Prison Investigators Testify About Being Silenced
March 11, 2015
Testifying under oath Tuesday before a Senate panel, current and former Department of Corrections investigators — including the sheriff of Gulf County — said they were ordered by the inspector general’s office to quash cases that could embarrass the agency or high-ranking officials.
Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison told the Senate Criminal Justice Committee that, as a corrections investigator, he was twice told by “upper-level management” in the inspector general’s office of the Department of Corrections not to pursue criminal charges against corrupt, high-ranking officials.
Investigators were encouraged to pursue administrative cases — which could end in firings but not criminal charges — “to make it look favorable upon the department,” Harrison said after being sworn in, a rarely used option available to committee chairmen and ordered Tuesday by Chairman Greg Evers, R-Baker.
“Criminal charges on a high-ranking colonel or warden or assistant warden would obviously be a black eye on DOC,” Harrison, who left the inspector general’s office in December 2012 after being elected sheriff.
Harrison said he was told not to pursue criminal charges against a former Jackson Correctional Institution warden and assistant warden regarding a cover-up of the medical treatment of an inmate at the Panhandle prison in which two inmates nearly lost their lives.
The state attorney’s office originally declined to take the case but agreed to bring charges against former warden Ted Jeter and assistant warden CarolAnn Bracewell after Harrison and another investigator obtained additional sworn testimony indicating that the pair had pressured workers into keeping silent about what happened, Harrison said.
“It was initially declined by the state attorney’s office but with the new information he indicated to bring it back to him and we were instructed not to do so,” he told the panel.
Doug Glisson, who was Harrison’s supervisor at the time and still works for Inspector General Jeffrey Beasley, said the decision not to pursue criminal charges came from Beasley. Glisson is one of a handful of inspectors who filed a lawsuit against Gov. Rick Scott, Beasley and others alleging they were denied whistleblower status and faced retaliation after exposing a cover-up involving the 2010 death of an inmate at a Panhandle prison who died after being repeatedly sprayed with noxious chemicals. A federal judge recently dismissed the case, but the inspectors’ lawyer said he plans to appeal.
Harrison told the committee he was also instructed not to pursue a criminal case against a colonel at Holmes Correctional Institution who had been accused of smuggling contraband into the prison. Harrison said he ignored his superiors and brought the case to the state attorney, who later pressed charges against the colonel, who is now on probation.
“I come from a law-enforcement background,” Harrison, who worked for the inspector general’s office for about two years, said. “I was used to, if someone broke the law, that you took the charges to the state attorney’s office and you proceed forward. That didn’t appear to be the case within the inspector general’s office. It was quite frustrating with me.”
Evers, who has sponsored a sweeping prison overhaul (SB 7020) that would create a commission with investigatory powers to oversee the policing of prisons, said he wants “to dig deeper” into Harrison’s accusations about Beasley’s office.
“I think it should be referred to somebody or allow us to continue to dig. Apparently we can stumble across more than what the investigations have found in the past few years, just by asking questions of the right people,” Evers said.
Evers said he would support the creation of a special legislative joint committee to look into allegations of cover-ups within the office of the inspector general.
“We’ve got a problem. I said several meetings back that we’ve got a crisis. Yes, we’ve got a crisis,” he said.
Tuesday’s testimony from Glisson and Harrison indicated a pattern of Beasley’s office preventing inspectors from going after senior officials and focusing instead on “low-hanging fruit,” as characterized by an anonymous investigator in a letter highly critical of Beasley sent to Evers.
Glisson told the committee on Tuesday that he was told to drop an investigation into a high-ranking corrections official’s possible involvement with wrongdoing at a training academy.
Two days after one of Glisson’s inspectors asked the official about the academy, “we were called to the office of the inspector general and we were warned that the person we had named as a subject, that there was a ‘Capitol connection’ with this individual,” Glisson said.
“It just had a chilling effect,” he said.
Glisson and his inspector then were told to go through the official himself if they wanted any information pertaining to the investigation.
