentenced Tuesday by Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Edward Nickinson to 35 years in state prison followed by a lifetime of sexual offender probation. Kinard will be required to serve 25 years as a minimum mandatory sentence. Kinard was also designated as a sexual predator and will be required to register as a sexual predator and comply with all statutory requirements.
Kinard entered a guilty plea to two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation as well as escape, attempted escape and criminal mischief for crimes he committed while awaiting trial at the Escambia County Jail.
During August 2014, prosecutors said Kinard had sexual contact with an eight-year old child victim. DNA recovered from the victim matched the defendant.