Corrections Officer Hopeful Arrested For Murder
November 1, 2012
A man studying in Escambia County to become a corrections officer has been arrested for an Arizona murder that took place over five years ago.
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 32-year old Jack Bates Rider III of Milton as he left an academy class at the George Stone Technical Center on Longleaf Drive. Rider is the sole suspect in the premeditated murder of Krystal Wilson on July 19, 2007, in Yavapai County just outside Phoenix.
Rider had recently enrolled at George Stone to become a corrections officer, according to marshals.
“There was no way for the officials at George Stone to know he was a wanted man,” said Marshals Task Force spokesman Inspector Dominic Guadagnoli. “For case sensitive reasons Rider was not listed as a fugitive in NCIC (National Crime Information Center); so if the school checked it would not show him being a wanted man.”
Rider was arrested without incident and booked into the Escambia County Jail as a fugitive from justice to await extradition to Arizona.
He allegedly strangled the victim “either during or after the course of a personal relationship”, according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals.
Poarch Creeks Restart Casino Construction In Wetumpka
November 1, 2012
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians restarted construction Wednesday on a hotel and casino in Wetumpka, Ala., after a brief hiatus for discussions with another tribe that claims the project is located on sacred ground.
Two weeks ago, the Poarch Band halted he $246 million expansion of a casino and 20-story hotel in Wetumpka, Ala., in order to continue discussions with the Muscogee Creek Indians.
“This development is a reasonable approach to land use; and no one cares more about the sanctity of our land and the well-being of our people and our neighbors than we do, Poarch Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin said. “Since 2006, we have reached out to the Muscogee Nation with the hope that they would be open to understanding the facts about the twenty-first century conditions of what was once Hickory Ground Town and would recognize that our development in Wetumpka does not alter that. Unfortunately we have reached an impasse.”
The Muscogee tribe from Oklahoma calls the site “Hickory Ground” and considers it sacred because it was used as a burial ground, a ceremonial site and was also the last home of the Muscogee Creek National prior to the tribe being removed in the 1830’s.
The Muscogee Tribe offered no public response Wednesday night.
Photo Gallery: Hundreds Attend Molino Fall Festival
November 1, 2012
Hundreds of people attended a community-wide Fall Festival in Molino Wednesday night. Sponsored by four area churches, the interdenominational event provided a safe Christian alternative on Halloween night.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
The event was sponsored by Victory Assembly of God, Highland Baptist Church, CrossFaith Church and Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
The event featured a variety of games, bounce house, a hayride and lots of free food.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Advocates: Let Cops Ticket For Some Crimes Instead Of Jail
November 1, 2012
The state’s criminal justice system has seen some success with using alternatives to lock-ups for juvenile offenders. It’s been so successful that there’s a burgeoning movement to increase the use of non-jail diversion programs with non-violent adult offenders.
Backers of the idea announced on Wednesday an agreement with Leon County by which police will have the ability to issue civil citations to people who commit certain crimes rather than taking them to jail.
If implemented statewide, backers say providing an alternative to jail or prison for non-violent adults could save Florida tens of millions of dollars a year.
“It’s worked so well with the juveniles that we think it’ll work really well with adults,” said Mark Flynn, president and CEO of the Smart Justice Alliance, which is pushing the concept.
The approach works by giving law enforcement officers the discretion to issue a civil citation rather than make an arrest – but only when the offender has no previous record and the offense is non-violent.
Leon County, which includes Tallahassee, was selected as the pilot partly because the concept of juvenile civil citations began here 17 years ago. Also, all the key players needed to make such a move in the county are on board, particularly State Attorney Willie Meggs, Sheriff Larry Campbell and Tallahassee Police Chief Dennis Jones.
Civil citations for juveniles were also a success in Miami-Dade County, where Wansley Walters, now secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, was then the director of juvenile services. DJJ reports that in 2009-2010, roughly 7,000 young people statewide went through the civil citation process, with just 7 percent re-offending. In comparison, one-third of adults released from Florida prisons re-offend within three years.
According to a January 2011 report by the Associated Industries of Florida Foundation, the success of the juvenile diversion programs in Leon and Miami-Dade “suggested that the number of juveniles processed through the system could be reduced by 40 percent through diversion.”
With juveniles, the non-violent offenses that qualify them for civil citations usually involve petty theft or marijuana, said TPD’s Jones.
Asked if leaving such decisions to the discretion of law enforcement officers is wise, Campbell and Jones said that’s how the system works now.
“We do that every day,” said Campbell. “Half of law enforcement is discretion.”
“This program is designed for the lesser offenses…The attitude of the offender may have something to do with it,” said Jones. “Arrests should be our last tool, regardless.”
The “smart justice” coalition’s plan for Leon requires adult offenders to undergo an assessment within 72 hours, perform at least 25 hours of community service, undergo treatment for contributing factors such as drug abuse, theft or gambling – and pay all costs of the program.
Those who fail to meet the conditions face arrest, but clearly the great majority of juvenile offenders have been scared straight.
“They’re held accountable,” said Tom Olk, executive director of DISC Village, who has spear-headed the plan to extend civil citations to adults.
