PPD: Molino Man was Trafficking Meth To ‘Make Some Money’
June 3, 2024
Pensacola Police said a Molino man was trafficking meth to “make some money”.
Dustin Michael Hearn, 42, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In April, a Pensacola Police Department officer pulled Hearn over for a brake light violation in the area of West Strong Street and North Rues Street.
PPD officers reporting finding a bag of meth in his pocket. In the vehicle, they located a digital scale, schedule 2 controlled substance pills containing acetaminophen and hydrocodone bitartrate.
“I then spoke with Hearn. Hearn stated he understood his rights and agreed to speak to me. I asked Hearn about the meth found in his pocket. Hearn stated that he lost his job about a week ago and was trying to make some money. Hearn explained that he got the meth to sell to a friend,” the officer wrote in an arrest report.
Hearn was also cited for habitual driving with a suspended license and received a written warning for a faulty brake light.
He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond due a hold from Santa Rosa County.
Escambia Man Charged With DUI After Wrong-Way Crash On I-110
June 3, 2024
An Escambia County man has been charged with driving under the influence after a wrong way crash on I-110 in Pensacola.
Liam Michael Collins, 28, was charged with DUI with property damage. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $1,000 bond.
The FHP said Collins was driving northbound in the southbound lanes of I-110 about 2:37 a.m. Friday and nearly struck a SUV head-on, side-swiping the vehicle. Tthe debris struck another another vehicle.
Troopers said Collins’ vehicle continued for another 400 feet down the southbound lanes after the crash before coming to a stop.
The drivers of the other vehicles were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries.
Collins was arrested after being medically cleared. He was also cited for driving on the wrong side of the road.
Florida Gas Prices Decline As Summer Season Travel Starts
June 3, 2024
Florida gas prices have declined the past 10 consecutive days. During that period, the state average dropped 11 cents per gallon.
Sunday’s state average was $3.45 per gallon. That’s five cents less than a week ago, but six cents more than this time last year.
The average in Escambia County was $3.21. A low $2.93 could be found Sunday night on East Nine Mile Road. In North Escambia, the low price was $2.99 at stations of Highway 29 near Roberts Road.
“The summer travel season is beginning with gasoline prices that are 20 cents less than the highest price this year,” said Mark Jenkins, public relations manager for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “While gasoline prices are usually volatile through the summer months, recent futures prices suggest the state average could move lower this week.”
The U.S. price for crude oil dropped 1% last week, amounting to a combined 4% drop through the past two weeks. Meanwhile, gasoline futures are down 16 cents during that time. On Sunday, OPEC and its allies agreed to extend oil production cuts into 2025 in effort to prop up oil prices. Oil analysts expected the decision and the price of oil was unchanged as of early Sunday night.
The U.S. price for crude oil dropped 1% last week, amounting to a combined 4% drop through the past two weeks. Meanwhile, gasoline futures are down 16 cents during that time. On Sunday, OPEC and its allies agreed to extend oil production cuts into 2025 in effort to prop up oil prices. Oil analysts expected the decision and the price of oil was unchanged as of early Sunday night.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Blue Wahoos, Shuckers Canceled In Biloxi
June 3, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
Cantonment Community Revival Begins Tonight At Carver Park
June 3, 2024
The Cantonment Community Revival is taking place June 3-8 at Carver Park in Cantonment.
The event is sponsored by the Cantonment Improvement Committee (CIC) and the North Escambia Fellowship of Churches.
The Cantonment Community Revival schedule is as follows:
- Monday, June 3: Pastor Anthony Perry, Gonzalez Methodist Church
- Tuesday, June 4: Rev. Leon Bell, Associate Pastor Greater First Baptist Church of Cantonment
- Wednesday, June 5: Pastor Gene McCants, Providence Baptist Church
- Thursday, June 6: Brother Vincent Wilson, Deliverance Tabernacle
- Friday, June 7: Pastor Robert Gross, Back to the Cross Christian Center
- Saturday, June 8: A Family and Friends Fellowship Day will wrap up the week from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m..
Bond Revoked For Suspect In Death Of Teen At Cottage Hill Party
June 2, 2024
Bond has been revoked for the 19-year old charged in the April fatal shooting of a 16-year-old at a party at a Cottage Hill home.
Ethan Alexander O’Brien, 19, is back in the Escambia County Jail charged with second-degree negligent manslaughter after Escambia County Judge John Simon revoked his $300,000 bond. He was also charged with tampering with evidence and improper exhibition of a firearm. Court hearing paperwork does not indicate whY bond was revoked.
O’brien is due back in court in September.
The investigation determined that during a large gathering at the residence, O’Brien (pictured) was showing off his firearm at which time it accidentally discharged hitting 16-year-old Bryson Allen. O’Brien fled the scene before deputies arrived,” the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said.
The incident happened about 11:30 p.m. Friday, April 12 at a home in the 600 block of Wishbone Road. Allen was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Emergency dispatchers received one call from someone who told them she heard a gunshot from her neighbor’s house and someone screaming “help me”. Another caller reported that they heard one gunshot and two vehicles leaving, and people were knocking on other residents’ doors.
Another caller reported that there was a male that had a gunshot wound to his stomach and leg. Another 911 call reported that a 16-year-old male had been shot in the chest and was not breathing.
