Walnut Hill Man, Three Others Charged After Alleged Overdose On Embalming Fluid, GHB
July 16, 2024
A Walnut Hill man and three others were charged after he allegedly overdosed on GHB and embalming fluid.
At about 8 a.m. Sunday, the Police officers responded to a residence in the 300 block of Beck Street in reference to a possible drug overdose. The responding officer encountered several people on the property and was informed the unconscious person drank a cocktail consisting of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and embalming fluid, a combination police said is commonly known as “Scoot”.
During the officer’s interaction with the other individuals at the scene he discovered there might be additional narcotics in camper on the property. The officer contacted Atmore Police narcotics investigators who obtained a search warrant.
Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann said investigators executed the search warrant and discovered methamphetamine, numerous other items that have yet to be identified and numerous other items that are commonly used to ingest narcotics.
After being treated and released from the hospital, 29-year-old Shawn Michael Boutwell of Walnut Hill was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Leslie Anita Whiting, age 35 of Atmore, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct.
McMann said Whiting claimed to have overdosed and was transported to the Atmore Community Hospital. He said she became irate and confrontational with hospital staff when she thought law enforcement was not present.
Police also charged 47-year-old Amy Jo Louise Nelson of Daytona Beach and 44-year-old Jonathan Alexander Schinasi of Lake Butler, Florida, with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Pictured clockwise: Boutwell, Whiting, Schinasi and Nelson.
Escambia Man, 77, Charged With Shooting Multiple Rounds At Santa Rosa County SWAT
July 16, 2024
A 77-year-old Escambia County man has been charged after allegedly firing nine rounds at the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team on Saturday.
Clifford Whennen was charged with:
- fleeing and eluding
- resisting arrest
- aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer (five counts)
- firing weapon
- criminal mischief
- probation violation (two counts)
On Saturday, Milton Police Department responded to a reckless driver complaint on Glover Lane where they located a vehicle driven by and uncooperative Whennen. The MPD officer called for assistance from SRSO, which blocked the vehicle in. They said Whennen had an active felony warrant and was known for recent threats to law enforcement.
“The suspect had an active felony warrant and recent threats to law enforcement. The suspect exited the vehicle with a firearm pointed at his head. Deputies attempted to have Whennen drop the firearm, but he refused and reentered the backseat of his vehicle,” said Kylie Blankenship, SRSO assistant public information officer, said.
“Due to Whennen being barricaded with a firearm, SRSO SWAT responded to the scene with an armored rescue vehicle (Bearcat). Failed negotiations were continued, and less lethal munitions were deployed within the vehicle,” Blankenship added. “Upon deployment of less lethal munitions, Whennen immediately shot seven rounds in the direction of law enforcement. The armored rescue vehicle thankfully protected the Deputies inside from being hit by these lethal rounds.”
After several deployments of less lethal munition from SRSO SWAT, Whennen surrendered. He was treated at a local hospital for cuts caused by broken glass. He was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bound due to two probation violation warrants.
Escambia (AL) Volunteer Fire Departments Receive State Grant, Present Service Awards
July 16, 2024
The Escambia County Volunteer Fire Association recently received a state grant and honored member accomplishments.
State forester David Thomas and Lucas Newbie presented 14 Volunteer Fire Departments with the 2024 Alabama Forestry Grant for $1995.79.
Alabama Reps. Alan Baker and Matthew Hammett attended the association meeting at Elim Baptist Church in the Roberts community. Baker thanked all fire personnel for their commitment to serving communities through Escambia County and stated that Senator Greg Albritton was an important part of the process. Hammett offered his appreciation to each firefighter for stepping up and providing “service above self” in medical emergencies, accidents, fires and natural disasters.
The Association also presented service awards at the meeting as follows:
- John Martin Lifetime Achievement Award – Captain Jerry Gehman Nokomis VFD
- Career Paid Fire Chief Award – Chief Ronald Peebles Atmore Fire Department
- Volunteer Fire Chief Award – Alex Singleton Appleton VFD
- Career Paid Firefighter Award – Captain Louis English Atmore Fire Department
- Volunteer Male Firefighter Award – Jerrel Cain Appleton VFD
- Volunteer Female Firefighter Award – Elisabeth Evans Wallace VFD
- Volunteer Firefighter Rookie of the Year Award – Logan Blake McCall VFD
- Volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Award – Melanie Jett Appleton VFD
There are 24 fire departments in Escambia County with over 285 firefighters.
