Details Emerge In Deputy Involved Shooting Of Unarmed Man
July 30, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan released more details Monday about an unarmed man shot at his own home by two deputies early Saturday morning.
Roy Howard Middleton, 60, said he was searching for a cigarette in his mother’s car when deputies approached.
The deputies had answered a theft in progress call about 2:40 a.m., according to Morgan, on Shadow Lawn Lane. A caller had reported that a subject was attempting to steal a white car parked in the driveway of the residence. Just before deputies arrived, the caller reported to a 911 dispatcher that the subject was still inside the vehicle. The deputies arrived, parked a few houses away, and approached on foot.
The deputies ordered Middleton to get out of the Lincoln Town Car and put his hands up, but they say he was not compliant. At one point, he started to get out of the car, but then got back in and reached toward the center console. Then Middleton exited the car very quickly with a lunging motion with one hand raised with something metallic in it, Morgan said. Sgt. Matthew White and Deputy Jeremiah Meeks then fired 15 rounds, hitting Middleton in the leg. Morgan said the deputies feared for their safety. He attributed the number of shots fired to “officer anxiety”.
“There’s numerous commands going throughout this incident,” Morgan said. “You’ve got to remember, everybody’s ramped at this point.”
The first shots were fired by Meeks, the sheriff said. He said White was to the right of Meeks and unable to determine if Middleton was firing, so White also fired in the suspect’s direction as backup.
A third officer on the scene, Wayne Wright, was still walking toward the driveway when the gunfire began. “Sergeant White was slightly ahead of me, and as I got closer to the residence I observed Deputy Meeks near the end of the driveway,” Wright wrote in an incident report. “I then heard verbal commands being shouted to have the subject get out of the vehicle and show his hands. Deputy Meeks and Sergeant White then both fired their weapons.”
“If we rolled on the scene and Mr. Middleton had been compliant and Mr. Middleton had followed all directions of the law enforcement officers, I can give you with a 99.9 percent of assurance that this shooting would not have occurred. But when an individual, a suspect, or victim in this case, is not compliant, then the officers react to that,” Morgan said. “We are not in control of that. The individual we are approaching is in control of that.”
Middleton and his family tell a different story. Middleton said he at first thought the flashlights were those of his neighbors playing a trick on him. He said he followed the orders given by deputies and raised his hands, holding his car keys with metal flashlight. When he turned to face the deputies, they opened fire.
Meeks has been with the Sheriff’s Office for two years; White has served for 15 years. Both are on paid administrative leave, as is standard procedure in officer involved shootings.
The shooting is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office.
Tate’s Dunsford, West Florida’s Rosario Named To All-State Softball Teams
July 30, 2013
Miracle Sports has named two local players to the 2013 All State Softball Team.
Rachel Dunsford, an incoming senior at Tate high school, made First Team 6A for 2013 as a Utility player. The University of Alabama Birmingham commit hit .432 for the year with eight doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI, .519 on base percentage and a .591 slugging percentage. In 2012, Rachel made Second Team All State.
Korina Rosario, incoming senior at West Florida High, made Honorable Mention in 5A for 2013. The Florida State commit hit. .467 for the year with 12 doubles, four triples, one home run, 16 RBI, .495 on base percentage and had nine stolen bases. Korina was 9-4 pitching for the jaguars with 134 strikeouts and a .166 batting average against.
Both players will sign their National Letter of Intent with their respective universities in November.
Miracle Sports is the official website of the Florida High school softball rankings and the Florida All-State high school softball teams.
Pictured: Korina Rosario (left) and Rachel Dunsford. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Renken Leads Wahoos To Second Straight Shutout
July 30, 2013
Daniel Renken fired six shutout frames for the second straight outing and the Blue Wahoos offense provided two early runs to knock off the Mobile BayBears 2-0 on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It was Pensacola’s ninth shutout of the season and extended the team’s scoreless innings streak to 18 innings.
Renken (5-7), riding a string of six consecutive quality starts since his last start against Mobile, dominated the BayBears over six innings. The right-hander allowed three scattered hits while falling one shy of a season-high in strikeouts with six. Renken’s lone bit of trouble came in the fifth when he worked with two runners on and one out, but he got a groundout and a strikeout to retire the side. With the six shutout frames, Renken extended his scoreless innings streak to 17.1 frames dating back to July 12.
The Pensacola offense provided solo tallies in the first two frames for the only runs of the night. In the first inning, Yorman Rodriguez jacked his second home run of the year off Mobile starter David Holmberg to give the Wahoos a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Ray Chang doubled home Travis Mattair to give Pensacola a 2-0 lead.
Holmberg took the loss for Mobile to fall to 5-6 on the season. He allowed two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
That was more than enough for Renken, who gave way to Lee Hyde in the seventh inning. The Wahoos southpaw reliever fired two scoreless frames, allowing just one hit to extend his personal scoreless streak to 27.1 innings dating back to May 21.
Trevor Bell came on in the ninth inning and retired the BayBears in order to pick up his ninth save of the year.