“Again, inspectors and investigators are supposed to have unfettered access to documentation, to talk to who we want. But now we’re being told specifically you’ll go through this person who’s been named as a subject,” he said. “We thought it was inappropriate.”
Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones has steadfastly stood by Beasley — who answers to Scott’s Inspector General Melinda Miguel — since she took over the post in January. Jones defended him again Tuesday.
“I have the utmost confidence in the abilities of the Office of Inspector General and department staff to take decisive action in the interest of safety and security for both themselves and the inmates in our custody,” Jones said in a statement.
The cases referenced in Tuesday’s hearing “happened years ago” and were “declined due to a lack of probable cause or sufficient evidence, she said.
“When a case is declined by the state attorney’s office for criminal prosecution, and there is evidence to prosecute civilly, investigators are encouraged to take decisive action to ensure that the individuals in question are held accountable,” Jones said. “I am personally disappointed that the environment in which current and former department staff were asked to testify did not allow for the presentation of all known facts regarding the incidents in question.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Tate Remains Undefeated With Win Over Fort Walton Beach
March 11, 2015
The Tate High School Aggies beat Fort Walton Beach 10-0 Tuesday. The Aggies, now 8-0 overall, 4-0 in the district, held an early 5-0 advantage after the first.
Jesse Gunter earned the win for the Aggies, pitching for just over four innings, allowing seven hits, four errors and four runs and striking out one. Cole Halfacre 3-5, RBI, 3 runs; Sawyer Smith 2-5, RBI, 3 runs; Mark Miller 2-4, RBI, 2 runs; Jacob Saulnier 2-3, 2 RBIs; Hunter Worley 2-2, RBI; Brandon Fryman 1-3, run
In junior varsity action Tuesday, Tate beat Fort Walton Beach 9-2.
The Aggies will travel to West Florida High School on Wednesday. The JV plays at 4:00, followed by the varsity at 6:30.
Cantonment Convicted Sex Offender Arrested
March 11, 2015
A convicted Cantonment sex offender was arrested for failing to register as required.
Matthew Grabow Moller, 33, was s charged with the felony registration violation and booked into the Escambia County Jail and released on a $10,000 bond.
Moller was convicted in Caddo, LA, on a pornography charge involving juveniles, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.
Students Place In Calf And Heifer Show
March 11, 2015
The 2015 Escambia (AL) County Calf and Heifer show started long before the audience actually saw the prize cattle. Early in the morning, the cows were brought into the stables to begin the grooming process, which includes bathing, brushing, blow drying and fluffing. The key ingredient for a making a cow beautiful? It’s shaving cream, which helps the hair puff out and become smooth and shiny.
“We begin with a bath and when all is said and done, use a bit of shaving cream and blow dry upward,” said Teresa Rutherford, whose son, Dawson Cox, was showing for the first time at the event. She said it is about a four-month process getting Dawson’s cow ready to show, including making sure he is in control of the animal, is comfortable and not nervous around the cow.
Show judge Smokey Spears said he has a few criteria he looks for when choosing first, second and third places. The children must always know where the judge is in the ring and keep eye contact with him throughout the judging. This tells the judge the participant is knowledgeable, respectful and proud of his or her cow. Another rule of showing is how well the participant keeps the cow under control and sets the animal’s feet in the correct position/stance. The feet must be set directly underneath the cow, side by side, and its back should align straight with the horizon.
The judge also evaluates the handler’s quick response to the cow’s demeanor.
