Five Charged With Attacking 77-Year Old Man
August 13, 2013
Four juveniles and a 19-year old have been charged with attacking a 77-year old man Monday night and chasing him into Navy Boulevard.
The incident happened just after 9 p.m. near 400 North Navy Boulevard. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received several reports of teenagers chasing a man with a stick. Deputies arrived to observe several teens fleeing the scene.
According to witnesses, the juveniles approached the victim and chased the 77-year old into Navy Boulevard, hitting him several times with the stick and causing minor injuries. The victim declined medical treatment.
Arrested were Shaknee Golay, 19; Alicia Wilson, 15; Keyon Black, 16; Javontae Wilson, 13; and Demtirus Wilson, 12. Each was charged with aggravated assault on a person over 65 years of age. Black, Javontae Wilson and Demtirus Wilson were also charged with aggravated battery on a person over 65 years of age.
Surveillance Video And Photos: Molino Park Elementary Burglary
August 13, 2013
Tuesday morning, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office released a short surveillance video from Saturday night’s burglary and vandalism at Molino Park Elementary School.
The released video includes a seven-second time span from 9:17 p.m. that shows the images on this page.
For the complete story, click here.
Anyone with any information about the crime is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620. Crime Stoppers callers can remain anonymous and did not have to give their name.
If you do not see a video at the top of this page, it is because it is being block by your work, school or home firewall.
Man’s Apparent Traffic Accident Death Becomes Gunshot Murder Mystery
August 13, 2013
A Brewton man first thought to have died as the result of a car accident Sunday night in Mississippi was actually murdered, authorities said Monday.
Donald Morris, 59, died at the Biloxi Regional Medical Center about an hour after a traffic crash at 8:40 p.m. just off Main Street in Biloxi. Police said Morris was driving a 2003 Ford Explorer when he left the roadway, hit a fence and overturned at least twice. Authorities believe he was unconscious at the time of the crash.
Biloxi Police said a preliminary autopsy Monday revealed the true cause of Morris’ death — a bullet lodged in his head.
Sunday night, as police worked the accident scene, they were called to another shooting just a couple of blocks away. One person was treated for a gunshot would and released from the hospital. Authorities are now working to determine if the shooting incident was at all related to Morris’ death.
Extensive Damage, Expensive Loss After Molino Park Elementary Burglary, Vandalism
August 13, 2013
The damage at Molino Park Elementary School is being described as “extensive” by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office following a weekend burglary and vandalism.
Someone broke into the school on Highway 97 between about 4:30 Friday afternoon and 5:30 p.m. Saturday when the crime was discovered by a teacher. Surveillance video shows two people running down a hallway at 9:17 p.m.
To see the surveillance video, click here.
Thousands of dollars worth of electronics were stolen from throughout the school, including Apple computers, iPads, Wii gaming systems, cameras used by the school’s student-operated closed circuit TV station, along with other items. As teachers returned to work Monday, items were still being discovered missing and inventoried.
“They stole computers that are needed for education; they stole from our kids,” Molino Park Principal Alice Woodward said. “These were items directly used by our students.”
Portions of the school were also vandalized during the break-in. Ceiling tiles were damaged or destroyed throughout the campus, and holes were punched in walls. A vending machine was also toppled and burglarized.
“The Sheriff’s Office is working to identify those responsible,” Escambia County School District Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross said Monday. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement, and we hope for a swift resolution.”
A complete tally of items stolen or a dollar figure has not yet been released as the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office continues their investigation.
Anyone with any information about the crime is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620. Crime Stoppers callers can remain anonymous and did not have to give their name.
Pictured top: An empty spot marks the locations of a stolen Apple computer from a Molino Park Elementary School classroom. Pictured inset: Numerous ceiling tiles were damaged during the burglary and vandalism. Pictured below: Three Apple computers were stolen from this desk in a computer lab. Pictured inset: An overturned and burglarized vending machine in the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pit Bull Attack Victim Moves From Hospital To Rehab Center
August 13, 2013
The Nokomis woman who was viciously attacked and mauled by two pit bulls at her home July 18 has been released from the USA Medical Center in Mobile.
Sandra Lambert, 63, is now at the West Florida Rehabilitation Institute in Pensacola, learning to live without her dominant right arm. Her arm was amputated at the shoulder following the dog attack. She is expected to remain at the rehab center for at least a couple of weeks.
The two pit bulls that attacked Lambert at her home were euthanized at the Escambia County Animal Shelter. Animal Control’s investigation determined that Lambert’s family had been taking care of the two animals for at least 10 months, making the family the legal owners of the dogs, according to Escambia County officials. Family members signed custody of the dogs over to animal control with the understanding that the animals would be put down..
Lambert had taken both pit bulls out for a walk behind her home on in the 8000 block of Jakes Road. Molly, the female dog, was on a leash and lunged at some chickens in the yard. Lambert yelled “No, Molly” to the dog and pulled on her leash. The dog quickly turned on her and attacked, with the male dog, Rosco, joining in.
