Charges Dropped Against Two Men Accused Of Century Food Giant Robbery
June 28, 2012
All charges have been dropped against two men arrested in connection with a December robbery at the Food Giant grocery store in Century.
Danielle Kapric Burt, age 26 of Century, and Derrick Antonio Cohen, age 23 of Pensacola, were both arrested in March on charges of felony robbery, felony larceny and battery.
“There was insufficient evidence to prosecute the case,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said. “There was no way (from the evidence) to identify the individuals who committed the crime.”
On the morning of December 23, the manager of the Food Giant was getting into a vehicle with the daily bank deposit when he was struck from behind. The deposit, containing checks and an undisclosed amount of cash was snatched by a then unknown assailant who then ran behind the store, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. The store manager was not injured.
A manhunt with a Century Correctional Institute K-9 team followed, but no suspects were located.
Multiple witnesses were able to pin the robbery on Burt and place Cohen as the driver of a getaway car, which was parked a short distance away on Henry Street, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
But Marcille said witnesses “were unable to identify the suspects in any way, not even by gender or race,” leading the the state dropping all charges against the men. He said checks taken during the robbery were located along a path used the fleeing suspect, but fingerprints on the checks did not provide a suspect identification.
Pictured top: Deputies check a house on Henry Street in Century for a robbery suspect the morning of December 23, 2011. Pictured left insert: A Century Correctional Intitute K-9 team works to track the suspect on Henry Street. Pictured below: The manager of the Food Giant in Century was robbed outside the store in December. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Gonzalez Wreck
June 28, 2012
Two North Escambia residents were injured in a Wednesday afternoon wreck in Gonzalez.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 41-year old Tabitha Ann Poston of Molino was stopped at a red light at Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road in her 2004 Dodge Ram when she was rear-ended by 2010 Ford Fusion driven by 76-year old Juliaette Wearren Hanks of Century.
Both women were transported to Pensacola hospital with minor injuries.
Hanks was cited with careless driving, according to the FHP.
Women Facing Felony Charges For Fraudulent Returns At Walmart
June 28, 2012
An alleged attempt to return shoplifted merchandise to a Walmart store landed a young Atmore woman behind bars.
Kwantrica Lashaun Finklea, age 19 of Carver Street in Atmore, and India Helena Marcelle Thomas, age 24 of Pensacola, were both charged with felony grand theft in connection.
The women were accused of entering a Walmart store on Mobile Highway, placing a $498 vacuum cleaner in a shopping cart and proceeding to the customer service counter in an attempt to receive a refund. They were also accused of attempting to return a coffeemaker and a knife set shoplifted at an earlier time.
Thomas admitted her role in the theft to an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy, according to an arrest report. She told deputies she attempted the fraudulent returns so that her “child would not do without”. Deputies said Thomas’ child is actually staying with her father in St. Louis.
FWC Gives Final Approval To Black Bear Plan
June 28, 2012
A plan for long-term conservation of the Florida black bear was approved Wednesday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,
“The Florida bear population is thriving. That is the success story, but we still have a lot of education to do,” FWC Commission Chairman Kathy Barco said. “Everyone loves bears, but not everyone wants them in their backyard. When people call to say, ‘Relocate this bear,’ we need to say to that neighborhood at some point you’ve got to live with it – take care of your garbage, dog food and bird feeders.”
The seven bear management units created in the Florida Black Bear Management Plan provide opportunities for public participation in decisions on managing local bear populations and reducing human-bear conflicts such as the one that occurred recently at a Cantonment apartment complex. That conflict ended with the FWC choosing to euthanize the bear.
“If we all work together to promote these protections, we can expand upon this great day today,” said FWC Commissioner Ron Bergeron.
Challenges addressed by the Black Bear Management Plan include:
- Maintaining wildlife habitats and corridors on public and private lands that accommodate bears’ large home ranges of up to 60,000 acres and allow bears to roam safely.
- Reducing human-bear conflicts, through use of bear-proof cans for garbage and proper storage of birdseed and pet food, which can be irresistibly mouthwatering treats for bears.