Proponents of the plan say public safety is well served by diverting scarce resources from offenders who don’t need to be behind bars – and targeting dangerously violent felons instead.
“Someone who has made a made a minor mistake won’t be put in with a hardened criminal,” said Campbell.
Reducing the nightly number of inmates in the county jail – now about 1,000 in Leon County – would reduce costs on everything from mandatory medical screening to laundry, Campbell said..
The coalition hopes to take the approach statewide soon. Existing rules adopted by the Florida Supreme Court provide the authority for it, but local circuit courts have to be involved, too.
“We’ve been working on this project on a statewide basis for several years and are finally getting some traction,” said Olk. “We just happen to be the first. I know that there are other circuits that hope to come online in the next couple of months. They’re watching us closely…I can honestly say they don’t have the level of cooperation and support that we do [in Leon]. But we’ve always had it here.”
Olk acknowledged that while Leon and Miami-Dade have long assimilated juvenile civil citations, not all counties agree.
“There are still areas of the state where they don’t (the idea for juveniles), and I’m sure they’re not going to like adult civil citation,” he said.
But he predicted the data would prove his case.
“What does it cost? Is it effective?” Olk asked. “Once we have that data, we think it’ll spread like wildfire.”
By Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Century Recognizes Longtime Employees
November 1, 2012
The Town of Century has recognized 13 employees for a combined 265 years of service.
Pictured are: (front, L-R) Steve Ross, 22 years; Comer Wilson, 16 years; Mayor Freddie McCall; Eddie Hammond, 30 years; W.L. Tyree, 22 years; Larry Murphy, 30 years; (back, L-R) Kristina Wood, 11 years; Carl Godwin, 22 years; Robert Powell, 15 years; Sedrick Lowery, 10 years; Robert Tims, 24 years; Donnie Waters, 21 years. Not pictured: Louise Harwell, 20 years, and Joe Brown, 22 years. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Gets Life For Burglary
November 1, 2012
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for burglarizing a home an beating the elderly resident.
George Eddins, Jr., was convicted of burglary of a dwelling with assault or battery and aggravated battery upon a person 65 years of age or older with great bodily harm or a deadly weapon. Immediately following the jury verdict, Judge Jan Shackelford sentenced Eddins to life in state prison for the burglary and 30 years concurrent on the aggravated battery charge.
On January 21, 2012, Eddings entered the residence of a sleeping elderly man. The victim took a hammer from his dresser and confronted Eddins. Eddins then pulled a knife on Lucas and took away the hammer. Eddins then severely beat the victim, striking him numerous times in the head.
The victim was able to escape from the residence and go to a neighbor to contact law enforcement. The victim was able to identify the defendant and his DNA was located in the residence.
Eddins had nine prior felony convictions on his record, including several burglaries and grand thefts.
Scott Highlights Job Growth During Panhandle Visit
November 1, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott says job creation is on the rise in Florida. During a tour of L-3 Crestview Aerospace Wednesday, he highlighted a decrease in unemployment for veterans in Florida and highlighted the region as having the best unemployment rate in the state.
“I have made job growth my top priority, and today’s tour was an incredible opportunity to meet and interact with the folks who are finding great jobs in our communities. L-3 Crestview Aerospace is an example of a company that has invested in Florida and expanded job opportunities for our veterans,” Scott said. “In their most recent expansion, they hired more than fifty veterans, providing their business with a quality workforce – and giving these men and women who served our nation a second career. We’ve worked to improve Florida’s job climate for our veterans. In fact, since September 2011, our veterans’ unemployment rate went from 15 percent to 6.8 percent – an 8 percent decrease.”
During the tour, the governor highlighted a number of indicators that he said demonstrate Florida is creating more jobs and opportunities for businesses:
- The Crestview / Ft. Walton Beach / Destin region had the lowest unemployment in Florida of 5.9 percent.
- Unemployment statewide has dropped for 22 consecutive months.
- 156,800 private sector jobs have been created since December 2010.
- Florida has had the largest drop in unemployment in the nation since December 2010.
L-3 Crestview Aerospace is a division of L-3 Integrated Systems, an aircraft modification, aero structure fabrication and assembly facility.
L-3 Crestview Aerospace has invested more than $6 million in improving their Northwest Florida facilities, where projects range from manufacturing engine firewalls to complete helicopter cabins. As part of its ongoing growth, L-3 Crestview Aerospace works closely with the Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa and Walton Counties and its JobsPlus One-Stop Career Centers. JobsPlus has helped L-3 Crestview Aerospace find and recruit 71 new employees since January 2011 – 57 of them veterans.
Pictured: Gov. Rick Scott toured a Crestview manufacturing company Wednesday, highlighting job grown. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Investigation Launched Into How Murder Suspect Escaped From Jail
October 31, 2012
An investigation has been launched into exactly how a murder suspect and convicted sex offender was able to escape from jail Saturday.
Cedric Jerome Floyd escaped from the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton, Ala., about 10:15 Saturday morning. He was arrested about 4:20 p.m. Sunday as he was walking near Pace Boulevard and Clarinda Lane, just south of the Pace-Palafox split, in Pensacola and transported to the Escambia County (Fla.) Jail.