Pictured top: Representative from the Appleton, Barnett Crossroads, Bradley, Dixie, Dixonville, Lambeth, Little Rock, McCall, McCollough, Nokomis, Ridge Road, Roberts, Wallace and Wawbeek fire departments with state Reps. Alan Baker and Matthew Hammett. Pictured below: Service award winners. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad, UWF Standout Darrien McDowell Selected In 2024 MLB Draft
July 16, 2024
Tate High School graduate Darrien McDowell was selected by the San Diego Padres Monday in the sixth round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
McDowell, a junior first baseman for the University of West Florida Argos , was the 180th overall selection in the draft,. He was the first Division II player selected, and the first Argo drafted since 2015.
McDowell graduated from Tate High in 2020, and played at Pensacola State College before joining the UWF baseball team.
Last season at UWF, McDowell hit .442 with 27 home runs and 77 RBIs. He was the 2024 Division II Leader in home runs, total bases and slugging percentage, and was named the 2024 Gulf South Conference Player of the Year.
Photo for NorthEscambai.com click to enlarge.
Escambia County Corrections’ Wilson, Hankins Graduate From State Leadership Programs
July 16, 2024
Two Escambia County Corrections employees have graduated this year from leadership programs through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, demonstrating their dedication to enhancing their leadership skills in the criminal justice profession.
Capt. Shawn Hankins (pictured right) graduated from the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute’s Senior Leadership Program and Sgt. Lonnie Wilson (pictured left) graduated from the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute’s Florida Leadership Academy, both of which require a rigorous application and selection process.
“I’m incredibly proud of Capt. Hankins and Sgt. Wilson for taking the initiative and putting in the hard work it takes to apply for and complete these programs,” Escambia County’s Chief of Corrections Rich Powell said. “Corrections is a demanding and challenging career, and it’s imperative to develop and recognize strong leaders who can successfully guide our team through challenges that come our way. I appreciate FDLE for offering training and development programs like this to foster the advancement of Escambia County and other law enforcement agencies throughout the state.”
Capt. Hankins and Sgt. Wilson were selected from applicants throughout the state to participate in the multi-week programs, which teach participants critical skills to be effective leaders through the challenges faced by criminal justice professionals.
Both Capt. Hankins and Sgt. Wilson spoke highly of their experiences, which not only taught them valuable leadership skills, but also helped them network and build connections with other agencies throughout the state.
“I think it gets you ready for upper-level management, and it helps with that next level of getting a bigger perspective community-wide as opposed to focusing on your area of concern,” said Capt. Hankins, who has worked for Escambia County Corrections since 2005. “It makes you think of the community as whole and not just inside the jail, but how it affects the community outside of the jail.”
Sgt. Wilson was among 44 first-line supervisors serving in leadership roles selected for the Florida Leadership Academy, with participants representing 37 criminal justice agencies throughout the state. He was also nominated and selected as class president.
“The information that they taught, just learning how to become a leader and figuring out what type of leader you are – it’s helped me tremendously,” said Sgt. Wilson, who has been with Escambia County Corrections for nearly 25 years and now supervises more than 40 employees.
The Florida Leadership Academy consists of four week-long sessions where participants learn skills necessary to support the needs of their agencies and communities in preparation for future challenges. The goal of the academy is to prepare first-line supervisors in criminal justice organizations to exemplify the character and integrity expected of criminal justice professionals, while examining the various components necessary to become efficient leaders.
The Senior Leadership Program is designed to prepare Florida’s criminal justice leadership for the challenging and changing demands of the future. Participants met for seven weeks over a 10-month period. They studied the trends and events that will challenge criminal justice professionals and the state, also examining the leadership skills necessary to create and lead the changes that lie ahead.
Escambia Commission Cancels This Week’s Meeting
July 16, 2024
This week’s schedule Escambia County Commission meeting has been canceled.
The meeting was scheduled for Thursday, July 18.
The public forum preceding the meeting was also canceled due to no meeting cancellation.
The next scheduled meeting for the Escambia County Commission is Thursday, August 1 at 5:30 p.m.
Pictured: The July 9, 2024, meeting of the Escambia County Commission.
Suspect, 19, Indicted For Fatal Drive-By Shooting Of 70-Year-Old
July 15, 2024
A 19-year-old man has been indicted for the fatal drive-by shooting of a 70-year-old woman in Escambia County last month.
State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announced Monday that Jaquaris Ethridge was indicted by Escambia County grand jury on charges of:
— – first degree premeditated murder
— - shooting at or into a building
— - fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer at high speed
— – possession of a firearm by a convicted delinquent under 24 years of age
The shooting that ultimately claimed the life of 70-year-old Myra Haynes happened June 24 before a high-speed chase.
