Woman Gets 20 Years For Carjackings After Luring Victims Online
September 13, 2014
An Escambia County woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison for carjackings and related crimes in which she used social media find her victims.
Brianna Nicole Armour, age 19, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Michael Allen to 20 years minimum mandatory state prison. Armour entered a guilty plea on April 29, 2014 to two counts of attempted carjacking with a firearm, one count of shooting at, into or within an occupied vehicle, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted delinquent under 24 years of age, two counts of aggravated assault by threat with firearm, one count of grand theft auto, and one count of criminal mischief.
Prosecutors said the defendant utilized the social media website “tagged.com” to lure all three of her victims into meeting her. In the first case, the defendant met the victim and drove to a local gas station whereupon the victim went into the store to purchase a drink. While the victim was in the store, the defendant drove off in the victim’s vehicle.
In the second case, upon Armour meeting the victim, she directed him to drive to a remote location. Once at that location, the defendant brandished a pistol and ordered the victim out of the car. When the defendant attempted to get into the driver’s seat, the victim managed to drive away. Upon driving away, Armour shot out the back window of the vehicle.
In the third case, Armour once again directed the victim to drive to a remote location. Once at that location, the defendant brandished a pistol and ordered the victim out of his truck. A brief struggle over the pistol resulted in the victim receiving a minor gunshot wound to his arm, after which the defendant fled on foot.
Florida Corrections Continues Terminations For Inappropriate And Criminal Behavior
September 13, 2014
Friday, the Florida Department of Corrections announced that in addition to the six members of its staff that were terminated Thursday, this week an additional seven were dismissed under the DOC’s new employee discipline policy.
Five employees of Lancaster Correctional Institution — Officer Earl Short, Officer Stephen Nygard, Officer Julious Riley, Sergeant Robert La Puma, and Sergeant Brittain Williams — were dismissed for battery on an inmate. Officer Houston Biddle of Okaloosa Correctional Institution was dismissed for a DUI arrest and Officer Glen Gordon of Desoto was dismissed for an arrest for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended/cancelled/revoked driver’s license.
Last week DOC announced a strict zero-tolerance policy for employee misconduct and DOC Secretary Mike Crews sent a memo to all employees. DOC employees who commit a criminal act will immediately be placed on administrative leave and the Department will initiate disciplinary action for their dismissal.
“The action we have taken this week makes it clear that we will not tolerate inappropriate behavior or criminal activity by our staff. Our staff should be held to the highest standards, and the zero-tolerance policy that we have put in place ensures that anyone who fails to do the right thing will no longer work for this agency. We value our culture of professionalism and integrity, and we will not let the bad actions of a few undermine and tarnish the reputations of all the hard working men and women in our department. Enforcement of our new discipline policy is a critical step in ensuring that happens,” Crews said in a written statement.
Six Florida Department of Corrections employees were arrested and fired for alleged wrongdoings at a Panhandle facility, as announced Thursday. For that story, click here.
Friday Night Football Finals
September 13, 2014
Here is a look at Friday night’s high school finals.
FLORIDA
- Northview 24, Chipley 6 [Read more...]
- Vernon 42, Jay 3
- Tate 47, P.C. Bay 0 [Read more...]
- West Florida 19, Cairo (GA) 7
- Niceville 48, Pine Forest 0
- Escambia 45, Rutherford 7
- PHS 25, Catholic 17
- Washington 48, Lake Area (LA) 7
- Navarre 49, at Pace 21
- Baker 42, Holmes County 13
- Rickards 28, Crestview 7 12
- Milton 48, Ft. Walton 21
- Arnold 37, Freeport 7
ALABAMA
- Leroy 19, Flomaton 12
- T.R. Miller 55, Cottage Hill 14
- B.C. Rain 29, Escambia County (Atmore) 6
- Ecambia Academy 54, Fort Dale 12
- W.S. Neal — (open)
Two Seriously Injured In Pine Forest Road Crash
September 12, 2014
Two people were severely injured in three-car pileup Friday morning on Pine Forest Road just north of Five Flags Speedway.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Jason McDaniel, age 41 of Cantonment, was southbound on Pine Forest Road and slowed to turn into a paved median break about 6 a.m. His 1995 Chevrolet pickup was rear-ended by a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 31-year old Casey Williams of Pensacola.
About a minute later, Williams’ disabled Malibu was rear ended by a 2006 Ford pickup driven by 30-year old Shayla Riley of Cantonment.
Riley was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition, while Williams was transported to Sacred Heart also in serious condition. Williams’ 2-year old passenger was no injured. McDaniel received minor injuries and was not transported to a hospital.
