Pensacola Police Officer Kills Shooting Suspect
August 22, 2012
A Pensacola Police Officer shot and killed a shooting suspect Tuesday night.
Officers responded to a shots fired disturbance around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at Attucks Court in the 1300 block of West Cervantes Street. Angela Brinson, 41, was shot during the disturbance and taken to a local hospital for treatment. Police were told that two suspects were spotted fleeing the scene.
Upon arrival at Attucks Court, Officer Coy McKenna spotted Terrance Lamar Abrams, 25, running westbound on DeSoto Street between I and J streets. McKenna approached Abrams and ordered him to get onto the ground. When he did, Abrams pulled out a handgun and shot at the officer.
During an exchange of gunfire with McKenna, Abrams was struck and taken to a local hospital where he died a short time later. Abrams’ handgun was recovered at the scene, police said.
McKenna, who was not injured, will be placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard operating procedure, said Pensacola Police Chief Chip W. Simmons.
Police said Brinson may not have been the intended target of the shooting. Detectives are trying to determine if Tuesday night’s incident was related to a homicide
that occurred December 17, 2011 in the 1200 block of West Moreno Street and a shooting that occurred August 7 on West Jackson Street.
“We need (the man) to come forward for questioning because we believe additional family members may be targets in this retaliatory situation,” said Capt. David Alexander.
The name of the man is not yet being released.
Brinson was standing on her porch when she was shot multiple times during an exchange of gunfire among two to three men Tuesday night near her apartment, Alexander said. Investigators are still piecing together what happened, and the Gun Crime Response Team also has been activated, Alexander said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is handling the officer involved shooting investigation, which also is standard operating procedure, Simmons said.
Anyone having information on the incident is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
Arrest Made After Shots Fired At Molino Home With Young Children Inside
August 22, 2012
A Molino mom says she was terrified when someone opened fire at her Molino mobile home Tuesday night while her two young children were nearby.
Deputies responded to a call at 7:31 p.m. that a suspect had fired a gun from a vehicle towards a home in the 700 block of Ayers Street in Molino, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. There were no injuries and no property damage reported.
The victim, 21-year old Kristi Gulsby, told deputies she was arguing with 19-year old Sharrieff Amin Shabazz of Molino over $6 he had loaned her about three months ago for cigarettes. Gulsby said she had paid him back twice.
Gulsby told deputies that Shabazz began cussing her out and screaming that he wanted his money. She said he then reached into his pants pocket and pulled a gun. As he began walking toward the road, Shabazz opened fire on the mobile home with Gulsby and her two juvenile children, one and four years old, nearby, an arrest report states. Shabazz and another black male identified as “Buger” then ran toward Molino Road.
No one was struck by the gunfire. Gulsby was treated on the scene by Escambia County EMS for chest pains.
Crime scene technicians located three shell casings in a pattern leading away from the residence.
“My babies were right there,” Gulsby told NorthEscambia.com. “They found one right over there,” she said, motioning to where crime scene technicians located a shell casing. “It was so close.”
Shabazz was taken into custody a few hours after the shooting during a traffic stop at the intersection of Fairground Road and Jahaza Street in Molino. As the vehicle pulled over for Escambia County deputies, an ATF special agent working the case witnessed a silver handgun and two pill bottles being thrown out of the backseat, which was occupied by Shabazz. Deputies recovered a .380 caliber handgun outside the vehicle along with pill bottles containing 18 Lortab and cocaine. Inside the vehicle’s trunk, authorities reported finding marijuana in a Mason jar and plastic bags.
Shabazz was charged with three counts of aggravated assault, discharging a firearm in public, possession of cocaine, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $41,000.
“I just want to move; I don’t want to live here anymore,” Gulsby said after the shooting, wiping tears from her eyes. “I just don’t understand.”
The Gun Response Team also assisted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation.
Pictured above and below: Gunfire rang out at this mobile home on Ayers Street in Molino Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New Sign Welcomes Fans To Northview’s Football Stadium, Just In Time For Meet The Chiefs
August 22, 2012
A new sign on the football stadium press box at Northview High School will greet fans this football season. The “Home of the Northview Chiefs” sign was purchased by the Northview Quarterback Club.
The Quarterback Club will sponsor the annual “Meet the Chiefs” at 7:00 Thursday night at the NHS stadium.
Planned festivities for the night include performances by the Northview Chiefs Tribal Beat Marching Band, the Northview High School cheerleaders, the Northview Dance Team, and the introduction of the 2012 Northview varsity and junior varsity Chiefs. Admission is free. Spirit items will be available.
The Chiefs will host a preseason classic against Bay High School Friday night at 7:00.
Pictured above: A new sign welcomes fans to the Northview High School football stadium. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Makes Plans To Deal With Sewer Bill Delinquents
August 22, 2012
The Town of Century has developed a plan to deal with some sewer customers that don’t pay their bill.
When a water and sewer bill reaches a certain number of days past due, water service is disconnected. But the town also has some customers that receive their water from another company and sewage service from Century — making it impossible for them to disconnect water service.