The chase ended with a PIT maneuver on the Highway 90 bridge over Escambia Bay. Three suspects — Ethridge, Terrance Gross Jr. and Trevion Moton — jumped off the bridge. Morton died from the jump, and Etheridge was captured. Gross Jr. remains in Webb County Jail in Texas awaiting extradition back to Escambia County on several warrants related to the shooting.
Etheridge remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond awaiting arraignment on Friday.
Blue Angels Select Officers for 2025 Show Season
July 15, 2024
The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, selected five new officers to join the team for the 2025 air show season.
The squadron selected two F/A-18E/F Super Hornet pilots, a C-130J Super Hercules pilot, an Events Coordinator and a Flight Surgeon to replace outgoing team members.
By the start of the 2025 show season, these five officers will join the ranks of the U.S. Navy’s most elite aviation officers, ground support officers, and enlisted maintenance personnel already serving on the team.
“It’s always a challenge selecting new officers for the team because we have so many highly qualified applicants,” said Cdr. Alex Armatas, commanding officer and flight leader of the Blue Angels.“We are thrilled to introduce the new officers for the 2025 show season and excited to see what each of them bring to our demonstration team in 2025.”
Each year, the Blue Angels select finalists to interview at the team’s home base of Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Fla., during the week of the Pensacola Beach Air Show; selections are made at the conclusion of that week. This year’s Pensacola Beach Air Show took place July 6-8.
The selected 2025 officers include:
F/A-18E/F Demonstration Pilots:
- Maj. Brandon Wilkins, from Beaufort, South Carolina, is currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31. He graduated from The Citadel in 2007.
- Maj. Scott Laux, from Chantilly, Virginia is currently assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2012.
Events Coordinator:
- Lcdr. Lilly Montana, from Vienna, Virgina, is currently assigned to VT-86. She graduated from Auburn University in 2010.
C-130J Demonstration Pilot:
- Maj. Joshua Horman, from Smithville, Missouri, is currently assigned to VMGR-252. He graduated from William Jewell College in 2009.
Flight Surgeon:
- Cmdr. Jen Murr, from Jackson Center, Ohio, is currently assigned to VR-56. She graduated from Xavier University in 2002.
New team members will report to the squadron in September for a two-month turnover period. Upon completion of the 2024 show season, which concludes in November with the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show at NAS Pensacola, the team will embark on a rigorous five-month training program at NAS Pensacola and Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif.
The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps through flight demonstrations and community outreach while inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country.
ECSO: McDavid Woman Claims Crockpot ‘Magically Makes Meth”, Charged With Child Neglect
July 15, 2024
A McDavid woman ha been arrested on battery and child neglect charges.
Courtney Nicole Calder, 34, was charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanor battery.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, Calder pushed a woman to the ground, causing her to fall onto a child, leaving a bump on the back of his head when he fell into a hardwood floor.
The woman that was allegedly pushed told deputies that she was in a hallway to help her grandchild when Calder started screaming at her and then pushed her with two hands, causing her to fall on the child.
Deputies noted in their report that the child had a bump on the back of his head that was evaluated and cleared by Escambia County EMS.
“I then spoke with Courtney Calder who started talking about a crock pot on her property that magically makes meth and somehow introduces it into her house and how her (relative) is trying to steal her children from her,” the responding deputy wrote in his report. Calder was not accused of any drug-related crimes during the incident.
Calder was arrested on scene, and the Department of Children and Families abuse hotline was notified, the report states.
She remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday morning with bond set at $4,000.
Driver’s License, Tag, Tax Collector Services This Week In Walnut Hill, Century
July 15, 2024
Driver’s license and other tax collector services will be available in Walnut Hill and Century this week.
The Escambia County Tax Collector will be at the:
Walnut Hill Community Center on Wednesday, July 17 from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 17 from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century on Thursday, July 18 from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Mobile Licensing and Identification Office (MILO) is a fully functional tax collector office on wheels, offering a range of services. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver license, obtain a replacement driver license, conversion/reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration, receive a parking placard, transfer a title, pay property taxes, and apply for a business tax receipt. Written and driving tests are not available from the MILO unit.
The Walnut Hill Community Center, also known as the “Ruritan Building”, is at 7850 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School and the fire department.
Pictured: The Escambia Tax Collector’s MILO at the Walnut Hill Community Center on June 11. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.