Deputies Seize $123,000 In Cash, A Kilo Of Cocaine
April 4, 2014
One man was arrested after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized over $120,000 in cash and a kilo of cocaine during a drug raid Thursday morning.
“The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit has stepped up to the plate and hit and home run,” Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said.
The Narcotics Unit and SWAT team served a search warrant in the 4000 block of Marlane Drive about 6 a.m. Deputies said when they located and detained 39-year old Antonio Blackwell inside the residence, he had a white powdery substance on his arms and legs that field tested positive for cocaine. And cocaine was also found on a toilet seat and the floor around the toilet.
During a search of the kitchen Ziploc bags containing marijuana and cocaine were located, along with a razor blade with cocaine residue and a digital scale with cocaine residue. There was also cocaine located in the air conditioner filter vent in the home’s hallway.
Approximately $123,713 of U.S. currency was located throughout the residence, along with two weapons, deputies said.
Blackwell was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, trafficking cocaine (over 28 grams) destruction of evidence and possession of a weapon. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $35,000.
Pictured top: $123,713 in cash seized during a drug raid Thursday in Escambia County. Pictured below: Over a kilo of cocaine seized and (pictured bottom) one of two two handguns recovered. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Abducted Crestview Boy Found Safe; Parents Arrested
April 3, 2014
The Crestview Police Department said Thursday afternoon that abducted child Emmanuel Menz has been found unharmed, and Karl R. Menz and Virginia M. Lynch have been arrested in Henderson, Nevada.
Menz was abducted in early March from the Burger King in Crestview during a supervised visit at that location.
Emmanuel’s father and mother, Karl R. Menz and Virginia M. Lynch, do not have custodial rights to Emmanuel, and the child was in foster care.
Man Shot Near Escambia Lounge
April 3, 2014
Just after 2:00 Thursday morning, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a local hospital in reference to a gunshot victim who stated that he had been shot several times during an altercation in a parking lot near Genes Lounge on West Navy Boulevard.
The subject had what appeared to be gunshot wounds which were not considered life threatening, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The incident is under investigation at this time. Anyone having any information concerning this incident should contact Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Santa Rosa County Commissioner Jim Williamson Passes Away
April 3, 2014
Santa Rosa County Commissioner Jim Williamson passed away at his home with his family by his side late Wednesday night.
Williamson, 67, was a life-long resident of Santa Rosa County. First elected to the Santa Rosa County Board of Commission District 1 office in 1996, he was re-elected without opposition in 2000. Williamson was once again elected by the citizens of Santa Rosa County in 2008 and 2012 to represent District 1. Williamson served as vice chairman of the board in 1997-1998 and 2010-2012 and chairman in 1998-1999 and 2011-2012. He retired on April 1 due to declining health issues and to spend time with his family.
After graduating from Milton High School in 1964, Williamson played four years of professional baseball in the St. Louis Cardinal organization. He was a state certified electrical contractor and owned and operated his local business, Williamson Electrical Co., Inc. since 1976.
Prior to being elected county commissioner, Williamson was a member of the Milton City Council from 1977 to 1985. Throughout the years, he has been active in youth athletics as a parent, coach and sponsor, and won several awards including the God in Government Award and the Santa Rosa County Chamber Leader of the Year. A devout Christian, he and his wife, Paulette, are members of Immanuel Baptist Church. They have five sons, five daughters-in-law and are proud grandparents of 11 grandchildren.
During his tenure as a Santa Rosa County Commissioner, Williamson was known for his financial prudence and his vision for the future of Santa Rosa County.
Newly Paved, Crumbling Bratt Road To Be Fixed Under Warranty
April 3, 2014
Less than four months after it was paved, portions of Bratt Road are crumbling away.
The December project included dirt road paving and drainage improvements on Bratt Road from Pine Barren Road east about 1.25 miles to the existing paved roadway. The county road department provided pipe installation and grading, while a contractor was responsible for the paving.
An Escambia County official said the cold mix asphalt was likely used on a day that was too cold, causing it to be spread too thin in some spots.
The contractor, Roads Inc., will repair the roadway under warranty when the remainder of Bratt Road is paved in the coming weeks from Pine Barren Road to West Highway 4 at the Travis Nelson Park, according to District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry.
