One Injured In Crash On Highway 95A
January 26, 2013
One person was injured in single vehicle wreck early this morning near Cantonment.
The accident happened just before 5:30 a.m. on Highway 95A just south of Quintette Road. The driver of a pickup truck ran off the roadway and overturned. One person was transported by ambulance to a Pensacola hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.Further details have not been released.
Pictured: One person was injured in this single vehicle accident on Highway 95A just south of Quintette Road early Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Teen Motorcylist Dies Hours After Highway 29 Crash
January 26, 2013
A 19-year old motorcyclist passed away a few hours after a traffic crash on Highway 29 Friday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 31-year old Kathleen Eccles of Pensacola was southbound on Highway 29 at Van Pelt Lane in a Kia when she made a left turn into the path of a Honda motorcycle driven by Taylor Austin Weir.
Weir was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he passed away at 6:46 p.m. Eccles was not injured.
Charges are pending the outcome of an investigation, the FHP said.
Tate’s Heather Thomason Signs With Alabama Southern
January 26, 2013
Tate High School senior Heather Thomason has signed a softball scholarship with Alabama Southern Community College in Monroeville.
Thomason is a two-year member of the varsity softball team as a pitcher and infielder. She played for the Molino Lady Astros for the past two years. In 2006, she played on the Xtreme Energy team that won the 10U World Series in Panama City, and in 2007 was with the Emerald Coast Comets who finished third in the 12U World Series.
Thomason was a member of the varsity volleyball team for three years and also lettered in cross country.
Pictured: (L-R, seated) bother Tyler Thomason, mother Kim Thomason, Heather Thomason, father Pat Thomason, (standing) Tate Coach Melinda Wyatt and Alabama Southern Community College Coach Elaine Covin. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FamiliesFirst Performance Recognized By DCF
January 26, 2013
The FamiliesFirst Network was presented the Most Improved Performance Standards Award Friday by the Florida Department of Children and Families. FamiliesFirst Network serves Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
“Today’s award recognizes FamiliesFirst Network for their commitment to continual improvement,” said Vicki Abrams, DCF’s Northwest Region Director. “Their partnership and strong ties to the community have greatly improved how we deliver services to children and families in Northwest Florida.”
Secretary Wilkins presented the award to Ann Harter, Vice President of FamiliesFirst Network.
“As an organization, we strive for excellence in all we do,” said Harter. “This award recognizes the efforts of all the FamiliesFirst Network staff who work diligently to engage families into services and keep children safe.”
Pictured: Ann Harter, vice president of FamiliesFirst Network, with DCF Secretary David Wilkins. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Shot During Robbery Attempt
January 26, 2013
A late Friday afternoon shooting in Escambia County is under investigation.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said 34-year old Willie Wilson was at a barber shop in the area of New Warrington Road and Chiefs Way when he was confronted by two suspects that attempted to rob him. During the 5:30 p.m. robbery, one of the suspects pulled a gun and shot Wilson in the arm. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The suspects were described as two black males driving a dark-colored four-door sedan. Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Robbins Guilty of 2012 Murder
January 26, 2013
An Escambia County Grand Jury has found Bennie Louis Robbins III guilty of felony first degree murder for the death of Matthew Cox. He was also convicted of cocaine possession, grand theft auto and resisting an officer without violence.
On the night of July 27, 2012, Cox, 19, was shot to death during the commission of a robbery at his home in Montclair. Investigators were able to link forensic evidence at the scene to Robbins.
Robbins faces up to life in prison when he sentenced by Judge Terry Terrell on March 24.
Former Local HS Coach Named Auburn Tight End, Special Teams Coach
January 26, 2013
Friday, former local high school coach Scott Fountain was named tight ends and special teams coach for the Auburn Tigers. He had previously served as Auburn’s player personnel director for the past four years.
“Scott is someone I tried to hire as an assistant coach a year ago at Arkansas State. He is a great coach with a tremendous work ethic, and his strong ties in the state of Alabama will be an asset to our program,” said head coach Gus Malzahn.
Fountain, a native of East Brewton, has spent 14 years coaching in the college ranks, including stops at Florida State, Georgia Southern, MTSU, Central Florida and Iowa State. He served as an assistant coach at Flomaton High School in 1988 and at his high school alma mater, W.S. Neal, in 1989 before being named head coach at Frisco City High School in 1990. After a three-year stint at Frisco City, he was head coach at Monroe County for a year.