Deputies arrived on the scene and found a male on the ground with a gunshot wound to the chest. Deputies unsuccessfully performed CPR and used an AED in an attempt to revive Allen, who was pronounced deceased by Escambia County EMS.
A 17-year-old witness told deputies that O’Brien pulled his gun from his trunk, and he had it out trying to shoot it, the report states. O’Brien then held the gun up midway and shot it. The witness told deputies that she did not feel that O’Brien was trying to shoot the victim on purpose.
Another witness, a 17-year-old male, said he heard a gunshot and screaming about five minutes after arriving at the home. He said O’Brien pointed the gun. “He believes he was messing around with the gun, and he felt that he didn’t shoot it on purpose,” the report states.
Another 17-year-old witness told deputies that she had invited a few friends over to her house and she was inside when the incident occurred. She heard a gunshot and went outside to find Allen on the ground and asked who was responsible.
“Do you want us to get in trouble, and he said I gots to leave,” she indicated O’Brien said. She continues that before the incident O’Brien showed her the gun that was in his trunk, and she asked to shoot it. She said she did not fire what she described to investigators as a “big gun”.
Allen grabbed his side after being shot and said, “You just shot me bro” before falling to the ground, an additional 17-year-old witness told law enforcement. He said O’Brien had an “AR style” rifle and he was playing with before the shooting.
Pictured top: The scene on Wishbone Road in Cottage Hill late Friday night, April 12, after a teen was shot and killed. Pictured below: Crime scene still surrounded the home the following Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Renews Contract For Lake Stone Caretaker
June 2, 2024
The Escambia County Commission is extending their caretaker agreement for the Lake Stone Campground near Century.
Dennis Keith Cole will continue to manage the facility for another year, until May 31, 2025. He will be paid $13,200 in 12 equal monthly installments of $1,100 with housing and utilities provided. Cole was first named Lake Stone caretaker in June 2013.
Lake Stone Campground is a 100-acre campground and boat ramp facility located at 801 West Highway 4. The campground has 77 campsites for everything from big RV rigs to tents. Lake Stone is the Escambia County’s only facility located on a freshwater lake. The facilities include a boat ramp , indoor public use pavilion, a playground, showers, restrooms, a fishing pier, security lights, electrical and water hookups, a sewage dump station, picnic areas and the lake.
The Lake Stone pavilion or campsites can be reserved by calling the Lake Stone campground manager at (850) 256-5555 or Escambia County Parks and Recreation at (850) 475-5220.
Since the inception of the Lake Stone Campground, the County has entered into an agreement for on-site caretaker/management services at the facility.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged With Trafficking Meth, Fentanyl After Nine Mile Road Traffic Stop
June 2, 2024
A woman was arrested for trafficking in fentanyl and methamphetamine after a traffic stop Saturday morning in Beulah.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Ashley Diane Carter at Nine Mile Road and Bridlewood Road.
Deputies said they found 115 grams of methamphetamine, 31.4 grams of fentanyl, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
Carter was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in fentanyl, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
ECSO said Carter also had three active warrants out of Santa Rosa County for two counts of failure to appear for felony charges and trafficking in methamphetamine.
Photos by ECSO for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Delay Spots
June 2, 2024
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek – Interstate Circle is closed at the bridge over Eight Mile Creek through mid-2025 as crews replace the Eight Mile Creek bridge. Signage is in place to direct drivers around the work zone using Pine Forest Road, Longleaf Drive and Wymart Road.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews place barrier wall and perform utility work:
- Intermittent lane closures on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Lane closure on North Palafox Street between Hope Drive and the bridge over I-10, beginning Tuesday, June 4 at 8 a.m. and lasting approximately six hours. In this configuration, north and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane with flaggers to direct drivers safely through the work zone.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews place barrier wall and perform median work:
- Inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Outside lane closures on Nine Mile Road between the I-10 ramps, Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Rudolph Street and Green Street. The shift will be in place through June as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through late 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) – Drivers will encounter daytime lane closures after 9 a.m. on North Palafox Street for drilled shaft installation work at the intersection of Leonard Street/Cross Street, Monday, June 3 through Tuesday, June 4 and at the intersection of Fairfield Avenue, Wednesday, June 5 through Thursday, June 6. Police will be on site to direct traffic through the work zone.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Westbound over Blackwater River Resurfacing Project – Drivers may encounter intermittent I-10 westbound lane closures, from the Ward Basin Road on-ramp (Exit 28) to the east end of the Blackwater River Bridge, Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for crews to place thermoplastic striping.
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing, from north of S.R. 87 to C.R. 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures, between S.R .87 and C.R. 178, Monday, June 3 through Friday, June 7 as crews perform shoulder grading and sodding operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of Avalon Boulevard to east of Stewart Street - Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform roadway widening and sidewalk reconstruction work.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Sunday, June 2, through Friday, June 7, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
New Coffee Shop, Pet Groomer Open In Molino
June 2, 2024
Grand opening celebrations were held Saturday for two news businesses in Molino.
The Parking Latte coffee shop and Cozy Corner Grooming and Boarding, both locall owned, are now open at 4178 North HIghway 29, between the Molino fire tower and Highway 196.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