Pensacola will now look to take the series against Mobile on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Tim Crabbe (4-7, 3.33) looks to build on his nine scoreless innings last time out for Pensacola against Mobile’s Bo Schultz.
story by Kevin Burke
Argument With Credit Card Company Lands Man In Jail On Drug Charges
July 29, 2013
An argument on the phone with his credit card company ended with a Walnut Hill man in the Escambia County Jail.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Raceway at 406 Airport Boulevard in Pensacola after receiving a call about a disturbance. When asked if he was arguing with someone, Kevin Foster Bey, 52, told deputies he was yelling on the phone with a credit card company.
A records check revealed Bey had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear, and he was placed under arrest. When he was searched, deputies found a pill bottle with rock cocaine and two marijuana cigarettes in Bay’s pockets, according to an arrest report.
Bey was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $8,000.
Two Injured After Hitting Deer In Bratt
July 29, 2013
Two people were injured in single vehicle crash with a deer early Monday morning in Bratt.
The accident happened about 12:50 a.m. on West Highway 4 near Vaughn Road, east of Northview High School. Both occupants of the Buick LeSabre were transported to Atmore Community Hospital by Atmore Ambulance. Their injuries were not considered severe.
The deer did not not survive the crash.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol also responded to the crash.
Pictured: Two people were injured after hitting a deer on West Highway 4, east of Northview High School early Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Store And Clerk Struck By Lightning
July 29, 2013
A Century store clerk received a shock at work Sunday evening when the store was struck by lightning.
The clerk at the Dollar General on North Century Boulevard reported she received a shock from the cash register when lightning hit the store about 8:25 p.m. The 25-year old female was not seriously injured. She was transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital for evaluation.
There was no significant damage reported to the store.
Barrineau Park 4-H Members Donate To Children’s Hospital
July 29, 2013
Dillon Conti challenged his fellow Barrineau Park 4-H Club members to give something back to the community.
He presented them with the idea of collecting board games to donate to the Child Life Program at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola.
Each member set aside a portion of the proceeds they received from the sale of their animal and showmanship winning from the GCA/NRA Spring Livestock Show last April at the Langley Bell 4-H Center. Each club member used the funds to purchase a board game of their choice.
The Barrineau Park 4-H Club members presented the board games Wednesday morning to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Club members plan to make another donation next year.
Members of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club visited Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital Wednesday to donate board games for patients. Scrabble, Trouble, Scrabble Slam and other games will provide hours of entertainment. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teen Bitten By Poisonous Snake At Canoe Creek
July 29, 2013
A teenager was hospitalized Sunday evening after being bit by what was believed to be a poisonous snake.
The teen was at Canoe Creek along Highway 29 in McDavid when he was bitten by the snake about 7:15 p.m. EMS reported that he was unconscious after being bitten by what was believed to be a cottonmouth snake.
The teen was transported by a Santa Rosa County ambulance to West Florida Hospital for treatment. His name and condition were not available.
Decorated War Hero Bud Day Passes Away
July 29, 2013
Retired Col. Bud Day passed away Saturday at his home. He was 88.
Day is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and command pilot who served in active service in World War II and the Vietnam War. Shot down in an air strike in North Vietnam, he was a prisoner of war for five years and seven months during which time he shared a cell with U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ).
“He was the bravest man I ever knew, and his fierce resistance and resolute leadership set the example for us in prison of how to return home with honor,” McCain said in a statement Sunday.
Day is often cited as being the most decorated U.S. service member since General Douglas MacArthur, having received nearly 70 decorations, a majority for actions in combat. Day is a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
“Day was a patriot in the truest sense of the word. He worked tirelessly for veterans and never backed down to a challenge. He was the most distinguished of warriors and a most loving husband and father. Col. Bud Day was a national treasure and a shining example of bravery. Our community will miss his unwavering perseverance, his limitless patriotism, and his enduring optimism for the future of America,” Rep. Jeff Miller said Sunday.
Wahoos Top BayBears
July 29, 2013
Shaun Ellis combined with four relievers to fire a two-hit shutout of the Mobile BayBears in Pensacola’s 2-0 win on Sunday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The shutout was Pensacola’s eighth of the season
The Wahoos pitching staff tied a team-low for hits allowed in a game this season, sparked by the starter Ellis. The All-Star went four-plus innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Both free passes came in the top of the fifth inning and forced Ellis from the game. Parker Frazier came out of the Blue Wahoos bullpen to get a strikeout and a double play to end the threat.
Frazier (1-0) picked up his first win in a Pensacola uniform with three scoreless and hitless innings in just his second appearance since being traded from Colorado. The right-hander struck out three and walked only one.
Josh Ravin and Chris Manno combined to toss a scoreless eighth before Trevor Bell closed the door in the ninth inning to pick up his eighth save of the season.
Pensacola provided enough support with a pair of runs in the last of the second against BayBears’ starter Andrew Chafin. Mike Costanzo led off the inning with a walk before scoring on a double from Chris Berset. Ryan LaMarre drove home Berset two batters later with a single to make it 2-0.
Chafin took the loss to fall to 7-6 on the season. The southpaw allowed two runs on four hits in six innings with four strikeouts and two walks.
The Wahoos look to make it two wins in a row on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Daniel Renken (4-7, 3.56) takes the ball for Pensacola against Mobile’s David Holmberg (5-5, 2.92). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Story by Kevin Burke