DUI Arrest: Molino Man Accused Of Battery On Pensacola Officer Following Crash
April 8, 2026
A Molino was charged following a single-vehicle crash and an alleged violent altercation with Pensacola Police.
Michael Tabium Watts, 35, ws charged with DUI influence of alcohol or drugs, refusal to submit to dui testing, battery on an officer, depriving an officer of means of protection or communication, resisting an officer with violence, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, and possession of marijuana. He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $22,000 bond.
Watts was arrested near the intersection of B and Cervantes Streets after officers followed a fluid trail from a damaged median wall at E Street. According to the arrest report, Watts’ black BMW SUV was found disabled in the roadway with severe front-end damage.
Responding officers noted that Watts smelled strongly of alcohol, had slurred speech, and struggled with basic motor skills. A passenger in the vehicle reportedly told police that Watts had been drinking vodka and smoking marijuana earlier in the night, ignoring her pleas to stop driving.
The situation escalated during field sobriety exercises when Watts became aggressive. Police say Watts resisted arrest, pulling away from officers and eventually grabbing an officer’s radio, turning it off and preventing a call for emergency backup. Officers were forced to use physical strikes to gain control and placed Watts into a patrol vehicle.
Tate’s Morris Homers As Aggies Fall To Navarre
April 8, 2026
Navarre 5, Tate 1
The Tate Lady Aggies fell 5-1 to Navarre on Tuesday night.
Tate’s Sarah Mitchell struck out 10 Raiders in six innings, giving up two hits and one run while walking four.
Brelynn Morris hit a one-run homer to left field, which tied the game at one in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Aubree Gorum and Peyton Wilson also recorded one hit each.
Tate will host South Warren from Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Wednesday and Niceville on Thursday.
McLellan Throws Seven-Inning No-Hitter As Tate Shuts Out Escambia
April 8, 2026
Tate 5, Escambia 0
Tate’s Bryton McLellan threw a seven inning no-hitter as the Aggies shut out Escambia 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Evan Taylor, Nathan Connors, Kannon Ham, and Cooper Halfacre each had one hit for the Aggies. aylor, Cook and Halfacre recorded one RBI apiece.
The Tate Aggies will host Washington on Thursday.
Enjoy Jazz By The Books At The Century And Molino Libraries
April 8, 2026
Enjoy Jazz by the Books this Thursday in Century and next Wednesday in Molino.
The live jazz performances by the Jazzabouts presented by Jazz Pensacola and the West Florida Public Libraries will be held:
Thursday, April 9, at noon until 2 p.m., at the Century Branch Library
Wednesday, April 15, 1-3 p.m., at the Molino Branch Library
The event is free.
Shuckers Stymie Wahoos In Pensacola’s Road Opener
April 8, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell behind early and couldn’t catch up in their first road game of the 2026 season on Tuesday night, falling 8-2 to the Biloxi Shuckers.
Payton Green provided Pensacola’s only offense, collecting a single in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the seventh.
Pensacola starting pitcher Jacob Miller (L, 0-1) was rudely greeted in the first inning by Biloxi’s Blake Burke, who extended his Southern League lead in home runs with a solo shot, his fourth in as many games to start the season.
The Shuckers added two runs in the second inning on an RBI single from Dasan Brown, and two more in the third inning on a Damon Keith double.
Five early runs would be more than enough for Biloxi’s Jaron DeBerry (W, 1-0) who worked around four walks to pitch 5.0 scoreless innings and earn the win in his season debut.
Biloxi added three runs off Pensacola’s bullpen, tacking on a pair of unearned runs in the seventh thanks to an RBI triple from Dylan O’Rae and an RBI single from Jesús Made. An RBI groundout from Keith in the eighth gave the Shuckers their last run in an 8-2 final.
Relievers Logan Whitaker and Samuel Vasquez each made their Blue Wahoos debuts out of the Pensacola bullpen.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Tuesday
written by Erik Bremer
Monday Night Cantonment House Fire Claims One Life
April 7, 2026
A Monday night house fire claimed one life in Cantonment.
