U.S. Marshals Capture Wanted Tennessee Fugitive
June 22, 2012
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force captured a Tennessee fugitive Thursday afternoon who is wanted on four counts of aggravated sexual battery.
Shannon Lee Russell of Forest Park Drive is wanted by law enforcement in McMinn County, TN, for allegedly sexually assaulting a young girl over a five year period. The 42-year old Russell was arrested at his home without incident.
The warrant was issued in December of 2011 and the Marshals believe that Russell has been in Pensacola since late summer or early fall of last year. The U.S. Marshals from the Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force in Chattanooga, TN, contacted the Task Force in Pensacola late yesterday requesting their assistance. The Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force quickly identified Russell’s whereabouts and began conducting surveillance. Russell is originally from Etowah, TN.
Russell was booked into the Escambia County Jail and although the warrant holds a $150,000 bond, he will be held there as a fugitive from justice until his return to Tennessee.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Drop Second Half Opener 3-2 To Chattanooga
June 22, 2012
The Blue Wahoos had opportunities on Thursday night, but fell short 3-2 in the second half opener against the Chattanooga Lookouts at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The Lookouts got on the board first against Blue Wahoos starter Tim Crabbe (3-3) with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. After a two-out walk to Kyle Russell, Jake Lemmerman doubled home the first run of the game scoring Russell from first. The next batter, Matt Wallach, singled home Lemmerman to give Chattanooga a 2-0 advantage.
The Blue Wahoos were quick to answer with a run in the top of the fifth. Mark Fleury reached on an error at second base and was sacrificed over to second. With two outs, Didi Gregorius delivered the Wahoos’ only RBI of the game with a single to centerfield scoring Fleury from second, and cutting the deficit to one.
The Lookouts countered with a run in the bottom of the inning to reclaim a two-run advantage. Nick Buss opened the bottom of the fifth with a double. A batter later, he was sacrificed to third before scoring on a wild pitch to make it a 3-1 Chattanooga lead.
Pensacola got a run of their own on a wild pitch in the sixth to pull back within one, but their biggest threat came in the seventh. Red Patterson came out of the bullpen and issued back-to-back walks to Ryan LaMarre and Gregorius followed by a bunt single from Brodie Greene to load the bases. The next two batters were retired on strikeouts before Patterson got a pop up to second base to end the inning and the threat without scoring a run. Pensacola didn’t get another base runner the rest of the game.
All three Lookouts runs were charged to Crabbe who suffered his third loss of the season. He gave up seven hits, walked just two and struck out four. Allen Webster (2-7) earned his second win of the year for Chattanooga after allowing two unearned runs over six innings. The Wahoos were only able to get him for three hits, he also walked that many while striking out two. Logan Bawcom (7) worked a perfect ninth to earn his seventh save of the season.
The series continues on Friday when the Blue Wahoos send LHP Tony Cingrani (1-1, 2.55) to the mound against RHP Ethan Martin (6-3, 3.35).
By Tommy Thrall
Silver Alert Canceled
June 22, 2012
A Florida Silver Alert has been canceled for 81-year old Arlie Euretha Peterson, who was last seen in the area of Highway 90 and Log Lake Road west of Holt.
She was located unharmed.
Wait Continues For Supreme Court Health Care Ruling
June 22, 2012
The U.S. Supreme Court did not issue a ruling Thursday in the Florida-led challenge to the 2010 federal health overhaul. That means the court will wait until the final week of its annual term to deliver the landmark ruling. The earliest justices can now rule would be Monday, though they also could release the decision later in the week.
Former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, joined by other states, challenged the constitutionality of the “Affordable Care Act” quickly after President Obama signed the measure into law in March 2010.
Justices heard arguments earlier this year about key parts of the law, including a requirement that most Americans buy health insurance and a planned expansion of the Medicaid program.
Cottage Hill Boil Water Notice For Cooley Road, Phalrose Lane
June 21, 2012
Effective immediately, a precautionary boil water notice (PBWN) has been issued for Cottage Hill Water Works customers in the Cottage Hill Community. The PBWN is in effect for CHWW water customers residing in the 1200 block, 1300 block and 1420 Phalrose Lane, and all of Cooley Road.
This notice is being issued following a pipe break. Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use six drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water for water to be used for drinking of cooking purposes. Bacteriological sampling is underway and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible.
Cottage Hill Water Works crew are repairing the main and will be flushing the lines. Residents are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the break and flushing, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes.
If problems persist, customers are asked to contact Cottage Hill Water Works, Inc.at (850) 968-5485 for assistance.