Even without water, Century Mayor Freddie McCall said some delinquent customers still continue to use Century’s sewage system without paying their bills.
“They are hauling buckets of water in from elsewhere and still flushing their toilets and using our sewer,” McCall said.
But now, Century sewer customers that are seriously behind will find that the town will dig up and plug off their sewer line. McCall said he checked with the Escambia County Health Department to make sure it was OK to disconnect the sewer service.
He said the health department would become involved when the sewage “backs up into the house and runs out the front door”.
Customers will be notified in writing before their sewer line is plugged. When their bill is paid, they will also be responsible for a $250 reconnection fee that was approved by the Century Town Council.
McDavid Mini Mart To Close
August 22, 2012
The owners of the McDavid Mini Mart announced Tuesday that the store will be closing.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that we have decided to close McDavid Mini Mart. We hope everyone will understand that we have given all we have to keep the store running, but we are just plain tired, and we also want to spend time with our families, especially our grandsons, before they grow up on us,” the full-service community store announced on Facebook.
The store has already marked down inventory, and the owners said they are looking for a way to keep the deli food side of the business going.
Pictured top: The McDavid Mini Mart on Highway 29. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Ran Over By His Out Of Gas Truck
August 22, 2012
An Escambia County man was seriously injured Tuesday night when he was ran over by his own vehicle after running out of gas.
The Florida Highway Patrol said James Brittingham, 56, was westbound on County Road 296A west of Highway 90 when he ran out of gas on a hill. Brittingham was at the driver’s door attempting to push the 1995 Ford truck out of the roadway when he fell down, according to the FHP. The front tire of the truck rolled over his legs, according to FHP.
Brittingham was transported to Baptist Hospital for treatment.
Evers Honored For Law Against Synthetic Drugs
August 22, 2012
The Community Drug and Alcohol Council is honoring Sen. Greg Evers (R-Baker) with the 2012 Spirit of Prevention Award for his active support of legislation banning synthetic drugs.
Last session, Evers was involved in a House controlled substance bill that made 142 chemical designations illegal in Florida. The sale, purchase, possession or distribution of the banned substances is a felony.
Synthetic compounds of these chemicals are marketed as “bath salts” with names such as “Blue Silk” or “Vanilla Sky”, while synthetic marijuana is sold as Spice, K2, and other names like “Lions Tail”. These synthetic drugs have no safety regulation associated with the control of their ingredients, according to the CDAC.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the side effects of bath salts can include severe paranoia, violent behavior, and hallucinations orpsychosis and increase heart rate. The side effects of Spice can include loss of control, lack of pain response, vomiting, uncontrolled spastic body movement and severe paranoia with hallucinations. The packaging for both of these products warns “not for human consumption”.
“Senator Evers is applauded for his concern and support of prevention legislation in the State of Florida,” the CDAC said Tuesday.
Florida Not Getting GOP Delegates Back
August 22, 2012
[TAMPA] Florida is still going to see its delegation to the Republican National Convention — held next week in Tampa — cut in half for breaking party rules on when the state could hold its presidential primary.
But all of the would-be delegates will be allowed on the convention floor, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus told the Tampa Bay Times’ political blog The Buzz.
The other half of what would have been the Florida delegation will instead be designated as “honored guests,” Priebus said.
The state will also lose 160 guest passes. “They received 90 percent of every penalty available to us,” Priebus said.
By The News Service of Florida
PIP Insurance Bill To Lower Future Losses, Not Current Premiums
August 22, 2012
[TALLAHASSEE] A much heralded change to Florida’s no-fault automobile insurance law likely won’t reduce policyholder premiums but may slow the increase in rates, according to a report released Tuesday by state regulators.
The Office of Insurance Regulation released findings from an analysis of HB 119, passed by lawmakers earlier this year. The new law attempts to reduce costs associated with personal injury protection insurance, or PIP, which provides up to $10,000 in medical coverage regardless of who caused an accident.
The report says the new law, which places restrictions on benefits and makes efforts to curb fraud, is expected to translate into a reduced losses of between 14 and 24.6 percent in the PIP portion of a typical automobile insurance policy. The PIP portion accounts for about 20 percent of policy costs.
Such reduced losses, however, may not translate into lower automobile insurance premiums because PIP rates are currently inadequate to pay losses and most of the provisions won’t go into effect for months.
Still, insurance regulators and the state’s insurance consumer watchdog praised the legislation, the benefits of which may not be known for a few years.
“Only time will tell whether the actual savings in PIP loss costs will exceed the estimated savings, but we are optimistic that reforms enacted by the 2012 Florida Legislature will have significant, favorable results for Florida consumers,” said Robin Westcott, Florida insurance consumer advocate.
Lawmakers earlier this year passed the insurance industry-backed measure to stem skyrocketing claims paid under PIP. Between 2006 and 2010, PIP losses increased by 66 percent to $2.5 billion, while the number of claims rose by 28 percent, according to the analysis conducted by Pinnacle Actuarial Resources Inc.
