Century Man Threatens To Kill Deputies, Every Cop That He Sees
August 27, 2014
A Century man is behind bars on a weapons charge after allegedly threatening to kill multiple Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies and every cop that he saw.
Aaron Tyrone Madison, Jr., 31, was charged with possession of a concealed weapon by a convicted felon and criminal mischief with property damage.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy observed a four wheeler traveling north on Highway 29 carrying a passenger. The driver cut across Highway 29 onto Highway 4A. The deputy caught up with the four wheeler after it stalled in the 4000 block of Highway 4A.
The driver of the four wheeler, identified as Madison, immediately took “an aggressive posture by balling his fists and taking a fighting stance, then started cursing, and threatened to shoot me and every cop he sees,” an arrest report states.
Madison told the deputy that he was upset because “the police were shooting [expletive] in the street,” according to the arrest report. The deputy reported that Madison continued to be aggressive, verbally abusive and continued to threaten to kill him while holding an aggressive stance with his fists balled up. Madison was detained after he pleaded with the deputy to shoot him.
A loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic Ruger pistol was found concealed under the driver’s seat of the four wheeler, with one bullet in the chamber and the weapon ready to fire, according to the report. Madison claimed ownership of the gun, saying “he wanted to shoot some police”.
The passenger on the four wheeler was released and not charged.
While being transported to the jail, Madison slipped his handcuffs to the front and attempted to break the plexiglass partition in the deputy’s vehicle as he yelled for the deputy to stop the vehicle or he would climb up front and kill him. The deputy stopped his vehicle near the Camp O’ The Pines in McDavid where additional deputies arrived and assisted in placing Madison in leg restraints and reposition his handcuffs. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at less than $200.
Madison made several more death threats to each deputy and stated several times that he wanted deputies to shoot him, the arrest report states.
Several corrections officers were needed to removed Madison from the deputy’s vehicle.
The deputy’s in-car video and audio were active during the incident.
Madison remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $15,500.
Complete Escambia Election Results
August 27, 2014
Here are complete, but unofficial, election results from Tuesday’s primary election in Escambia County:
Valentino Off Escambia Commission; School Board Seat Still Undecided; Rep. Miller Wins
August 27, 2014
One Escambia County commissioner was unseated and a school board race is head back to the ballot following Tuesday’s primary voting in Escambia County. And Congressman Jeff Miller easily cruised past his Republican challenger on his way to the November ballot.
Only 17 percent of registered voters in Escambia County voted in Tuesday’s primary.
Escambia Commission District 2
Incumbent Disitrict 2Commissioner Gene Valentino was solidly defeated by challenger Doug Underhill in the Republican Primary. Underhill received 62.49% of the vote to Valentino’s 37.51%. Underhill will move on to the general election to face Deb Moore who defeated Ray Guillory in the Democratic primary 56.62% to 43.38%.
Underhill, 45, works as a contractor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and serves an executive officer of the information warfare unit at the Navy Reserve Information Operations Command at Corry Station. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various unit and campaign awards.
Underhill resides in Perdido Key with his wife Wendy and sons Bret and Avery. Underhill’s endorsements included Sheriff David Morgan, Rep. Mike Hill, ECUA member Dale Perkins, and the Florida Police Benevolent Association.
This was Underhill’s first run for office. Valentino has served two terms — eight years — on the Escambia County Commission.
School Board District 3
Incumbent Linda Moultrie and challenger Charlie Nichols will face off in the general election for the District 3 Escambia County School Board seat as the top vote getters since neither received 50% of the vote. Moultrie received 36.15% of the vote Tuesday, while Charlie Nichols received 35.80%. Laura Dortch Elder is out of the race after receiving 28.05%% of the District 3 vote for the non-partisan seat.
Congressional Representative District 1
Three-time incumbent Jeff Miller easily defeated challenger John Krause Tuesday for the Republican nomination for the District 1. U.S. House seat. Miller received about three quarters of the vote. In November, Miller will face Democrat James Bryan and NPA candidate Mark Wichern.
10 Years After Arriving In America, New Citizen Votes For The First Time
August 27, 2014
Ten years to the day since Cesar Gonzalez came to America from Colombia, South America, he voted in his first election Tuesday in Century.
Gonzalez became a naturalized citizen on November 9, 2012, and registered to vote in the lobby of the courthouse immediately following the ceremony. Tuesday he showed his identification, just like every other U.S. citizen, and cast his vote at Precinct 22, the Century Town Hall.
His path to citizenship took seven years. Gonzalez was already a permanent resident, so the only tangible benefit he received with his citizenship was the right to vote. He and his wife, Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez, moved to Century in 2010.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheldon Advances To Take On AG Pam Bondi
August 27, 2014
Democratic voters believe George Sheldon, a former Department of Children and Families secretary, is their best hope to take on Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi in November.
Sheldon, a former state legislator who most recently held a post in the Obama administration, defeated state House Minority Leader Perry Thurston on Tuesday after a mostly cordial primary campaign.