Floyd is back in Alabama today, but he won’t get another chance to escape from the Brewton jail. This time, Floyd is being held in the Baldwin County Jail in Bay Minette, Ala., as he awaits trial.
Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith has launched an internal investigation into the escape to determine exactly how Floyd gained freedom, Chief Deputy Mike Lambert confirmed Tuesday. Criminal charges are possible if the investigation determines that a member of the jail staff assisted with the escape.
Trustees have escaped before in Escambia County, Ala., but Floyd was the first felon to escape without access to the outside world.
Floyd was awaiting trial for the January 2, 2012, murder of Tina Roshell Jones, 43, inside her 5th Avenue residence in Atmore. Floyd is also a registered sex offender, convicted in 2003 in Escambia County, Ala., of first degree rape and first degree attempted sodomy on a 14-year old female.
In His Own Words: Deputy Jeremy Cassady, Shot Two Years Ago, Retires
October 31, 2012
Former Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Cassady, who was shot in the line of duty, has announced his retirement.
He made the announcement Monday on his Facebook page, two years to the day he was shot. Two other deputies and a female were shot that day on Baywind Circle. Phillip Monier was found guilty on eight counts including attempted murder, assault and kidnapping. Cassady later received a kidney and pancreas transplant.
“I am, however, convinced that I survived for a reason, God has a plan for me and I am anxious to see what the future holds,” Cassady wrote.
Below, Cassady explains his retirement decision, in his own, unedited words….
As everyone knows two years ago today my life, as well as my families life was altered forever. Due to the extent of my injuries suffered from that day, I was forced to take a medical retirement and today is my last day as a law enforcement officer. I just would like to say that if I could go back and change anything about that day I wouldn’t. I made a conscience decision to protect my fellow officers that day, as well as an unknown “citizen”. That was the oath I took and growing up in law enforcement helped me Carry out this act. I knew when I stepped into that bedroom that day that it wasn’t going to end well and I did everything I could possibly do to protect everyone in that room, so I rest easy.
Also while I’m at it I have to thank god. I thank god, not for sparing my life that day. But for putting things in order and not harming anyone else more than they were hurt. That day was perfect, my team got me out of the storm, straight to ems, who got me straight to the trauma surgeon who was waiting on me when I arrived. Everything fell into place, and as a law enforcement office our goal is to go home when it’s all said and done. Well I’m not gonna say that it has been an easy two years but I eventually made it home, so I would say I completed my mission. I am however convinced that I survived for a reason, god has a plan for me and I am anxious to see what the future holds.
I could actually go on for days about the appreciation that I felt when I woke up and saw the love and support that the community provided towards my family, and myself I could not fail. At the emergency room it made me feel good that governor Crist was their alongside one of the poorest lady’s on Erres blvd, praying for god to save me. Yes people I will now join the ranks of the old timers, as well as the injured, tube I ain’t gone. I will jump in a cruiser with someone and still go visit my secret snitches, as well as irritate those that need it.
We won that day, but it was a great sacrifice, well worth the effort. You guys need to stop and take the time to realize what you have and how simple life really is, try not to take things for granted so much. On any given day you could end up like me. Appreciate what you have.
I have spent most of this day thinking about the team that day that did what was necessary to save my life, Josh, Kelly, Rick Vinson, and some poor trainee that was crying all over me as she clinched her gun shaking as the shooting continued, I remember and will always be in debt to you guys. Sam, Chad, Melody, Josh, we are not hero’s, but we are all Warriors that did what we had to do that day. Thank you all! What a great family we are at ECSO!!
To the family friends and unknown, I will never be able to say thanks enough for seeing my family, and friends through this tough time. I appreciate everyone that extended a hand in prayer, as well as provided a shoulder for my Wife, family and close friends to lean on when things looked so grim.
To my wife and family, I love you all, and frankly this is what we do! We are tough and we never walk alone into battle.
Alabama Police Chase Ends With Century Manhunt
October 31, 2012
An over 30-mile police chase came to an end with a manhunt in Century.
During the early morning hours Monday, an officer from the Poarch Creek Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle on the Poarch Creek Reservation. The vehicle was wanted by the Atmore Police Department in connection with a felony theft.
The vehicle came to a stop on Jack Springs Road. As the officer approached the vehicle, the black male driver took off and was pursued onto I-65 by the Poarch officer, according to Sharon Delmar, spokesperson for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
The Poarch officer continued his pursuit on I-65 to the Flomaton exit, south on Highway 113 to Flomaton and then into Florida on Highway 29. The vehicle continued onto Pond Street in Century, where the black male driver bailed out at the McMurray Park. A female inside the vehicle was detained and questioned before being released.
The Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office responded to the park to assist in a search involving a K-9 unit with the Century Correctional Institution. The driver was not located and there were no arrests made Monday morning, according to Sgt. Mike Ward, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Delmar said evidence related to the theft was recovered inside the vehicle. The Atmore Police Department is expected to seek an arrest warrant for the female.