“The savings shown assume that current rates are adequate,” the report noted. “To the extent that current PIP rates are inadequate, it is likely that insurers will offset the savings from HB 119 against the otherwise indicated PIP rates.”
By Oct.1, PIP insurers must submit rate filings to the Office of Insurance Regulation with at least a 10 percent rate reduction, or document why they can’t.
Consumers may not see immediate premium benefits because many of the bill’s major changes won’t kick in until after carriers are required to file for new rates. Most of the law’s provisions take effect Jan. 1.
“While the 2012 PIP legislation delivered the potential to address the fraud and abuse in the PIP system, policymakers, regulators and Florida drivers need to understand that the new PIP law must have adequate time to be implemented and take effect so the new PIP law can achieve its potential,” said Donovan Brown, representative of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
Among its major provisions, the law requires clinics treating PIP patients to be licensed, limits payment to chiropractors and prohibits massage therapists and acupuncturists from being reimbursed under the program. PIP claims must also be reported within 14 days of an accident.
Westcott said the proposed reductions in losses may be conservative.
“It is important to note that historically, past legislative reforms of the workers’ compensation and medical malpractice systems required independent actuarial studies that significantly under-estimated the reduction in loss costs that were actually realized,” Westcott said in a statement.”
Meanwhile, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, said analysis results were encouraging and hoped that policyholders would see some relief.
“I am eager to see these projected savings, if not more significant savings, passed on to Florida’s insurance consumers,” Atwater said in a statement. “Florida’s drivers deserve to see the full impact of these policy changes through lower auto insurance rates.”
By The News Service Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Hamilton Breaks Steals Record As Biscuits Sweep Fish In Twin Bill
August 22, 2012
Pensacola SS Billy Hamilton stole four bases to set a new professional baseball record of 146 for stolen bases in a single season, while Montgomery swept the Blue Wahoos in Tuesday night’s double header. The Biscuits took the first game 4-2 before they topped the Fish 3-1 in the second contest at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the defeats, the Blue Wahoos fell to an even 29-29 record in the second half, while Montgomery improved to 34-25 since the league’s All-Star Game. The Wahoos are now four games out of first place in the Southern League South.
With two outs in the bottom of the third of game one and one steal away from tying the top mark, Hamilton lined a single into right field to reach for the second time in the contest. Hamilton then took off for second and swiped the base just under a strong and accurate throw from Montgomery catcher Mark Thomas. Three pitches later, the Mississippi native ran on the 0-2 pitch and dove head-first into third base ahead of Thomas’ throw to claim the record.
The record falls 20 years to the day after Vince Coleman and Donnell Nixon broke Rickey Henderson’s single-season stolen base record with their 131st stolen base of the 1983 season.
After both teams went scoreless through the first five innings of game one, Montgomery got the scoring started with a run in the sixth. 1B Greg Sexton walked and then advanced to third on C Mark Thomas’ double, before an RBI groundout sent home Sexton. One inning later, LF Brad Coon increased the advantage to 2-0 with an RBI single to center.
The Blue Wahoos however, came back to tie it with a clutch two-out two-run game-tying homer. LF Donald Lutz drew a one-out walk, before C Tucker Barnhart left the yard for his second longball of the year.
However, Montgomery plated two tallies in the extra eighth inning to pull ahead for good. 1B Michael Sheridan led off with a solo shot to right, his ninth roundtripper of the year, prior to RF Mikie Mahtook’s RBI single. Pensacola again fought hard in bottom of the frame and loaded the bases, but their hopes were shut down by the Biscuits.
Fish starter Tony Cingrani (7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) did not factor in the decision despite giving up just two earned runs on three hits while fanning seven in seven innings, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss. Cingrani started off the contest by retiring the first 16 batters he faced. Montgomery starter Kyle Lobstein (6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO) also did not receive a decision in the first game despite yielding just two hits in six shutout frames, while RHP Kirby Yates (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) earned the victory.
Pensacola struck first in game two, beginning with 1B Beau Mills’ leadoff single in the second. The infielder eventually moved to second on a passed ball and third on a bunt, before being sent in on LF Donald Lutz’s run-scoring single to right. The Biscuits however, scored the next three runs to push ahead with single tallies in the third, fifth and seventh innings.
Montgomery C Mayo Acosta launched his fourth big fly of the year in the third to tie it, while the club took advantage of a Blue Wahoos passed ball to take the 2-1 advantage in the fifth. In the final frame, 3B Omar Luna drew a free pass and then moved to third on a single before coming across on Acosta’s sacrifice fly to center.
Biscuits starter Matt Buschmann (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) fired a seven-inning complete game to earn the win after giving up the lone earned run on just four hits in seven frames, while Blue Wahoos reliever Josh Ravin (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB) suffered the loss.
The two teams will now meet on Wednesday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is scheduled to send RHP Mark Serrano to the mound, while Montgomery is expected to counter with RHP Nick Barnese.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Billy Hamilton broke Vince Coleman’s record of 145 Tuesday night. Photo courtesy Emmele Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.