Sheldon, who received a concession call from Thurston just after 8:30 p.m., was leading with more than 61 percent of the unofficial tally at 9 p.m., according to the state Division of Elections.
“I believe the attorney general is the people’s lawyer, not the governor’s lawyer, and not the Legislature’s lawyer,” Sheldon told supporters during a victory party at the Wine Loft Wine Bar in Tallahassee. “Help me give Pam Bondi the job she really wants, as an anchor on FOX News.”
Bondi wasted little time in both congratulating Sheldon and challenging him to a debate.
“The voters will have a clear choice between candidates in this election, and they deserve to hear directly from us on the distinct difference in visions and leadership that each candidate will offer to the Attorney General’s Office,” Bondi said in a prepared statement.
Sheldon, whose campaign contends Bondi has politicized the office, said he would accept the challenge, adding he would prefer a series of up to five debates.
Sheldon has run for statewide office before. He was defeated in a run for education commissioner in 2000 by then-Republican Charlie Crist, who on Tuesday became the Democratic gubernatorial nominee. Sheldon offered his congratulations to Crist.
Sheldon, Thurston and Crist are expected to appear together Thursday at party unity rallies in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
The first order of business for Sheldon must be to quickly build a campaign account that can give him the statewide media attention needed to compete with Bondi.
Approaching the primary, Bondi had $1.68 million of the $1.84 million she had raised. A political committee she is associated with, Justice for All, has another $1.65 million waiting to be spent.
Bondi has also been able to offset expenses through nearly $1 million in in-kind donations — mostly from the Republican Party of Florida — for consulting, campaign staffing, research, mailers and polling.
Sheldon, meanwhile, had raised $495,948, of which $474,959 was spent heading into the primary. Libertarian Bill Wohlsifer will also appear on the November ballot.
Sheldon acknowledged a tough campaign is ahead but said he believes Democrats were holding back on endorsements and contributions during the primary.
“We’re not going to compete with her dollar for dollar,” Sheldon told reporters Tuesday night. “But I think if we can be competitive with half the money, then I think we can make a difference.”
But while Sheldon expects to see his fund grow, the same will go for Bondi who has attracted national attention as a frequent guest on FOX News and helped lead a Republican legal battle against the federal Affordable Care Act.
Bondi has also championed legislation against pill mills, synthetic drugs and human trafficking.
However, Democrats believe she has made enough questionable decisions that could be exploited this fall, including her ongoing opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage and contesting a medical marijuana amendment that will go before voters this fall.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
2014 Escambia County Youth Farm Bureau Speech Contest Entry Deadline Near
August 27, 2014
The Escambia County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, in collaboration with UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County Extension, EscaRosa Young Farmers and Ranchers and the Escambia County Women’s Committee, will hold the 2014 Escambia County Youth Farm Bureau Speech contest on Thursday, September 4, at 4 p.m., at the Farm Bureau Building at 153 Highway 97, Molino.
The topic of this year’s speech is “Food security is an important issue to the people of the United States. How can Florida Agriculture continue to provide quality solutions for the future?}”
The speech time limit is five minutes for each personally crafted speech. Competitors must be at least 14 years old and not over 18 years old on or before September 19, 2014, and must be a resident of Escambia County, Florida, but do not need to be a member of Farm Bureau.
Judges reserve the right to ask questions not to exceed more than three minutes per contestant. The winner of the county contest will be asked to compete in the district contest. Escambia County Farm Bureau will help with the cost of transportation to the district meeting, and if the Escambia County contestant wins the district, Escambia County Farm Bureau will also help defray part of the cost to attend the state competition.
Anyone wanting to participate must contact Katrina Sanford at (850) 587-2135, by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, to schedule a time for the competition. To access the application and more information, along with resources that can be used for the speech contest visit www.floridafarmbureau.org.
Pictured: Nort hview student Courtney Solari placed second in the state last year in the Florida Farm Bureau Speech Contest. She is pictured with Northview FFA Alumni President Angus Brewton (left) and Escambia County Farm Bureau President Jimmy Cunningham. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Schedules Drug Take-Back
August 27, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is once again teaming up with Walgreens for another a drug take-back program with drop off locations in Escambia County, Saturday, September 27, from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm.
The “Prescription Drug Take-Back” is a one-day effort to provide the public a site to voluntarily surrender expired, unwanted, unused pharmaceutically controlled substances, and other medications for destruction.
Medications will be accepted at Walgreens locations:
- 9th and Langley Ave.
- Mobile Hwy and Fairfield Dr.
- Olive rd. and Davis Hwy.
- Palafox and Brent lane
- Mobile Hwy and Saufley Field Rd.
“Prescription drug abuse is not uncommon in our society and this is an opportunity for members of our community to get rid of their unwanted drugs before they fall into the hands of someone who may abuse or misuse them,” said Sheriff David Morgan.
For more information, contact Sgt. Delarian Wiggins at (850) 554-1362.
Wahoos Ends Year At Home With 6-2 Win Over Montgomery
August 27, 2014
The Pensacola Blue s ended the 2014 season with a standing ovation from the packed stadium.