Charges against Williams are pending, and Riley was cited for careless driving, according to the FHP.
Photos by Chris Johnson, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Second Time In A Week: Pygmy Rattlesnake Bites Victim Near Walnut Hill
September 12, 2014
For the second time in less than a week, someone has been bitten by a pygmy rattlesnake near Walnut Hill and airlifted to a Pensacola hospital.
A 28-year old Flomaton man told first responders that he was along Pineville Road outside Walnut Hill with friends early Thursday evening when he was bitten on the finger by a pygmy rattlesnake, commonly called a Florida ground rattlesnake. Exactly what the man was doing when he was bitten was not clear.
He was driven several miles from Pineville Road to Escambia Grain on Arthur Brown Road where he met first responders. He was then transported by Atmore Ambulance to the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and airlifted by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
The man and his friends were unable to retrieve the snake for species identification; however, his symptoms reportedly were consistent with a pygmy rattlesnake bite. His name and condition were not available Thursday night.
Saturday, 49-year old Sandy Marsh of Walnut Hill was bitten by a rattlesnake while pulling weeds at her home on Highway 97A outside Walnut Hill. For more on that story, including an interview with Marsh and photos of the snake, click here.
Pictured top: A rattlesnake victim was airlifted from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue Thursday evening. Pictured below: The man was first driven by friends to Escambia Grain on Arthur Brown Road before being flown to Baptist Hospital. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
District 5 Commissioner Barry To Hold Walnut Hill Town Hall Monday Night
September 12, 2014
District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry will hold a joint town hall meeting and Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Monday at the Walnut Hill (Ruritan) Community Center at 7850 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School.
Six Department Of Corrections Staff Arrested And Fired
September 12, 2014
Six Florida Department of Corrections employees have been arrested and fired for alleged wrongdoings at a Panhandle facility.
The DOC announced Thursday that five members of its staff, Sergeant William Finch, Sergeant James Perkins, Sergeant Robert Miller, Sergeant Christopher Christmas, and Sergeant Dalton Riley, were arrested by the Office of Inspector General for charges of felony battery on an inmate, and a sixth staff member, Captain James Kirkland, was arrested with additional charges of official misconduct.
The staff worked at Northwest Florida Reception Center in Chipley. All six have been dismissed from DOC as a result of their actions.
“These arrests and terminations send a very clear message: we have zero tolerance for criminal activity by our staff. I expect everyone to do what is right and I have restated my commitment to hold those who do not to meet our expectations accountable for their wrongdoing. Our staff should be held to the highest standards, and those who fail to do the right thing will no longer work for this agency. As I have emphasized to our staff in my meetings around the state, we will not let the bad actions of a few undermine our culture of professionalism and tarnish the reputations of all the hard working men and women in our department,” DOC Secretary Mike Crews said.
Crews Crews and Deputy Secretary Tim Cannon met today with the command staff at Northwest Florida Reception Center as part of Crews’ commitment to personally visit every Department of Corrections institution to emphasize his expectations for transparency, accountability and professionalism.
Senator: Make Florida Students Pass Financial Literacy Class To Graduate
September 12, 2014
A Port Orange senator has announced that she will introduce legislation during the 2015 session that would require Florida students to take a half-credit course in financial literacy.
The proposal by Sen. Dorothy Hukill is intended to help students better manage their money and, if signed into law, would become a graduation requirement.
“Requiring a personal finance course will prepare our high school students heading to college or entering the work force with the tools and insight they need to be well-equipped to handle their personal finances,’” Hukill said in a press release. A similar effort in the 2014 session failed to advance beyond the Education Committee, where it received approval on a 6-3 vote.
by The News Service of Florida
Century Camp Fire Youth Learning Center Kids Observe 9/11
September 12, 2014
The children of the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center took the time to gather around their American flag to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing “God Bless America” Thursday in observance of 9/11. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Football: Wins For Tate JV, Ernest Ward Middle
September 12, 2014
The JV Tate Aggies and the Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles both recorded wins on the road Thursday night.
The junior varsity Tate Aggies beat Escambia 22-20 in a come back win at Emmitt Smith Field. The JV Aggies (2-1) will host Pine Forest September 25.
In middle school action, Ernest Ward beat the Bay Minette Middle School Tigers 38-20 in Bay Minette. Ernest Ward will be on the road again Tuesday against the Hurricanes of Flomaton. The Eagles will play their first home game on Thursday, September 25 at 6 p.m. as they host Spanish Fort.