Winners at the annual show were as follows:
Senior showman class:
- Makayla Bohannan
- Wyatt Rutherford
- Shae Dortch
- Jude Parham
Intermediate showmanship class:
- Denver Schrock
- Austin Schrock
- Jason Davis
- Dawson Cox
- Rowdy Rutherford
- Jacelyn Chunn
Junior showmanship class:
- Colbie English
- DJ Parham
- Caleb Davis
- Landon Barrentine
- Noah Smith
- Dylan Rolin
- John Braxton Rhodes
Heifer class born December 2013-March 2014
- Noah Smith
- Jude Parham
- Dylan Rolin
Heifer class born June 2013:
- Cole Lowery (black)
- Cole Lowery (white)
- John Braxton Rhodes
- Jude Parham
Heifer class born November 2013:
- Noah Smith
Supreme champion heifer:
- Cole Lowery
Reserve champion heifer:
- Cole Lowery
Lightweight steer class:
- Makayla Bohannan
- Caleb Davis
- DJ Rolin
- Wyatt Rutherford
- Jacelyn Chunn
Medium weight steer class:
- Denver Schrock
- Austin Schrock
- Landon Barrentine
- Rowdy Rutherford
- Dylan Rolin
Heavyweight steer class:
- Colbie English
- Jason Davis
- Charleigh Parham
- Shae Dortch
- Dawson Cox
- Landon Barrentine
Grand champion:
- Makayla Bohannan
Reserve champion:
- Denver Schrock
County bred champion:
- Denver Schrock
Gain per day champion:
- Dawson Cox
- Colbie English
- Jason Davis
- Charleigh Parham
Pictured top: Caleb Davis. Pictured inset: Cole Lowery. Pictured below: Jason Davis. Pictured bottom: Makayla Bohannan. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hazardous Materials Incident Exercise Held At UWF
March 11, 2015
A full-scale hazardous materials exercise was held Tuesday at the University of West Florida by the District 1 Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPRC).
The exercise provided the opportunity for first responders and the university to test current policies and procedures, regional mutual aid coordination and improve the overall response in the event any county in Northwest Florida should experience a hazardous materials incident beyond their ability to respond.
During the exercise Tuesday, participating agencies responded to a mock incident through a combination of real-time role play and simulated response.
“Our goal is to strengthen our response and recovery to hazardous materials incidents through coordinated efforts among our first responding agencies,” said Kathy Ahlen, regional planner and staff to emergency planning and the LEPC at WFRPC.
District 1 LEPC encompasses Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington and Bay counties. The LEPC prepares the regional hazardous materials emergency plan, which identifies facilities that use, produce and/or store hazardous substances in northwest Florida. WFRPC maintains public records on hazardous materials and chemicals in the community in compliance with the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
Pictured: A hazardous materials exercise Tuesday at the University of West Florida. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Tops Season Opening Track Meet
March 11, 2015
Northview topped JU Blacksher in a season-opening track meet Tuesday in Bratt.
Northview Girls 78
JU Blacksher Girls 25
Northview Boys 60
JU Blacksher Boys 32
For a photo gallery, click here.
RESULTS:
4X800
1st-Northview Girls-13:19
4X400
1st- Northview Girls -5:17
1st-JU Blacksher Boys -4:52
4X100
1st Northview Girls -57.85
1st Northview Boys -48.18
Girls 100 Hurdles
1st Odom, A. –Northview 20.03
2nd North, C. – Northview 20.23
3rd White, K. –Northview 20.46
Girls 100 Meters
1st North, C. –Northview 13.55
2nd Odom, A –Northview 13.75
3rd Galvin, K – Northview 14.18
Boys 100 Meters
1st-Moore, D –Northview 11.54
2nd Kirchharr, J –JU Blacksher 11.79
3rd Dean, T –JU Blacksher 12.03
Girls 200 Meters
1st Sidney, D –JU Blacksher 31.73
2nd Albritton, A –Northview 33.87
3rd McGee, T –Northview 35.70
Boys 200 Meters
1st Moorer, D –Northview 25.04
2nd Bradley, T –Northview 25.35
3rd Dean, T –JU Blacksher 25.80
Girls 300 Hurdles
1st Syria, M –Northview 1:00.38
2nd Elliott, J –Northview 1:09.73
3rd Roux, S –Northview 1:11.39
Boys 300 Hurdles
1st Jay, W. –JU Blacksher 50.04
Girls 400 Meters
1st Powell, R –JU Blacksher 1:16.08
2nd McGee, T –Northview 1:17.40
3rd Gibson, M –Northview 1:21.49
Boys 400 Meters
1st Kirchharr, J –JU Blacksher 1:00.09
2nd Coon, E -Northview 1:10.61
3rd Pressley, W. –JU Blacksher 1:16.67