It was a heart-felt and electrifying moment to end the team’s 70 home games this year and deeply appreciated by the Blue Wahoos players and coaches. Plus, it was particularly gratifying going out with a victory, 6-2, over the Montgomery Biscuits Tuesday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
“It reminds me a lot of Wrigley Field,” said Pensacola Manager Delino DeShields. “The people keep coming back no matter what. The fans really make this place go. They are the best in the league by far in my opinion.”
Starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen admitted that the players joke that they like Pensacola so much, they don’t want to get called up.
“The atmosphere is always fun here, no matter the wins and losses,” said Lorenzen, who worked four innings and gave up two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three. “We love it here. A lot of the players say we don’t want to go up. We want to stay because it’s so nice here.”
Pensacola’s closer Shane Dyer, who earned his franchise record 19th save Tuesday, was on the mound as the fans rose to their feet with two out and the last Biscuits player coming to the plate. Of course, Dyer struck out Montgomery’s Richie Shaffer, who has homered the past two games.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said of the loudly cheering fans. “That’s what guys in the bullpen thrive on. It’s always exciting to go out on top.”
The Wahoos ended their final game of the 2014 season with a sellout crowd of 5,038 to reach 311,687 total, which is the second highest total in the Southern League behind the Birmingham Barons.
It was the 33rd sellout in 70 home games this season for the Blue Wahoos, who averaged 4,453 fans a game. Pensacola had entered the final game 445 fans short of passing last season’s attendance total of 307,094.
The Wahoos are now 53,072 fans from reaching the 1 million mark in attendance in their fourth season in existence, which they will likely reach by the third homestand next season.
Jack-of-all-trades Brodie Greene came over from the Carolina Mudcats, which Quint and Rishy Studer bought and moved to Pensacola to start the 2012 season. Greene, who has played second base, shortstop and the outfield this season, has spent all three years in Pensacola. His season was cut short last year, when he broke his leg in July.
He ended his third season with the Blue Wahoos in fairy-tale fashion, belting a solo home run to deep leftfield – his third of the year and first at home.
“It was a good way to end a tough season,” Greene said. “I’ve been scuffling a little bit. I finally got one over the fence, though. It was great to see everyone behind us. It was like we were in the playoffs or something.”
The Wahoos have five more games on the road against the Birmingham Barons before the end of the Southern League season. They’re 56-78 overall and out of the playoff picture.
Many are making their plans for the offseason, such as playing in the Arizona Fall League, running a baseball academy in Europe, coaching a Wyoming and Colorado high school All-Star team, playing winter ball in Venezuela and returning home to their families, among other things.
One thing’s for sure. As they break for the winter, the Blue Wahoos fans’ standing ovation Tuesday will still be ringing in their ears.
The final five-game series for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the 2014 season is against the Chicago White Sox Double-A affiliate the Birmingham Barons. It gets underway after a day off Wednesday with a 7:05 p.m. start Thursday. LHP Tim Adleman (3-7, 3.00) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Barons RHP Tony Bucciffero (2-2, 5.59). The season concludes Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1.
by Tommy Thrall
Man Charged In Santa Rosa Homicide; Trio Was Playing With Shotgun
August 26, 2014
One person has been arrested in connection with a homicide Monday night in Santa Rosa County.
James “Hunter” Gates, 20, was charged with homicide-negligent manslaughter, using a firearm under the influence of alcohol and possession of alcohol by a person under 21.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting incident about 10:15 p.m. Monday. Gates, a female and the victim were at Gate’s home on Keyser Lane in Pace. Gates and the victim were intoxicated when they began to play with a 12 gauge pump-action shotgun. Gates observed the victim load a shotgun shell into the chamber and then eject the shell.
“In a playing manner,” according to an arrest report, the victim held the muzzle end of the shotgun to his chin and waved the butt of the gun toward Gates and the female. The victim then said “something to the effect of ‘bet you won’t pull it’, which referred to pulling the trigger,” the report states. Gates took hold of the shotgun and pulled the trigger. The gun fired a shell, hitting the victim under the chin. He was pronounced deceased on the scene by a responding paramedic.
According to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Gates had previously loaded a shotgun shell into the gun’s chamber. When the victim loaded the gun, Gates forgot about the previous shell. When he saw the victim eject a shell, Gates thought the gun was empty, the report states.
The name of the victim has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
Nine Mile Road Emergency Repairs Rescheduled
August 26, 2014
Emergency repairs on Nine Mile Road (Hwy 90)between the Escambia River Bridge and Scenic Highway in Escambia County have been rescheduled to a later date. All lanes will open to traffic as Florida Department of Transportation personnel reevaluate the construction project in order to reduce traffic impacts and minimize delays.
Construction began Monday to repair the westbound outside, right lane and shoulder that was damaged by heavy rains and flooding in the area in April 2014. Temporary safety measures have been put in place until permanent repairs can be completed. Construction crews will still be on site conducting secondary repairs off of the roadway that will not impact the traveling public.