Man Found Dead In Street
November 14, 2012
An overnight shooting in Escambia County is under investigation.
The victim was found dead in the street about 1:15 a.m. in the 100 block of Aquamarine Avenue in the Mayfair community. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said late Wednesday morning that they have not been able to determine the Hispanic male’s identity. Investigators are also working to develop a suspect and a motive for the shooting.
The Sheriff’s Office said the official cause of death will be determined by an autopsy.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Lottery Store Murder Suspect Won’t Waive Extradition; Court Date For Other Suspect
November 14, 2012
One suspect in the murder of a Davisville lottery store owner remains in an Alabama jail a week after his arrest, while the second suspect is due in a Florida courtroom later this month.
Malcolm Troy McGhee, Jr., 24, was arrested during the early morning hours of November 7 in Escambia County, Alabama, and booked into the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton. Authorities said Tuesday McGhee refused to waive extradition — meaning that a hearing will have to be held in Alabama before he can be returned to Escambia County, Florida, to face a murder charge. McGhee remains in the Brewton jail on a fugitive from justice warrant from Escambia County, Florida.
Brent Dewayne Lambeth, age 20 of Atmore, was arrested the afternoon of November 7 by a U.S. Marshals Task Force at or near a trailer in a wooded area on Sandy Hollow Road near Walnut Hill. He is being held in the Escambia County (Fla.) Jail without bond. Lambeth has been declared indigent by the court and will be appointed a public defender. He is due to appear in court November 29 for an arraignment hearing before Judge Ross Goodman, according to court records.
Both men are facing charges of murder and robbery with a firearm.
The longtime owner of the State Line O’ Yes Lotto on Highway 97 in Davisville, 74-year old Thomas “Tommy” Kroll was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire during a robbery about 1:30 p.m. on November 6.
Investigators said they received information from confidential sources that led to the arrests. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Kroll’s business was specifically targeted by Lambeth and McGhee because of previous purchases of “Spice” and that the duo “intended on robbing the store of more Spice that day”.
For a photo gallery from the murder scene, click here.
Pictured top: The owner of the State Line O’ Yes Lotto on Highway 97 was killed during an exchange of gunfire on November 6. Pictured below: Suspect Brent Dewayne Lambeth, was taken into custody at or near this mobile home on Sandy Hollow Road in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged In Crash That Killed Motorcyclist Marine
November 14, 2012
An Escambia County woman was arrested Tuesday in connection with a September traffic crash that caused the death of a local Marine.
Matthew Walter Vaughn, age 27 of Pensacola, died from injuries he received when he was struck on Mobile Highway near Wabash Avenue about 3:30 p.m. on September 11.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 54-year old Mary Ellen Smith of Pensacola was traveling south in the southbound turn lane on Mobile Highway near Walmart when she turned her 1992 Chevrolet S10 pickup into the path of Vaughn’s northbound motorcycle. Vaughn tried to avoid the collision but slid into the side of the pickup and was ejected.
Smith was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a felony charge of operating a motor vehicle in the State of Florida without a driver’s license involving a death. She was also cited for violation of right of way left turn with approaching traffic, according to the FHP. She was released from jail on a $15,000 bond.
Smith and her five-year old passenger were not injured in the traffic crash.
Extreme Sports: Local Athlete Competes In Spartan Race
November 14, 2012
Most athletes welcome a good challenge, but sometimes hardcore athletes want to go a little more extreme.
Jay High School junior Eddie Agrait recently competed in the Gulf Coast Spartan Sprint Race in Perkinston, Mississippi. Considered one of the toughest of all organized obstacle race courses, Agrait finished in the top one percent of competitors for his age and gender. Beating over 2,300 other athletes it was a learning experience for him.
“The first Spartan race helped me learn how to train to compete in these kinds of races. I wanted to do more than a race. I wanted to do something that would test my strength and speed,” Agrait said after the event.
Spartan Races are coordinated by parent company Peak Races throughout the U.S. other countries. Spartan Races are designed by the military. Participants confront obstacles ranging from extreme to absurd that gain their inspiration from different sources such as Navy Seal training and American Gladiators. ESPN describes the Spartan Race as “a true test of will”.
Agrait hopes to compete in future Spartan Races throughout the country and develop his overall athletic skills in strength, power, speed, and endurance.
‘Stand Your Ground’ Panel Meets In Pensacola, Changes To Law Unlikely
November 14, 2012
A group tasked by Gov. Rick Scott with reviewing the state’s “stand your ground” self defense law appears unlikely to recommend any major revamping of the statute, although it will make suggestions for additional study by lawmakers.
The panel, meeting Tuesday in Pensacola, worked on a draft report that largely would urge lawmakers to look more carefully at couple of particular concerns about areas of the law that may be vague. The panel was created to review the law in the wake of the case in which neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin.
The basic premise of the law isn’t being challenged by the panel, which includes lawmakers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, representatives of minority communities and law enforcement. The law essentially allows anyone who feels that their life or someone else’s life is in danger while out in public to meet the threat of force with force. If they claim that was the situation, they can go to a hearing before a judge and get a ruling on that issue without ever going to trial.
The governor’s Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection does want lawmakers to look more carefully at the part of the law that says that the presumption of justifiable self defense doesn’t apply when the person who uses defensive force is engaged in “unlawful activity.”
That phrase may be too vague, the panel determined after hearing several “what if” scenarios and testimony that the decision about what unlawful activity is may vary in different parts of the state. One question that arose was whether that could mean, for example, that an immigrant in the country illegally wouldn’t be able to claim self defense under the law.