Wild Police Pursuit Through Santa Rosa County
January 25, 2013
A Navarre man was arrested early this morning after a wild police pursuit traveled for miles through Santa Rosa County, ending outside Jay with wrecked patrol cars, injured deputies, a suspect subdued by a K-9, and the suspect charged with attempted murder.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office first responded to a domestic disturbance in Navarre about 9 p.m. Suspect Dominic Turner was sitting in his Lexus in his driveway when deputies arrived. Ignoring orders to exit the Lexus, he fled the scene and deputies were unable to locate him.
At 11:43 p.m., a patrol deputy spotted Turner at Highway 90 and Watkins Street in Pace. The deputy attend to conduct a traffic stop, but Turner refused to yield and led the deputy on a lengthy pursuit through Pace and Milton.
Numerous times during the pursuit, Turner drove against the flow of traffic in the opposite lane. Turner also swerved at patrol vehicles in an attempt to strike them. “spike strips” were deployed at numerous locations throughout the pursuit, but Turner was able to avoid them. During one deployment of the “spike strips”, Turner saw the deputy deploying the strips and sharply turned and left the roadway into the grass, maliciously aiming his vehicle at the deputy, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
As Turner drove his vehicle off the roadway into the grass, the deputy ran in an attempt to avoid being struck, but was still hit and thrown though the air. Turner’s vehicle went approximately 30 feet off the roadway at Highway 90 and Pond Creek, striking the deputy and a large tree. Despite significant damage to his Lexus, Turner was able to flee from deputies once again. Turner also hit another deputy’s vehicle during the chase.
The pursuit continued north of Highway 87 and came to an end near Pleasant Grove Road after the Lexus was unable to continue. Turner refused to comply with deputies trying to take him into custody and actively fought with officers.
A K-9 was then deployed, which was able to overtake the suspect. Turner continued to fight and resist arrest. Turner was then taken into custody and transported to Santa Rosa Hospital. He was treated for lacerations from the K-9 apprehension, then released and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail.
The deputy that was struck by Turner was also taken to Santa Rosa Hospital where it was determined that he sprained his knee and had numerous cuts and bruises. He was treated and
released. During the struggle with Turner, another deputy suffered multiple fractures to his finger.
Turner charged with attempted felony murder for striking a deputy with his vehicle. He was also charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, and fleeing/eluding a law enforcement officer with injuries and/or damage. Turner was also charged with the original domestic violence charges from the incident in Navarre. He was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
Century Welcome Signs Dedicated, Almost $1 Million Free Inmate Labor Marked
January 25, 2013
New welcome signs were dedicated along Highway 29 in Century Thursday, as Century Correctional Institution marked nearly one million dollars worth of free labor provided to area towns and schools.
The “Welcome to Century” signs were designed by Lt. Tony Nolan of CCI and built with inmate labor. Two signs celebrating the town’s sawmill heritage, were place alongside Highway 29 at the Alabama state line and at the southern town limits near Salter’s Lake Road.
In 2012, Century Correctional provided a total of $958,000 worth of free inmate labor to the Town of Century, Town of Jay, Gulf Breeze, Northview High, Bratt Elementary, Byrneville Elementary and Oakcrest Elementary.
The value of the inmate labor is calculated at $17.24 per hour — a figure set by the state.
About 200 inmates a day –less than 15 percent of the total inmate population — work on multiple prison works crews from Century Correctional’s Main Unit on Tedder Road and the Berrydale Forestry Camp near Jay.
Pictured: New “Welcome to Century” signs constructed with inmate labor from Century Correctional Institution were dedicated Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Deputies: Man Robbed Four Hwy 29 Businesses To Pay Girlfriend’s Court Costs
January 25, 2013
An Escambia County man was busted Thursday for a string of robberies on Highway 29, allegedly committed so that he could pay his girlfriend’s court costs.
Marquis Baldwin, 22, was charged with four counts of robbery with a firearm, six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with a total bond of $80,000.00
Deputies said he used a pump-action BB gun during the robbery four businesses on Highway 29 — November 30 at the the Kangaroo gas station at 7950 Pensacola Boulevard, December 6, 2012 at the Waffle House at 7999 Pensacola Boulevard, January 3 and January 9 at the Waffle House at 6913 Pensacola Boulevard.
Baldwin told investigators that he committed the robberies in order to pay off his girlfriend’s probation costs, which deputies said were paid in full after the January robbery.