- Educating Floridians and visitors about black bear behavior and conservation, and how to remain safe if a bear comes into a yard or during a bear encounter.
The state’s largest land mammal is a subspecies of the American black bear and had been listed as a state-threatened species since 1974. Successful conservation of the Florida black bear was confirmed by the FWC’s 2011 Biological Status Review, which reported the bear to be no longer at high risk of extinction.
While Commissioners Wednesday passed a rule to remove the black bear from the list of state-threatened species, they also adopted a separate, new rule stating it is still illegal to injure or kill a bear in this state, or to possess or sell bear parts.
Pictured: A black bear wondered through a Cantonment apartment complex for days last month until it was captured and euthanized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
DEA Busts Escambia County ‘Pill Mill’
June 28, 2012
A Pensacola “pill mill” that used roadside signs to advertise across North Escambia was busted Wednesday by federal agents.
The JPB Medical Clinic in the 4200 block of Davis Highway, next door to a Bailey’s Farmer’s Market, was raided by the DEA along with about dozen other clinics across Florida.
Joseph Patrick Buffalino, 64, and Jeffrey Reiter were arrested at the Pensacola clinic Wednesday.
“These are drug dealers, traffickers, they are selling very, very lethal doses, very, very intense and addictive narcotics,” DEA agent Rusty Payne, told NorthEscambia.com’s news partners WEAR TV 3.
The DEA said the clinic was prescribing drugs like oxycodone to those that did not have a medical need.
“It’s going into the hands of both addicts and street level traffickers. They can easily get a prescription without having to illustrate a medical need,” said Payne.
Buffalino remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $600,000, while Reiter is jailed with bond set at $560,000.
Numerous roadside signs advertising the clinic popped up across the North Escambia area earlier this year. They simply stated “Pain Management” and provided a photo number for the clinic.
The DEA is expected to release more details about the statewide operation sometime on Thursday.
Pictured top: The DEA raided this medical clinic on Davis Highway in Pensacola Wednesday morning (courtesy WEAR 3). Pictured below: Signs advertising the clinic were placed all around the North Escambia area, including the sign seen in this June 8 photo at Highway 97 and Nokomis Road in Davisville. The sign was gone by Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
U.S. Marshals Task Force Busts Two Wanted Fugitives
June 28, 2012
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested two wanted fugitives in Escambia County Wednesday.
Willie Earl Thompson
The Task Force arrested Willie Earl Thompson, 56, on outstanding weapons charge warrants. While Task Force officers were at Thompson’s resident, deputies found 11 long guns and two handguns, all of which were possessed illegally, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The firearms were seized, and deputies say Thompson will face additional charges.
Thompson was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $13,000 on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a short barrel gun and alter an identification number of a firearm.
Christopher T. Dasinger
U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force also arrested Christopher T. Dasinger, 29, of Pensacola Wednesday morning. Dasinger was wanted on sex offender violation charges. Dasinger is a registered sex offender and failed to register, register his new address, and report he had vacated an address after moving, all of these are required by law for anyone who is a registered sex offender, authorities said.
Dasinger was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
He was convicted in 2008 on a charge of unlawful sexual activity with certain minors 16-17 years old, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.
Traffic Watch: Lane Closures On State Road 89
June 28, 2012
Motorists can expect lane closures on State Road 89 in Santa Rosa County starting around 6 a.m. each day.
The work will be performed from the Jay city limits to County Road 178. Work on this section is expected to last until mid July, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
There will be no work Sunday, July 1 or Wednesday, July 4. Workers will continue to place erosion control measures and clear trees and shrubs to prepare the area for upcoming construction activities. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained throughout the construction zone, according to FDOT.
Three Arrested For Vehicle Burglaries
June 28, 2012
Three Santa Rosa County residents, including two minors, have been arrested for burglarizing several vehicles.
