Deputy Convicted Of Battery
January 21, 2012
An Escambia County deputy was convicted Friday of misdemeanor battery; he was originally charged with felony battery.
Deputy Zachary McArthur was charged in connection with a December 2010 incident at the Escambia County Jail. According to the State Attorney’s Office, McArthur battered Justin Johnson while he was being detained at the jail. As a result of the incident Johnson received 11 stitches for an injury to his face. The entire incident was captured on video.
According to court records, Johnson went to Chan’s Nightclub on December 8, 2010, a week after a deputy had told him to leave the business. Johnson said he did not see deputies at the nightclub during a four to five hour period until Deputy McArthur and a bouncer snatched him from his seat and taken outside where he was placed in the deputy’s cruiser.
Johnson told investigators that he was never told he was under arrest. He said that he remembered arriving at the Escambia County Jail where his head was slammed into something before blood poured down his face. Johnson said that while in the jail’s booking area, he made the statement that he wanted to kill himself just so someone would get him medical attention.
A State Attorney investigator said he viewed video from the jail’s booking area at the time of Johnson’s arrival with Deputy McArthur. According to the investigator, a black male and three other deputies, one of which was a sergeant, were also in the booking area.
The investigator stated that McArthur used his upper body to throw Johnson to the floor. “Deputy McArthur then grabs Justin Johnson by the handcuffs and drags him about 3-4 feet and leaves him lying on the floor bleeding,” State Attorney Investigator Richard Furmaniuk stated. “After Justin Johnson is dragged to the front of the bench, you can see the trail of blood on the floor, from Justin Johnson’s face.”
Furmaniuk said the video shows that Johnson is left on the floor for four minutes with no medical attention from McArthur or any of the other deputies in the booking area.
The incident was investigated by both the State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Man Sentenced To 30 Years For Touching Girl
January 21, 2012
An Escambia County man is headed to prison for inappropriately touching a seven year old girl.
Steven Gibout was sentenced by Judge Joel Boles to 30 years in state prison with 25 years minimum mandatory. He was also designated as a sexual predator.
Gibout was found guilty last month by an Escambia County jury of lewd or lascivious molestation on a victim under 12 years of age.
In 1992, Gibout was convicted of third degree murder and served approximately 13 years in state prison.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Four Life Sentences: Phillip Monier Guilty Of Shooting Three Escambia Deputies
January 20, 2012
An Escambia County jury returned a guilty verdict Friday afternoon in the trial of Phillip Monier for shooting three Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies in 2010.
Monier was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences in prison.
He was found guilty of four counts attempted murder, along with counts of aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine. A burglary charge was reduced to trespassing.
Monier convicted of shooting Deputy Jeremy Cassady and deputies Sam Parker and Chad Brown during a home invasion hostage incident October 29 at his girlfriend’s home near Scenic Highway in Pensacola. Monier was also charged in connection with shooting at a fourth deputy who was not wounded.
Cassady was severely wounded in the incident and spent 20 days in Sacred Heart Hospital. He later received a pancreas and kidney transplant in August 2011.
Monier’s girlfriend, Jackie Rosenbloom, called 911 as Monier forced his way into her home looking a ring that he demanded be returned. He took Rosenbloom hostage and ignored orders to drop his weapon as deputies entered the home. Monier used Rosenbloom as a human shield, but he was struck by at least one round in the hand. He was eventually talked out of the home by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and hostage negotiators.
Multiple Accidents Create Morning Problems On I-10
January 20, 2012
Multiple accidents created major traffics problems on I-10 near the Pine Forest Road exit Friday morning.
In a 7:30 a.m. accident, 51-year old Henry King of Cantonment and his passenger, 8-year old Joshua King, were stopped due to traffic. According to the Florida High Patrol, 37-year old Robert J. Roach of Pensacola locked his brakes, veered into the outside lane of I-10 and slid into the rear of the King’s vehicle. Henry and Joshua King were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Roach was cited for an improper lane change.
In one accident at 7:49 a.m., the Florida Highway Patrol said Nicholas Larry Davis, age 27 of Cantonment, veered into the median to avoid stopped traffic, colliding with a Jeep driven by 47-year old Sherry Maureen Toler of Seminola, AL, that was already in the median. Both were uninjured. Davis was cited for careless driving.
In an accident at 8:02 a.m., the FHP said 29-year old Katrina Rook of Pensacola was stopped for traffic when Leslie Gildersleeve, age 30 of Daphne, rear-ended her. Gildersleeve was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. She was also cited for careless driving.
In a fourth accident, 23-year old Ashley Smith of Seminole, AL, was stopped for traffic when she was rear-ended at 8:09 a.m. by 42-year old Naomi Gentry, also of Seminole. Both were uninjured; Gentry was cited for careless driving.
Extreme Makeover: Refurbished Fire Trucks Save Escambia $1.6 Million
January 20, 2012
Escambia County has seven like-new refurbished fire trucks in service, including five in the immediate North Escambia area — with the refurbished models saving the county over a million and a half dollars versus new.
In late 2010, the Escambia County Commission authorized $2,147,586 to refurbish six “commercial pumpers”, to refurbish one 75-foot aerial truck and to purchase one 2011 model 78-foot aerial truck.