Driver Rolls Truck On Hwy 97, Barely Misses House
June 21, 2012
There were no serious injuries when a driver lost control and rolled his pickup truck almost into a house on Highway 97 early Thursday morning.
The driver, identified as 25-year old Eric W. Hall of Bratt, was transported by Atmore Ambulance to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries.
The accident happened about 2:30 a.m. on Highway 97 just north of Howell Road. Hall was northbound on Highway 97 when he drifted onto the shoulder as he rounded a curve. He over-corrected, causing him to lose control. His 2010 Toyota pickup slid across both lanes of Highway 97, left the roadway and overturned, knocking over a small tree and coming to rest on its side near a brick home.
A passerby found Hall walking alongside Highway 97 about a mile south of the accident scene about 3 a.m.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, charges are pending against Hall.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia Count Sheriff’s Office also responded to the wreck.
Pictured above and below: The driver of this pickup was not seriously injured in this accident early Thursday morning on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. The driver was found walking south on Highway 97 about a mile from the accident scene (inset). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged With Headbutting, Battery Of Husband
June 21, 2012
A Cantonment woman was charged after allegedly headbutting her husband, hitting him with a multitude of household objects and sending him to a hospital for treatment.
April Dawn Fleming, age 26 of Wiggins Lane, was charged with felony aggravated battery using a deadly weapon. She remained in the Escambia County Jail late Wednesday with bond set at $2,500.
Fleming’s husband told deputies that the couple was arguing when Fleming slapped him in the face, grabbed him, pushed him toward a couch and headbutted him in the nose, according to an arrest report. The husband then tried to call authorities, at which time he reported Fleming grabbed a framed pictured off the wall and slammed it over his head before throwing multiple items at him.
One of the items Fleming allegedly threw at her husband was an AM/FM boombox, causing a 1.5 inch gash on the back of his head. In addition to the gash, deputies reported Fleming had obvious injuries to his nose and bruising to his nose. He was transported to West Florida Hospital by Escambia County EMS for treatment.
Fleming, according to an arrest report, admitted to deputies that she slapped her husband. She told deputies that her husband threw her to the couch and punched her in the head, but deputies reporting finding no injuries or evidence to support that claim.
Former Flomaton Police Chief Back In Florida Courtroom
June 21, 2012
The former Flomaton, Ala., police chief was back in a Pensacola courtroom this week.
Judge Michael Allen granted a request by Geoffrey Ashley McGraw, 30, and his attorney, Earnest Ray White, to delay his trial until August. McGraw has pleaded not guilty in Escambia County (Fla.) Circuit Court to a felony charge of kidnapping/false imprisonment. He remains free from jail on a $5,000 bond.
McGraw’s arrest stemmed from a joint operation by the Florida 1st Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
FDLE obtained the warrant for McGraw’s arrest for an August 14, 2011, incident in which Ronald Adam Barrow was arrested by McGraw at a home on Old Flomaton Road in Century — 0.177 miles from the Alabama state line. McGraw, without jurisdiction, allegedly took Barrow into custody in Florida on an outstanding Escambia County (Ala.) failure to appear warrant in a misdemeanor case. Barrow was then transported back across the state line into Alabama.
McGraw was placed on leave by the Flomaton Town Council on February 27 and subsequently fired on March 12, just four days after his arrest.
Man Wanted For Beating Multiple People With A Pipe
June 21, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man that beat and terrorized at least four people at a Davis Highway motel.
Deputies said Jerry Richard Wright is wanted on four counts of aggravated battery for the early Wednesday morning attack. Witnesses told deputies that Wright walked up to several people who were sleeping under a tree near the intersection of I-10 and Davis Highway and began beating them with a metal pipe.
Wright then fled the area on a bicycle. Deputies later responded to the Queen Mary Inn across from West Florida Hospital on Davis Highway where another man had been beaten with a metal pipe. Two people claimed to have been held hostage by Wright at the hotel.
One of the victims suffered a fractured skull, while the other suffered relatively minor injuries, according to Sgt. Mike Ward, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.
Wright, who is known to frequent the Davis Highway and I-10 area, also goes by the name of Jerry Wilson, Ward said. He is also wanted on a violation of probation charge.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Molino Property Appraiser Office Closing June 25 For Move
June 21, 2012
The current Molino location of the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office in the Farm Bureau Building on Highway 97 will close on Monday, June 25. The office will reopen in its new location on Highway 95A next to the old Molino School on Monday, July 2.
The property appraiser’s downtown location will remain open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
For more information, contact the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office at (850) 434-2735.
An Escambia County tax collector office will occupy the other half of the building. Also opening July 2, it will replace an office in the old Winn Dixie shopping Center in Cantonment.