Cody Hayden, 19, was caught in the act of breaking in to a vehicle on Galt City Road, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy found him hiding behind a car at a private residence. On Hayden’s person, deputies reported finding cash, CD’s, headphones, electronic cords and a remote control allegedly taken from the vehicle. Hayden (pictured) was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail on charges of burglary and petit theft. Bond was set at $10,500.
In a separate case, two juveniles were arrested after allegedly committing multiple vehicle burglaries. Deputies said the duo, ages 13 and 14, went through a neighborhood checking for unlocked cars to burglarize. Both were taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice on multiple burglary, grand theft and petit theft charges. Deputies said more charges are pending against the boys.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Beat Jackson
June 28, 2012
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Tony Cingrani struck out a franchise record 15 batters, including 10 of the first 11 hitters he faced, and did not allow a hit until the seventh in a dominating eight inning performance to lead Pensacola to a 5-0 shutout win over the Jackson Generals on Wednesday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The victory evens the Fish’s record back to an even 38-38 record overall this year, in addition to a 4-3 mark in the second half. Jackson dropped to a 46-31 tally overall in 2012 and 4-3 in the second half.
The Blue Wahoos southpaw set the tone early on by striking out the side in order in the first, hinting at the gem that was to come. Cingrani also fanned the side in the third, in addition to punching out two opposing hitters in each of the second, fourth and sixth innings and was untouchable until the seventh inning when 3B Leury Bonilla ended the 22-year-old’s no-hit bid by lacing a hard single to left. Bonilla later in the frame would be caught attempting to steal second, as Cingrani faced the minimum through seven.
Cingrani (8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 15 SO) improved to 2-1 this year, and ended the night yielding just three hits and two walks in his eight frames, while reliever Curtis Partch (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) came on in relief to toss a scoreless ninth and preserve Pensacola’s seventh shutout win of the season. Generals starting pitcher Forrest Snow (4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 0-2 in 2012 after yielding two earned runs on three hits in his 4.2 innings pitched.
Pensacola struck early in the contest, plating a pair of tallies in the first. CF Ryan LaMarre led off with a single and then stole second before he was sent in on LF Josh Fellhauer’s RBI double to right to push ahead 1-0. Fellhauer would then move to third on a base knock by 1B Beau Mills being coming across on DH Yordanys Perez’s sacrifice fly to center to up the margin to two.
The Blue Wahoos would be held in check until the seventh, when the club doubled their advantage with a two-out rally. 2B Miguel Rojas began the scoring spurt with a single and subsequently scored on LaMarre’s triple to left-center, while LaMarre was plated two batters later on a run-scoring single from Fellhauer. A sacrifice fly from C Mark Fleury in the eighth provided the final insurances run of the evening for the Fish.
LaMarre (2-4, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI) and Fellhauer (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI) each collected a pair of base hits for the Blue Wahoos in the victory, while no Generals hitters tallied a multi-hit effort.
With the series even at 1-1, Pensacola and Jackson are scheduled to meet again Thursday evening, with first pitch set for 7:05 pm at the bayfront stadium. RHP Kyle Lotzkar is slated to take the mound for the Blue Wahoos, while Jackson is expected to send LHP Anthony Fernandez to toe the rubber.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: ony Cingrani struck out a team-record 15 batters in the Fish’s 5-0 win Wednesday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP: Highway 29 Crash May Have Been Alcohol Related
June 27, 2012
Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 29 in Ensley Wednesday afternoon that troopers said may have been caused by alcohol.
The accident happened about 12:35 p.m. at Highway 29 and Barber Street, about two blocks south of Walmart.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 17-year old David Hicks of Pensacola was northbound on Highway 29 when his 1999 GMC pickup crossed over the grassy median, went airborne and struck a 2012 Dodge Voyager. The driver of the Dodge, 67-year old James Benson, Jr., of Gulf Breeze was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Hicks was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash may have been alcohol related and charges against Hicks are pending blood test results.
Pictured top: The truck driven by a 17-year in an accident on Highway 29 at Barber Street early Wednesday afternoon. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.