Girls 800 Meters
1st Elliott, J –Northview 3:30.49
2nd Jackson, B –JU Blacksher 3:53.50
3rd James, A –JU Blacksher 3:56.59
Boys 800 Meters
1st Calloway, Z –Northview 2:59.97
2nd Jay, W –JU Blacksher 3:09.53
3rd Presley, W. –JU Blacksher 3:39.85
Girls 1600 Meters
1st McGahan, M –Nothview 8:09
2nd Walston, E –Northview 8:59
3rd Barrows, T –Northview 9:16
Boys 1600 Meters
1st Ates, J –Northview 6:20
2nd Calloway, Z. –Northview 7:07
3rd Howard, N –JU Blacksher 7:28
Girls 3200 Meters
1st Weber, M –Northview 19:02
2nd Reynolds, B –Northview 19:55
Boys 3200 Meters
1st Ates, J –Northview 14:19
Girls High Jump
1st North, C –Northview 4’4”
2nd White, K –Northview 4’2”
3rd Fischer, L –Northview 4’
Boys High Jump
1st Newsome, C –Northview 6’4”
2nd Dean, T –JU Blacksher 5’10”
3rd Presley, W- JU Blacksher 4’10”
Girls Shot Put
1st Anderson, K –JU Blacksher 32’4.5”
2nd Bates, E –Northview 27’5”
3rd Cunningham, M –JU Blacksher 25’5”
Boys Shot Put
1st Johnson, H –Northview 39’75”
2nd Sherouse, H –Northview 38’2”
3rd Courn, C. –JU Blacksher 36’1”
Girls Discus
1st Anderson, K –JU Blacksher 100’9”
2nd Bates, E –Northview 69’10”
3rd Fischer, L –Northview 49’01”
Boys Discus
1st Sherouse, H –Northview 102’10”
2nd Adams, A –Northview 86’07”
3rd Carter, C. –JU Blacksher 86.02
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Visible Progress, But Hwy 29, Hwy 97 Traffic Signal Still Weeks Away
March 10, 2015
A delayed Florida Department of Transportation project to install a new traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino saw some visible progress Monday as the support masts for the light were delivered.
But a FDOT spokesperson said it will still be about four weeks before actual construction on the project begins.
Plans were complete months ago and Escambia County made a deposit of just over a quarter of a million dollars for the light with construction first set to begin by December 31, but that date was delayed because the redesign of the intersection turned out to be a more complex process than was originally anticipated, and the contractor needed more time to order additional materials as a result.
District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry, who led the push for the county to fund the traffic signal, said he was pleased to learn that the support masts were delivered to the intersection Monday.
“I am ecstatic that there is some visible progress,” Barry said. “The sooner we are able to complete this construction, the sooner we will have safer travel in the area.”
In October 2013, the Escambia County Commission affirmed its support for improvements at the intersection and expressed a willingness for the county to pay for the red light at the intersection. A Florida Department of Transportation study determined the intersection did meet the criteria for the light, with an agreement in place that FDOT would design and construct the upgrades with Escambia County paying for the construction.
FDOT completed the design phase. and the Escambia County Commission approved $265,400 in funding last August, with the payment made October 29.
A few days later, a 16-year old Northview High School student died as a result of injuries she received in an accident in the intersection.
A second upcoming project will redesign the intersection of Crabtree Church Road and Highway 97, which is currently just feet away from Highway 29.
Pictured top: Support masts for a new red light at Highway 29 and Highway 97 were delivered to the intersection on Monday. Pictured inset and below: An Escambia County deputy collided with a Mercedes in the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 about a week after Escambia County made a payment to FDOT for a traffic light at the juncture. There were no injuries in the crash, which came one day after a wreck that claimed the life of a 16-year old high school student. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
FDLE Investigating Cyber-Attack Against Florida’s School Testing
March 10, 2015
State officials announced Monday they were investigating a cyber-attack against Florida’s online-testing program for public schools, while the House Education Committee approved its version of legislation meant to scale back the amount of time students spend on exams.