She was airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile where she underwent several surgeries.
An account to help Lambert with medical expenses has been established. Donations can be made to the “Benefit Account for Sandra Lambert” at any branch of United Bank. Donations can be mailed to United Bank, P.O. Box 8, Atmore, AL 36504.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Animal Control officer removed a tranquilized pit bull from an enclosed porch at the home of Sandra Lambert. Pictured below: Molly, one of the dogs involved in the July 18 attack, after being tranquilized. Pictured bottom: The attack happened at a mobile home in Nokomis, FL. Lambert was airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
CNN: Santa Rosa County One Of USA’s Best Places To Live
August 13, 2013
Santa Rosa County has been named as number 10 of 25 counties in the nation in CNN Money’s “Where the Jobs are – Best Places to Live – America’s Best Small Towns”.
Counties were selected based on low levels of unemployment and high rates of job and population growth now and in the future as determined by a combination of census data and proprietary projections.
Only counties where each Best Place within it was also experiencing job and population growth, and where unemployment was below the national average, were considered. No more than two counties within a state could qualify. Midway, Navarre and Pace are listed as county towns as they are in CNN Money’s “Best Places” database based on a combination of Census data and projections as well.
To read the CNN Money article, click here.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Home Sales Up
August 13, 2013
Florida’s housing market gained strength in second quarter 2013 with more closed sales, higher median prices, more pending sales and a shrinking supply of homes for sale compared to the same quarter in 2012, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors.
In Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, sales of exiting single-family homes were at 1,512, up 7.3 percent during the second quarter of the year at an average price of $155,600. There were 260 townhouse and condo sales, up 18.2 percent. Average condo and townhouse prices fell 26.6 percent to $179,900 on average during Q2.
Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 63,173 in 2Q 2013, up 14.7 percent compared to the year-ago figure, according to data from Florida Realtors. Closed sales typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in 2Q 2013 was $170,000, up 14.1 percent from the same quarter a year ago.
Looking at Florida’s year-to-year comparison for sales of townhouse-condos, a total of 31,829 units sold statewide in the second quarter, up 7.9 percent from the same three-month period in 2012.
Insurance Boss: Cost Drop Does Not Immediately Lower Premiums
August 13, 2013
A drop in reinsurance costs may not be immediately reaching Florida’s policyholders for a variety of reasons, including property insurers buying more coverage to brace against the risk of bigger storms, the state insurance commissioner has told state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.
Rates might eventually show a downward trend as property insurance companies submit new filings to the state Office of Insurance Regulation. But for lawmakers already considering changes that could be imposed next year on the insurance industry, a lack of lower rates appearing across the board is disappointing.
“For years what we have seen are insurance companies raising their rates, claiming that reinsurance rates were one of the big items that they had to raise rates for,” said Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero. “It seems like if the ratepayers have to pay when reinsurance is going up, they ought to see some benefit now that reinsurance is coming down.”
Reinsurance is backup insurance for insurance companies. Insurers in the past often have pointed to high reinsurance costs as a rationale for increasing consumers’ rates.
Last Wednesday, Atwater asked Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty (pictured) to explain why property insurers haven’t reduced premiums at a time when reinsurance costs have dropped worldwide on average 15 percent to 20 percent.
McCarty wrote Atwater on Friday that insurance companies might be increasing the amount of reinsurance they purchase rather than reducing rates and that not enough time may have passed for the lower reinsurance costs to result in lower customer premiums. Also, he wrote that reinsurance only accounts for a portion of a homeowner’s rate filing, some companies have tried to spread out of the cost of reinsurance over a number of years to lessen one-time hikes on policyholders and that not every insurance company is seeing a drop in reinsurance costs.
“In fact, several Florida property insurance companies are being required by their rating agencies to buy more reinsurance than they initially planned to purchase,” McCarty wrote.
McCarty added that some insurers have indicated an intention to reduce rates in some territories based on the 2013 reinsurance costs. But others “may purchase more reinsurance rather than reducing rates and the purchase of more reinsurance based on, or up to, a 1-in-250-year event is allowed by the rating law to be included in the premiums,” McCarty continued.
The cost of reinsurance from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund — basically a public pool that provides insurance for insurance companies — is among the rates that have increased.
McCarty sent a similar response July 2 to Rodrigues, who on June 24 had asked, “from a practical standpoint, will long-suffering Floridians begin to see rates stabilize and decrease in many cases based on reinsurance savings?”
Lisa Miller, a former deputy insurance commissioner who now lobbies for insurers, expects the lower reinsurance costs to eventually ease policy rates. Also, she said the additional reinsurance that companies have to purchase will protect policyholders.