Two fire trucks from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and one each from McDavid, Molino, Beulah and Innerarity Point were completely refurbished and returned to their respective home stations during the last few weeks.
The 1991 model trucks were stripped down and completely rebuilt from the tires up, including new electronic pumps, new bodies, new paint and new lights. The process is estimated to add another 20 years to the expected life of each truck.
“It’s just like a new truck,” Century District Fire Chief Regi Burkett said, adding that Escambia County saved about $1.6 million by choosing to refurbish rather than buy new.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue received a refurbished 1991 75-foot ladder truck that was formerly assigned to Ensley. The Ensley Station received a 2011 78-foot aerial truck.
While there are few multi-story buildings in North Escambia, Burkett said that Century’s ladder truck will prove useful for rescues and for reaching over a large square footage building.
Pictured above: Newly refurbished Escambia Fire Rescue trucks together at the Walnut Hill Fire Station. From the left, Engine 1814 – Molino, Engine 911 – McDavid, Engine 1512 – Walnut Hill, Ladder 5 – Century, Engine 1511 – Walnut Hill, Engine 214 – Beulah, and Engine 812- Innerarity Point. Pictured below: Century’s newly refurbished 75-foot ladder truck. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Legendary Tate Coach Floyd Adams Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
January 20, 2012
A legendary former coach for Tate High School and Jefferson Davis Community College was inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Birmingham Friday night.
Floyd Adams was 179-37 at Tate High School, where he spent two years as an assistant coach before serving as head coach for seven years. He then moved on in 1984 to the college level at Jeff Davis in Brewton where he was 303-149 in 10 seasons.
Adams is a 1952 graduate of Escambia County High School in Atmore. He has been retired from coaching for over a decade.
Escambia Schools To Host Career Academy Showcase
January 20, 2012
The Escambia County School District Workforce Education Department will host the 2012 Empower Your Mind Middle and High School Career Academy Showcase next week.
The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, January 26 at the Woodham Middle School Gymnasium at 150 East Burgess Road. Families of fifth through ninth grade students in Escambia County are invited to attend the Career Academy Showcase to discover opportunities provided through career academy participation.
Teachers, students, and business partners from all middle and high school career academies in Escambia County will showcase their academies.
Representatives from the School Choice Office will be available to assist families with completing career academy applications.
The career academy application deadline for high schools is February 15; the deadline for middle schools is March 15. For more information, visit career.escambia.k12.fl.us/home/index.asp.
Hundreds Of Trees Given Away
January 20, 2012
Hundreds of trees were given away in Century Thursday as part of a Florida’s Arbor Day celebration.
Escambia County, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Extension, and Florida Forestry Service teamed up to give away Shumard Oak, Bald Cypress, River Birch, Mayhaw, Chickasaw Plum and Wax Myrtle seedlings.
Extension Master Gardeners were also available to advise participants on tree types and tree placement in the landscape.
A similar program was held Friday in Warrington.
The Arbor Day Celebration is funded through the U. S. Department of Agriculture and Florida Forestry Service with a grant administered by Escambia County Community & Environment Department.
Pictured: A tree giveaway Thursday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Authorities Seek Help To Solve Decades Old Century Murder
January 20, 2012
Authorities are looking for information in a 20-year old unsolved Century murder.
On, Saturday, October 27, 1990, 62-year old white male Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick was found deceased at his residence in the area of Cottage Street and Old Flomaton Road in Century. Investigators determined that Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick, also known as “Doughboy” or “Dawboy” was murdered.
Warrack was seen by a Century police officer about 9:00 the previous night when he responded to a prowler complaint at Warrick’s address.
He was described by family members as a World War II veteran, where he received injuries that led to him being disabled. He enjoyed passing his time at Flomaton Billards, according to family members.
Investigators are still looking for the person or persons responsible for Warrick’s murder. Anyone with any information regarding what might have happened to Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick, or anyone familiar with Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick during the time frame leading up to October 27, 1990, is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9580, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Poll Of Republicans: Prison No Longer The Only Criminal Justice Option
January 20, 2012
A poll sponsored by advocates for criminal justice reform found a large number of Florida Republicans appear to agree with them – that it is now OK to talk about getting a little softer on some criminals.
A number of politicians and interest groups have watched as crime has dropped, while the economy has tanked in recent years, leading to a number of discussions about moving away from some of the tougher “lock ‘em up” sentencing practices of the last couple of decades, primarily driven by Republicans.
A poll commissioned by the Florida TaxWatch Center for Smart Justice and Associated Industries of Florida and released Thursday found that more than 8 in 10 GOP voters in the state support additional use of things like work-release and treatment programs. The poll, conducted by Tel Opinion Research, surveyed 800 registered Florida Republicans who said they were likely voters. More than 6 in 10 of the respondents were over 55.
Nearly three-quarters, 73 percent, said they agreed that fewer people convicted of non-violent crimes should be sent to prison, and that the state needs a stronger probation and parole system. The poll also found that 81 percent support certain community-based alternatives to juvenile prisons.
By The News Service of Florida