Pictured: Parts of the recently paved Bratt Road are beginning to crumble away. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman Charged With Stabbing Juvenile Twice With Fork
April 3, 2014
A Molino woman is facing a child abuse charge for allegedly stabbing a juvenile with a fork.
Vicky Marie Hadder, age 31 of Kemala Avenue, was charged with two counts of felony aggravated child abuse and possession of marijuana not more than 20 grams. She remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday without bond due to an outstanding probation violation warrant.
Deputies were responding to a reported disturbance when they spotted Hadder turning her vehicle into a convenience store at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road. After she was taken into custody, deputies reported finding three marijuana roaches in her vehicle.
At a local residence, deputies located the juvenile bleeding from the left side of his face. He told deputies that Hadder had thrown a fork at him, striking his face. She then, according to the victim, threw another fork at him prongs first as if throwing a dart. A witness told deputies that they observed Hadder strike the juvenile twice with two different forks. The witness also told deputies that Hadder had been up all night long shooting crystal meth between her toes.
The Department of Children and Families was also contacted.
Workshop Set On Future Of I-10/Hwy 29, Nine Mile Road
April 3, 2014
The Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization will hold a public workshop on Tuesday, April 15, at the West Florida Regional Planning Council, 4081 East Olive Road, Suite A, Pensacola, 4 to 6 p.m.
The meeting is concerning amendments to the Long Range Transportation Needs Plan and Cost Feasible Plan for the following projects:
- I-10/US 29 Interchange
- I-10 from Pine Forest Road to US 29
- Nine Mile Road from Mobile Highway to Pine Forest Road
- Nine Mile Road from Beulah Road to I-10
Public participation is welcomed.
ECUA Sees No Immediate Changes After West Florida Recycling Bankruptcy
April 3, 2014
When you toss out your recyclables for ECUA to pick up each week, your plastic bottles, papers and other items make their way to West Florida Recycling on North Palafox Street.
But earlier this week, West Florida Recycling filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. For now, officials at ECUA say they plan to continue to utilize the company to process recyclables, as long as they can continue to provide services in accordance with ECUA’s contract.
“We’ve worked to establish an alternate solution, should that be necessary,because we are committed to maintaining our recycling program in place.” ECUA spokesperson Nathalie Bowers said Wednesday. “Having already converted our fleet of collection vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from diesel has given us options that we might not have had one or two years ago. The reduced fuel costs give us the option of considering recycling processors who are further away, at the same cost, and certainly at a lower cost than landfilling these recyclables locally.”
Regardless of ECUA’s next move, if any, Bowers said she does not foresee any rate increases or changes in the level of recycling service at this time.
ECUA customers currently recycle about 215 ton per week, or about 15 percent of the total residential waste stream. About two-thirds of ECUA’s 73,000 residential customers participate in the recycling program.
“Our recyclables are considered to be of very high quality, with little contamination, largely due to the voluntary aspect of our program,” Bowers added.
ECUA does not pay West Florida Recycling; rather the company makes money by selling the processed recyclables.
Pictured top: An ECUA CNG-powered truck. File photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Deputy Cited After Motorcycle Crash
April 3, 2014
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was cited Wednesday night at colliding with motorcyclist.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Denise Ives, 42, was traveling east on on Gulf Beach Highway in a marked Escambia County Sheriff’s Office 2009 Ford Crown Victoria. She failed to see a 2001 Honda Goldwing driven by 57-year old Steven Larkin of Pensacola and turned into the path of the westbound motorcycle.
Larkin was transported to Baptist Hospital in serious condition, while Ives suffered only minor injuries.
Ives was cited with making an improper left turn by the FHPn
Man Pleads Guilty To Murder Of Escambia Teen
April 3, 2014
An Escambia County teen pleaded straight up Wednesday in the fatal shooting of another teen last year.
Robert Lee Boyd, 18, entered the plea on a second degree murder charge before Circuit Judge Jan Shackelford, who revoked his bond and set sentencing for June 5. He faces a sentence of 12 years to life.
Boyd was charged with the shooting death of 17-year old Ledarrious Ramon Washington during a drug deal robbery at the Pines Apartments in Warrrington on July 30, 2013.
Two other defendants, Nkosi Chamberlain and Javontai Yavin Lamario Thames, are awaiting trial on murder charges in the case.