The fire was reported just after 8 p.m. on Arena Road, about a quarter of a mile west of County Road 97.
The house was involved with heavy fire when firefighters arrived a few moments later, and the adult victim was located inside the brick home. There was no one else inside, but a dog and a cat were also found deceased.
For additional photos, click to enlarge.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cause of the fire, and additional details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Volunteers Needed Friday In Century To Paint Born Learning Trail
April 7, 2026
Volunteers are needed Friday morning in Century to paint and prep the Born Learning STEAM Trail in Century.
The Born Learning Trail, a United Way Worldwide initiative since 2005, first opened in Century in late 2020, but the trail’s paint has since faded away. The trail is a series of 10 signs with activities painted on a park trail that offer fun, interactive learning activities for young children and their families. It was designed to help parents, caregivers, and communities create quality engagement opportunities when out on a stroll or while playing at the park.
The Born Learning Trail in Century was the second in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The Century Born Learning Trail is a partnership between International Paper, the Town of Century, and United Way of West Florida.
Volunteers — no artistic experience or expertise necessary — are needed on Friday, April 10 from 9 a.m. to noon at Showalter Park on Kelly Field Road in Century. Examples of activities to paint include hopscotch or other game boards, interpretive signs featuring animals, nature themes, ABCs, or 123s. They are simple interactive designs that inspire movement and curiosity.
To volunteer, click here to register by Wednesday, April 8.
Pictured: The Century Born Learning Trail in late 2020. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cheerleaders Honored At FCA Spirit Of Champions Awards
April 7, 2026
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Sport of Champions Awards were presented recently at a banquet hosted by the First Baptist Church of Pensacola.
The winners were chosen by their teammates based upon their integrity, dedication, character, and FCA values.
The honorees were:
- East Hill — Khenedy Dukes
- Escambia – Trinity Jordan
- Gulf Breeze – Jadalynn Rorabaugh
- Jay – Ansley Nowling
- Milton — Mikayla Bouie
- Northview — Maddy Pittman
- PHS – Arianna Simpson
- Pensacola Catholic – Lennon Lusane
- Pine Forest – T’Ericka Walker
- Tate – Alyssa Clarke
- Washington – Cameron Wilcox
- West Florida Tech – Adalyn Brown
Pictured top: The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Sport of Champions Awards. Pictured first below: That High School award winner Alyssa Clarke. Pictured second below: Northview High School winner Maddy Pittman. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
K-9 Units Thwart Contraband Smuggling Attempt At Atmore Prison; Two Arrested
April 7, 2026
Two people were arrested Monday, April 6 after K-9 units thwarted a smuggling attempt at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.
At approximately 12:15 a.m., K-9 officers from the nearby Fountain Correctional Facility were alerted to a trespasser on Holman grounds. Tracking dogs successfully located Mathew Neal Jordan, who was taken into custody. The investigation subsequently led officers to a vehicle driven by Samantha Lynn Gates.
Authorities reported recovering a significant cache of contraband, including 320 grams of synthetic cannabinoids, 36 grams of marijuana, 28 grams of methamphetamine, and 10 cell phones.
Both suspects were transported to the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center. Jordan was charged with promoting prison contraband first degree, trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking synthetic drugs, unlawful possession of marijuana first degree, prohibited activities, and attempting to commit a controlled substance crime.
Gates is charged with trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking synthetic drugs, and two counts of criminal conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime.
The Alabama Department of Corrections said more charges may be pending as the investigation continues.
Northview Flag Football Celebrates Senior Night With Win Over PHS
April 7, 2026
The Northview Chiefs celebrated Senior Night with a flag football win over the Pensacola High Tigers on Monday in Bratt.
Before the game, Northview honored seniors Claire Amerson, Kenslee Chavira, Addison Clausen, Makenzie Levins, and Braylan Shelly.
Up next, Northview will host the Gulf Breeze Dolphins on Monday, April 13.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.