“Reinsurance rates just went down, so changing rates, whether up or down, is not a fast process,” Miller said in an email. “The mechanics of determining where and how to adjust the rates and meeting legal requirements for adequate lead time to consumers makes it unlikely that it can be done in less than nine months!”
by The News Service of Florida
Lawmakers To Be Polled On Stand Your Ground Special Session
August 13, 2013
The Florida Secretary of State’s office will begin polling members of the Legislature to find out if there is enough support to hold a special session to decide the fate of the state’s controversial “stand your ground” law.
Vastly outnumbered Democrats have a week to convince enough Republicans lawmakers to support the special session.
House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, announced late Monday that Democrats had gathered the 32 written requests necessary to trigger a poll of lawmakers. If three-fifths of the Legislature agrees — something that would require a total of 96 lawmakers to go along — the House and Senate would return to Tallahassee to debate the law.
“I commend those members who have joined me in my request for a special session,” Thurston said in a statement issued by his office. “While the House speaker has indicated that the Legislature may hold a hearing later this year on certain policies, including stand your ground, I strongly believe that a special session is the best way to justly address the concerns of our constituents.”
Legislators will now be sent a poll from the state agency that they have until 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 19, to sign and return. The proposal is an effort to circumvent the opposition to a special session by Scott and Republican legislative leaders.
The process, allowed in state statutes, has never been used before to call a special session.
The poll was hailed by the Dream Defenders, the Hialeah-based group that has staged an around-the-clock protest since July 16 against the law, which grants legal immunity to people who use deadly force if they reasonably believe their lives are in danger.
“Because of this poll, we will be able to see where each of our legislators stand on having the special session that the [people] are demanding,” the organization tweeted Monday.
The group began its sit-in at Gov. Rick Scott’s office after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. While Zimmerman’s defense team did not use the “stand your ground” law, Martin’s death drew nationwide attention to the policy.
House Speaker Will Weatherford, who has directed a subcommittee to hold a hearing on the law this fall, said Monday that he hoped both sides will accept the results.
“Once this poll concludes, the question of a special session will be final,” Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said in an email. “I trust our protesters will accept the results and return the Capitol back to normal business. It’s time.”
Thirty-three of the state’s 58 Democratic lawmakers have filed petitions with the Florida Department of State requesting a special session on “stand your ground.” But even if every Democrat in the Legislature were to support a session — no sure bet given a few rural or moderate members of the caucus — another 38 Republicans would still have to back the idea.
Most Republicans have resisted changing the law. While Weatherford announced a hearing on the self-defense law, House Criminal Justice Subcommittee Chairman Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, has vowed not to change “one damn comma.”
Meanwhile, in a sign of the resistance to changing the law in Florida, three Republicans signed on to a letter slamming U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., for asking corporate sponsors of a conservative organization whether they support the law. Some liberals blame the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, for the spread of “stand your ground” laws across the nation.
“The contents of your letter are eerily similar to the questions asked by the Internal Revenue Service of other citizen groups the IRS deemed as politically conservative,” the letter says. “Questions such as the individual donors, purposes of organizational events and contents of meetings are clearly a violation of the First and Tenth Amendments and the general jurisdiction of a federal office holder.”
The letter was signed by state Rep. John Wood, R-Winter Haven, and Sens. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, and Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland. In all, ALEC said, “nearly 300 state legislators” from across the country signed the letter.
by Brandon Larrabee and Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Five Months Later, No Hurry From Scott On Lt. Gov Replacement
August 13, 2013
Five months have passed since Florida last had a lieutenant governor, but Gov. Rick Scott appears to be in no hurry to change the situation.
During a visit to West Palm Beach on Monday, the five-month anniversary of former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll’s resignation, Scott was asked about the lack of a second-in-line and running mate. Scott signaled that he hasn’t even decided what he wants in a No. 2.
“We’re still working on the criteria and I’m working with Adam Hollingsworth, my chief of staff, on that,” Scott said, according to the politics blog of The Palm Beach Post. “My biggest focus every day is to keep jobs going.”
Scott said in early July that he had tapped Hollingsworth to prepare for a search, but there have been few if any public statements since then about the vacancy.
Carroll resigned March 12 amid revelations that a company she co-owned, 3N & JC Corporation, had provided consulting services for Allied Veterans of the World, which was at the center of an investigation into illegal gambling and other crimes in the Internet café industry. Carroll has not been charged in connection with the case and has denied any wrongdoing.
For now, if Scott were unable to fulfill his duties for some reason, Attorney General Pam Bondi would take over as governor.
Democrats have hammered Scott for failing to appoint a lieutenant governor in the months after Carroll’s resignation, most recently slamming the administration after a public records request on the search in June turned up nothing.
But the Florida Constitution and state law do not appear to provide any deadline for Scott’s decision. The Constitution simply says that “[t]here shall be a lieutenant governor,” then says the governor will decide the lieutenant governor’s role. State law only says that “the Governor shall appoint a successor” when the office opens up.
The position has no real responsibilities beyond whatever work the governor asks the lieutenant governor to do, something that has led critics to argue that the office should be done away with.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida