Escambia Man Arrested Days After Hitting Deputy, Pursuit
November 29, 2012
An Escambia County man was arrested Wednesday, days after a high speed pursuit in Santa Rosa County.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office says 25-year old Alex Barnsdale fled from deputies during the early morning hours of November 22 after he struck and injured a deputy at a traffic stop. The deputy was hit by his own driver’s door as Barnsdale drove directly at the officer and hit the door with his truck. The deputy suffered injuries and possible fractures to his leg during the incident at an apartment complex.
Other deputies pursued Barnsdale from Milton into Pace on Berryhill Road before terminating the chase as Barnsdale reach speeds over 120 mph. Although deputies were not able to see the driver or obtain a tag on the vehicle, the apartment complex captured the incident on surveillance video. Deputies were able to obtain the video, and also find the individual that Barnsdale was going to visit that night. Further investigation revealed that Barnsdale was sending messages to that person implicating him as being involved in the pursuit. One message from Barnsdale stated that he “had a cop problem”, deputies said.
Barnsdale’s Facebook page also displayed a picture of him posing with the truck that was chased by deputies.
The U.S. Marshal’s Task Force and deputies were able to locate Barnsdale’s truck at an apartment in Escambia County early Wednesday morning and take him into custody. He was charged with high speed fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery on an officer, driving while license suspended and property damage.
Sheriff’s Office Opens Video Visitation, Training Center, Nets $50K Power Rebate
November 29, 2012
A grand opening ribbon cutting was held Wednesday for a new Escambia County Sheriff’s Video Visitation and and Training facility near the Escambia County Jail, netting a rebate of over $50,000 from Gulf Power.
The facility has 60 stations for remotely visiting inmates housed in detention areas via audio and video equipment. Inmates’ visitors will use the video equipment rather than going to the jail where visits are currently separated by glass.
The building will house the Sheriff’s Office force on force, defensive tactics, and simulator training areas, a vehicle detailing area, a media center, training and meeting rooms, and offices.
A.E. New, Jr. Inc. was awarded the $3,919,200 project to convert an existing 31,000 square foot building on Leonard Street into the new facility.
At the ribbon cutting, Gulf Power Company presented Sheriff David Morgan with a $52,500 Earth Cents rebate check for a new geothermal heating and cooling system at the facility.
Besides the rebate, the geothermal systems will save Escambia County in energy costs for months to come. The facility is estimated to save 40 percent on space conditioning — typically the largest energy consumer in buildings today.
The rebates – up to $500 per ton – are available for Gulf Power commercial and residential customers when they install a geothermal system at their home or business. Non-governmental customers also are eligible for a federal tax incentive.
The Video Visitation Center is located at 1190 West Leonard Street at the intersection of “H” Street and Leonard Street.
Pictured top: Keith Swilley, marketing manager for Gulf Power, County Administrator Larry Newsom and Sheriff David Morgan cut the ribbon on the ECSO’s new Video Visitation and Training building. Pictured top inset: The facility includes 60 stations for remotely visiting inmates housed in detention areas. Pictured below: A training area inside the facility. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walker Named ECUA Board Chair
November 29, 2012
District 5’s Dr. Larry Walker was named chairman of the Emerald Coast Utility Authority’s board.
Also during the ECUA board’s organizational meeting Tuesday, District 1 representative Vicki Campbell was elected vice-chairman. District 2 representative Lois Benson was re-elected to a sixth term as chairman of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee, and District 3 representative Elvin McCorvey was elected CAC vice chairman.
The board also appointed members to the CAC — Chuck Kimball, Kelley S. Thompson, Hurey Smith, Tim Common, Ms. Louise Ritz and David Karasek.
The next meeting of the ECUA board will be Thursday, December 13 at 3 p.m.
The ECUA CAC meeting previously scheduled for Tuesday, December 4 has been canceled and rescheduled for Tuesday, January 15 at 2 p.m.
Miller To Remain Chair Of House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
November 29, 2012
House Speaker John Boehner announced Wednesday that Congressman Jeff Miller (R-Chumuckla) will remain the Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for the 113th Congress.
“It is certainly a great honor to be able to serve as Chairman of an important committee that is so critical to our country,” said Miller. “I’m eager to continue to work hard in this capacity on behalf of our veterans and retirees.”
The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is responsible for authorization and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA is the second largest department in the federal government with over 300,000 employees and a budget of over $120 billion.
“I continue to be humbled by the opportunity to serve the more than 22 million veterans who have so proudly served this great nation,” Miller said. “I will continue to work to ensure that we meet our veterans’ needs.”
Florida Appeals Court Sides With Teen In Abortion Case
November 29, 2012
In a case that offers a glimpse of the complexity of Florida’s parental-notification of abortion law, a divided appeals court this week overruled a Polk County judge and said a 17-year-old girl could receive an abortion without her mother being told.
A panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled 2-1 that the teen, identified only as Jane Doe, should receive what is known as a “waiver” of the parental notification requirement. The ruling Monday reversed a decision by Circuit Judge Harvey Kornstein, who found, at least in part, that the teen was not mature enough to receive a waiver and make the decision on her own.
Appeals-court Judge Stevan Northcutt, who was joined in the majority by Judge Douglas Wallace, wrote that the teen believed her mother would banish her from the family’s home if the planned abortion was revealed. Also, Northcutt wrote that teen recognized that giving birth would substantially interfere with her plans to go to college and ultimately have a career.
“Does’ concerns were not the insubstantial worries of a frivolous schoolgirl,” wrote Northcutt in a concurring opinion. “They related directly to her ability to carry out her important existing responsibilities and to accomplish specific educational and professional objectives that would determine the quality of the rest of her life.”
But dissenting Judge Anthony Black wrote that the circuit judge observed the teen and described her as “cavalier” and found that she did not fully appreciate the magnitude of the abortion decision. Also, Black raised questions about the girl’s maturity because she became pregnant after drinking alcohol.
“Petitioner readily admitted to succumbing to peer pressure to drink alcohol,” he wrote. “She became intoxicated and had sexual intercourse — an act she testified she would not have engaged in had she been sober. In fact, petitioner only ‘vaguely recalls’ the sex that resulted in her pregnancy; she did not indicate that she and the father were in a relationship and she does not anticipate having any future relationship with the father.”
Requiring parents to be notified before minors can have abortions has long been a controversial issue in Florida. Voters in 2004 overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that cleared the way for a parental-notification requirement, and the Legislature later approved details of the law.
A large part of the legislative debate focused on the circumstances in which minors can receive court approval to avoid disclosure to their parents. While advocates of notification requirements say parents need to be involved in difficult abortion decisions, opponents have long argued that some minors could be put in danger if their parents are told.
The appeals-court ruling does not say where the minor lives, only that she is from the 10th Judicial Circuit, which includes Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties. It describes her as a high-school senior who will turn 18 early next year and says her relationship with her mother is “distant” and that she does not have a significant relationship with her father.
The ruling does not detail when the girl got pregnant. She had talked with a nurse at a clinic but had not gone to a doctor.
Wallace’s majority opinion gave a detailed analysis of factors that are included in state law to determine whether waivers should be granted. Those factors include the minor’s age, intelligence, emotional development and stability, credibility and demeanor, ability to accept responsibility, ability to assess the consequences of the choice and understanding of medical risks.
“Doe’s testimony demonstrated that she had carefully considered the impact of an unplanned pregnancy in light of her educational and career goals and her other responsibilities,” Wallace wrote. “After such consideration, she had reached the decision that terminating the pregnancy is the best choice for her.”
But in the dissent, Black said there was “competent, substantial evidence” to support the circuit judge’s decision to deny the waiver.
“It appears to me that the majority is substituting its conclusions regarding the minor’s maturity for the trial court’s, without the benefit of observing the tenor of the proceedings or petitioner’s body language, tone of voice and demeanor,” Black wrote. “These are assessments necessary to the determination of maturity which are impossible to glean from a cold record.”
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Photos: A Chiefs Breakfast
November 28, 2012
The Northview Chiefs enjoyed a hearty breakfast Wednesday morning as they prepare for Friday night’s state semifinal game against Liberty County.
The breakfast — including cheese grits, biscuits, sausage and juice — was provided by the Northview Quarterback Club, the Town of Century, the Northview “lunchroom ladies”, and Principal Gayle Weaver, while staff member Kathy Bryars provided the decorations.
The varsity football players and coaches, varsity cheerleaders, Tribal Beat Band, dance team, NJROTC color guard, and their sponsors and coaches were invited to the breakfast.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pair Indicted In Murder Of Davisville Store Owner
November 28, 2012
The Alabama men that allegedly robbed and shot a Davisville lottery store owner earlier this month were indicted Tuesday on murder charges.
Malcolm McGhee Jr., 24, and Brent Lambeth, 20, are accused in the shooting death of 74-year old Thomas “Tommy” Kroll during a robbery on November 6 at the State Line O’ Yes Lotto on Highway 97.
Tuesday, an Escambia County grand jury indicted both men for first degree murder. Both remain in the Escambia County Jail without bond and will appear in court Thursday for an arraignment hearing.
Investigators said McGhee and Lambeth targeted Kroll’s business because they had previous purchased “Spice” there and the duo intended on robbing the store of more of the synthetic marijuana.
Ester Robinson Named Molino Park Teacher Of The Year
November 28, 2012
Ester Robinson has been named Teacher of the Year at Molino Park Elementary School. She teaches the fourth grade. Robinson is in her sixth year teaching at Molino Park. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing poetry, bowling, travel and spending time with her family.
Ingram Name Chair Of Appropriations Subcommittee
November 28, 2012
Speaker of the House Will Weatherford has named State Rep. Clay Ingram (R-District 1) as chair of the House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
“I appreciate Speaker Weatherford’s confidence in giving me this assignment and I look forward to working with my colleagues to reduce wasteful government spending,” Ingram said.
The Appropriations Committee produces the House’s proposed budget, reviews the Governor’s budget recommendations and provides legislative oversight of budgetary implementation. The Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee oversees funding for the Departments of Revenue, Financial Services, Management Services, the Lottery, Business and Professional Regulation and the Public Service Commission.
“As many hard-working Floridians continue to struggle during these tough economic times, we face difficult decisions in the days ahead,” Ingram continued. “I am extremely honored to serve on the Appropriations Committee where I have the opportunity to help craft a lean and responsible state budget.”
In addition to serving as Appropriations Subcommittee Chair, Rep. Ingram will also serve on the Energy Utilities Subcommittee, the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee and the Local and Federal Affairs Committee.
Ingram’s district includes most of Escambia County excerpt for the City of Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Myrtle Grove and West Pensacola.
One Twin Indicted With Murder, Robbery In Death Of Fromer PNJ Reporter
November 28, 2012
One of the twin brothers arrested in connection with the death of a former Pensacola News Journal reporter was indicted Tuesday for his role in the crime.
Tuesday an Escambia County grand jury indicted William Cormier, 31, for robbery and first degree murder in the death of Sean Dugas. His twin, Christopher Cormier, remains charged with accessory after the fact to first degree murder. Prosecutors are continuing to review Christopher Cormier’s involvement in the crime. Once the review is completed, additional charges may be filed by the State Attorney’s Office.
Dugas was reported missing on September 13, 2012. His body was discovered buried in the backyard of the Cormier residence in Winder, Georgia. An autopsy determined Dugas died from blunt force trauma. An investigation later determined Dugas was murdered August 27 in Pensacola.