The testing problems prompted several districts, Escambia County included, to delay testing for several days.
In a joint statement, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Department of Education said the FDLE had launched an investigation into the attacks on the testing platform operated by American Institutes for Research, a non-profit group that signed a six-year, $220 million deal to design the tests.
The news came after the rollout for the new Florida Standards Assessment was plagued by slow logins and other technical glitches.
In announcing the investigation Monday, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said that “some of the delays in testing late last week” were caused by the attack — but she also noted that concerns about an attack did not emerge until Thursday morning, well after the highest-profile problems for the system.
“Our highest priority is to make sure students can complete their tests, and we will continue to work with AIR to ensure their system operates effectively,” Stewart said. “It is important to point out that AIR has reported that while access to the test has been delayed because of the cyber-attacks, no student data has been compromised.”
Still, the attack added another dimension to calls for the state to rethink its move to the Florida Standards Assessment, particularly when it comes to using the results on state-issued report cards for schools. Some educators, parents and lawmakers have urged the state to suspend the school-grading system and disregard or de-emphasize the use of the test when it comes to decisions about teacher contracts and student promotion for at least couple of years.
“It doesn’t serve anybody’s purpose to do this,” Florida Education Association President Andy Ford said of the attack. “If it’s true, it’s the wrong approach. And it just shows that not only weren’t you ready, but you’re vulnerable to the outside world, and the DOE really needs to take a look at what they’ve done and what they’ve built and try to make sure that in the future it can’t be attacked.”
Meanwhile, the House Education Committee unanimously approved a measure (PCB EDC 15-04) meant to ease the testing burden on students, teachers and schools.
The proposal would eliminate an 11th-grade language arts test that Gov. Rick Scott has suspended. It would also bar final exams in classes for which the state or a local school district has end-of-course tests, and make a college-readiness test given to some students optional.
The measure would reduce how much of a teacher’s evaluation is tied to student performance, from 50 percent to a third. And it would require the Department of Education to publish a testing calendar that districts can use, along with their own schedule, to inform parents about when students will be tested.
It would also provide local districts more flexibility when it comes to testing.
The bipartisan approval for the bill came in contrast to a vote last week in the Senate PreK-12 Education Committee, which passed a testing measure on a party-line vote.
“I think this product that we have here in the House is better than what’s moving through the Senate,” said Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee.
Ford also indicated that his group preferred the House legislation, even if problems remain.
“But we’re still concerned about the total amount of time that testing consumes in a school year,” Ford said. “We are also concerned, as parents and students are, about the rocky implementation that took place last week.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Escambia Man Gets 25 Years For Shooting Domino’s Driver
March 10, 2015
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to prison for shooting a pizza delivery driver.
David Trevor Burgess, 20, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Edward P. Nickinson, III, to a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years instate prison. Burgess will be required to serve the sentence day for day with no gain time. He previously pleaded guilty on November 19 to aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and shooting within a building.
The charges stem from a shooting that occurred on June 18, 2014, when Burgess shot a Domino’s delivery man. Burgess had been smoking marijuana and took what he believed to be acid, a hallucinogenic. Burgess’ roommate ordered a pizza thinking it would help him. When the delivery man arrived and the roommate went out to pay, Burgess shot through the front door multiple times with his 9mm pistol. The delivery man was stuck one time in his back, puncturing his lung. The delivery man was able to drive away and call 911 for medical assistance.
Vehicle Fire Being Investigated As Possible Arson
March 10, 2015
A suspicious vehicle fire Monday night near Cantonment is under investigation as a possible case of arson. The vehicle was discovered fully involved in a wooded area about 75 feet off the 200 block of Jacks Branch Road. The vehicle was a total loss. The fire is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