Task force members said Tuesday that they didn’t completely agree on what ought to constitute unlawful activity, but said the Legislature may want to look at tightening the definition.
Another issue that drew much attention on Tuesday was what the process for law enforcement is when dealing with situations where a shooters claims they’ve stood their ground in self defense. The panel spent much of the morning discussing whether law enforcement may detain someone who is involved in a shooting and claims to have been shooting in self defense.
Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, the original sponsor of the bill and a member of the panel, said the whole point was to prevent people from having to “lawyer up” to fight the state in such cases when “they’ve done the right thing.”
But law enforcement officials say they still need to investigate whether the person’s claim is true, and may need to take fingerprints, example.
The group’s report is due by the start of the legislative session in March.
By David Royse
The News Service of Florida
NWE Football Players, Cheerleaders Celebrate Season
November 14, 2012
The Northwest Escambia football teams and cheerleaders were recently honored at their annual banquet.
The 9-10 year olds NWE Mites team (pictured bottom) will travel to Bellview Saturday to play East Pensacola in round one of the playoffs.
Pictured top: The 2012 NWE football players and cheerleaders with their trophies. Pictured below: The NWE Mini Mites team (front, L-R) Jace Gifford, Kaden Dove, Jacob Lee, (back) Aiden Broadhead, Luke Bridges, Tanner Boone, Jaxon Singleton, AJ Hasty and Travis Nelson. Mini Mites not pictured: John Michael Ward, Cole Horning, Layden Grant and Josh Burkett. Pictured bottom: Members of the NWE Mites are (front, L-R) Jacob Findley, Josh Wilson, Kenaundre Richardson, Dillon Grant, Trent Kite, Michael Merchant, Trent Peebles, Ben Wilson, Cody Edwards, (second row) Tripp Gipson, Tyler Kite, Wyatt Windham, Josh Merchant, Jayson Helton, Jason Fayard, Adam Aliff, Ian Gifford, Johnny Windham, (back) Assistant Coach Danny Fuller, Assistant Coach Ronnie Merchant, and Head Coach Josh Edwards. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘He’s a Good Boy” – Gov. Rick Scott’s Mother Passes Away
November 14, 2012
Esther Scott, mother of Florida Gov. Rick Scott, passed away Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri after battling an infection for the past several weeks. She was 84.
The governor notified the media of his mother’s death via Twitter in a message: “My Mom – one of the only constants in my life – has passed away. Ann and I are comforted by all the thoughts and prayers for our family.” Funeral arrangements for Esther Scott were not immediately available.
During his first two years in office, Scott has repeatedly spoken of his working class family that experienced many economic ups and downs but exemplified the American Dream. He especially singled out his mother as a source of strength.
During the 2010 campaign, Esther was featured in a 30-second spot. “He’s a good boy,” she said. “He’ll get Florida back to work.”
“He is going to make the best governor that Florida has ever had,” Esther Scott told NorthEscambia.com is an exclusive campaign interview. “He will do the best that he can for this state, and keep every promise or die trying.”
For a NorthEscambia.com’s exclusive 2010 campaign trail interview with Esther Scott, click here.
Pictured: Esther Scott, mother of Gov. Ricks Scott, sat down for an interview with NorthEscambia.com on the campaign trail in 2010. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escaped Work Release Inmate Caught
November 14, 2012
An inmate that escaped from a work release program was captured early Tuesday morning.
Damon Lamont Smith, 27, was found by deputies walking near the intersection of Palafox Street and Larton Street and taken into custody without incident by Escambia County deputies.
Correctional officers told deputies that Smith was disruptive throughout the night. Officers were in the process of trying to gain compliance from Smith when he fled out of the facility, according to a news release.
Smith was charged with escape with an additional bond set at $15,000. Further details have not been released.
Deadline Extended To Order Smoked Butts, Turkeys; FFA Fruit Sale Continues
November 13, 2012
The deadline has been extended to Thursday to place an order in the Northview High School FFA Alumni Smoked Turkey and Boston Butt Sale, just in time for Thanksgiving. And, the Northview FFA’s Fruit Sale is also underway.
Turkeys And Boston Butts
In the annual fund raiser, you can choose either a seven to nine pound smoked Boston butt or a 10-12 pound smoked turkey for $28 each.
Boston butts will be available for pick up on Monday, November 19, and the smoked turkeys will be available for pickup on Tuesday, November 20. Both pick up days will be from 2:30 until 4:30 p.m.
Proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the Northview High School FFA Scholarship Fund. The sale is sponsored by Archie’s Catering Smokehouse in Molino. For a printable order form that you can mail to the school with your payment, click here. Orders must be placed by Thursday, November 15.
Fruit Sale
The NHS FFA is selling citrus in attractive 2/5 or 4/5 bushel boxes perfect for gift wrapping. The Florida citrus is from RiverBrite in Vero Beach.
Orders must be made by Tuesday, November 27. The delivery date is Tuesday, December 18.
For an order form click here. Order forms and payment can be returned to Northview by mail (the address is on the order form), or dropped off at the school office. Fruits available include red apples, grapefruit, navel oranges, tangelos and Hamlin oranges. Mixed trio half bushels are also available.
For more information, call (850) 327-6681, ext. 248.
No Major Damage In Reported Kitchen Fire
November 13, 2012
There was no major damage in a kitchen fire Tuesday afternoon in Walnut Hill.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the reported fire about 4:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Juniper Street. The fire was out when the first firefighters arrived on scene at the mobile home.
There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.