Cantonment Man Charged With Contracting Without A License, Grand Theft, Fraud
June 4, 2024
A Cantonment contractor is accused of not installing an HVAC unit despite accepting payment and contracting without a license.
Corey Paul Grandpre was charged with grand theft and contractor fraud, both felonies. The State Attorney’s Office also filed a charge of engaging in business as a contractor without being registered or certified against him.
The alleged victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Grandpre cashed a $5,400 check on November 30, 2022, for the installation of a new HVAC system for his home, according to an arrest report.
The victim said Grandpre provided nothing but excuses as to why the HVAC work was never done, but there was never a contract because they were acquaintances. The victim provided deputies with an image of the check, a demand letter to Grandpre dated March 19, 2024, and a certified mail receipt dates March 20, 2024.
The State Attorney’s Office said Grandpre engaged in contracting without a license between October 26, 2023, and January 24, 2024.
Grandpre was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $21,000 bond.
Veterans Outreach Events Thursday In Davisville, July 10 In Molino
June 4, 2024
The Escambia County Veterans Services Office has two upcoming public meetings in North Escambia to give veterans a chance to discuss benefits with an accredited veterans services officer.
Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge. No appointment is required.
Meetings will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates at community centers in North Escambia:
- Thursday, June 6: Davisville Community Center, 10200 Highway 97 in Davisville
- Wednesday, July 10: Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A in Molino.
Escambia County Veterans Services Office staff members will be available to help with topics including reviewing VA benefits, filing a VA claim, and reevaluating VA disability.
For more information, contact the Veterans Services Office at (850) 595-2409 or email VSO@myescambia.com. Learn more about Escambia County’s Veterans Services Office at MyEscambia.com/veterans-services.
A previous outreach was held April 5 in Byrneville.
Walnut Hill Man Charged With Felony Weapon Possession, Fined $6,525 After His Cows Got Loose
June 4, 2024
A Walnut Hill man was arrested on a felony weapon charge and fined over $6,500 last month after his cows got loose on Highway 97 last month.
Bryce Carson Griffith, 43, was charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. He was released from jail on a $5,000 bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint of loose cows in the 9700 block of Highway 97, near Pine Forest Road in Davisville. The complainant told deputies that he had seen Griffith on horseback attempting to retrieve the cows and that he had fired a gun twice to scare the cows back toward his property.
Deputies later made contact with Griffith at his Highway 4 residence, and he admitted to deputies that he had used a gun to round up his cattle, an arrest repour states. He retrieved the rifle from his truck, and it contained one spent casing in the chamber and one live round in the magazine, the report continued.
According to the ECSO, Griffith was convicted in Texas of harassment of a public servant in 2010 and assault on a public servant and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in 2023.
Escambia County Animal Control cited Griffith with 21 counts of animals roaming at large and 21 counts of animal nuisance for 21 head of cattle that were roaming at large and grazing on a church’s property. The total fine including surcharges and cost was $6,525.
In 2023, animal control fined Griffith $2,730 for three horses that were in the road and nine dogs that had no proof of rabies vaccination and no water, according to court records.
Tate Aggies Holding Youth Football Camp June 6-7
June 4, 2024
The Tate Aggies football team will host a Youth Camp June 6-7.
The event will be held from 5-7 p.m. each day. The cost is 50 and includes a t-shirt.
The camp is open to incoming kindergarten students to eight grade.
Players will run through drills and basic fundamentals based on grade. Participants should bring shoes or cleats to practice and water bottle.
To register, click or tap here.
NWE Wins 10U Cal Ripken Championship
June 4, 2024
The Northwest Escambia 10U won the Cal Ripken District 7 championship Monday night at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Flomaton was runner-up. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fifth Candidate Prefiles For Escambia Commission District 5
June 4, 2024
A new candidate has prefiled to seek the Escambia County Commission District 5 seat in the 2024 election.
Joshua Stephens Roberson pre-filed Monday with no party affiliation (NPA).
Incumbent Steven Barry (REP), Rafael Lopez (NPA) James Hilburn (REP) and John Taylor, Jr (REP), have also prefiled for the position.
Escambia Man Allegedly Shoots Neighbor In Argument Over Tree Limb
June 3, 2024
An Escambia County man was arrested Monday after allegedly shooting his neighbor during a dispute over tree limbs.
Derrick Jonathan Suell was charged with attempted homicide, firing a weapon in public or on residential property and criminal mischief with property damage and booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The incident happened about 9 a.m. on Capitol Boulevard. near Cobb Lane. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Suell got into a disagreement with his neighbor over tree limbs and escalated into Suell shooting his neighbor in the leg.
The victim reportedly suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Longtime Educator Bill Slayton Won’t Seek Reelection To School Board
June 3, 2024
Longtime educator and Escambia County School Board member Bill Slayton will not seek reelection this year.
“I think 16 years is enough,” Slayton said of his service on the school board. “This makes 52 years I have been in education.”
“It’s the best district in Escambia County, maybe in the State of Florida, to be a school board member,” Slayton said of District 5, “with all the thousands of students, no one of the schools scoring below a ‘B’ in state testing.”
“My wife told me that if I ran again, she would divorce me,” Slayton quipped.
Slayton holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from the University of Southern Mississippi. He served as band director for Tate High School’s “Showband of the South” from 1971 to 1987 and served as fine arts supervisor for the Escambia County School District from 1987 to 1991. From 1991 until 2007, he moved into administration for the school district, serving as assistant principal and principal at Woodham High and principal at George Stone Technical Center.
Slayton’s term ends in November.
To date, three candidates are pre-qualified for the seat: Thomas Harrell, Joshua Matthew Luther, and Jim “Andy Taylor”. A fourth candidate, Scott Taylor, prefiled but has withdrawn.
NorthEscambai.com photo, click to enlarge.
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.