Reports Detail Allegations Against Century Man That Evaded Capture For Months
May 3, 2024
We are learning more about the allegations against a wanted Century man that eluded capture on several occasions before finally being captured Wednesday.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said 41-year-old Christopher George Pace has outstanding felony warrants for arson, trespassing with property damage and resisting arrest without violence. Two additional counts of resisting were added.
He evaded capture Monday during a manhunt involving dozens of law enforcement officers, police K-9 units and a drone.
The ECSO and K-9s from the Century Correctional Institution and Escambia County Road Prison captured Pace without incident Wednesday morning in a wooded area off Pleasant Hill Road.
According to sheriff’s office reports:
On February 27, Pace allegedly set a fire in a wooded area at the dead end of Sellers Road off West Highway 4. In an incident captured in game camera photos, someone piled a tent and other items onto a deer feeder before they were burned. The fire destroyed $450 worth of property including a hunting blind/tent, a deer feeder, 50 pounds of feed corn, a batter, solar battery charger and an archery target.
Pace was identified as the suspect in the game camera photos by one of his relatives and a deputy.
On March 18 deputies attempted to locate Pace in the wooded area in order to serve an arrest warrant. They spotted him on a trail through a wooded area at the dead end of Pleasant Hill Road, according to a report. They came close enough to him to make eye contact before he ran into the woods. Deputies pursued on foot but lost sight.
Two ECSO K-9s, a K-9 from the Century Correctional Institution, and a drone team were unable to locate him. One ECSO deputy received minor injuries to his knee during the chase.
On April 21, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responding to a suspicious person complaint in the area of Williams Street and West Highway 4. A responded deputy recognized a person walking on Williams Street as Pace. Pace ran into a wooded area when he saw the marked Sheriff’s Office vehicle. The deputy gave chase on foot, but lost Pace. An ECSO K-9 responded but was unable to locate him in the woods. a deputy reportedly tripped on vines and suffered minor injuries.
NorthEscambia.com photos and photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary Names April Students Of The Month
May 3, 2024
Jim Allen Elementary School recently named their Students of the Month for April. They are Parker Gregory (pictured left) and Brycen Sigler. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Edges Northview 7-6 For District Softball Title (With Photo Gallery)
May 3, 2024
The Jay Lady Royals won the District 1-1A championship 7-6 over Northview in a close matchup at Central in Allentown.
The cross-River rivals played to a 6-6 tie in the top of the seventh when Brooklyn Sorrell scored the game-winning run on a single.
For a photo gallery, click to enlarge.
The Royals were first on the scoreboard with a three-run homer from Morgan Barrow.
The Chiefs’ Chloe Ragsdale had a home run to right field to score two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Ragsdale was 2-4 on the night with two runs and two RBIs; and Mary Clayton Dawson was 2-3 3 with two RBIs to lead Northview at the plate. Jamison Gilman was 2-4 with two runs.
Avery Stuckey, Makayla Golson, Kylee Langham, and Mikayla McAnnally each added one hit for Northview.
Brooklyn Sorrells, Brett Watson, Kaylee Gilbreath, Kylei Martinez, Barrow, and Ella Nelson each added a hit for the Royals.
Jamison Gilman went three and a third innings for Northview, surrendering three hits and two runs as she walked one and had three strikeouts. Mikayla McAnally opened for three and two-thirds innings, allowing three hits and give runs while striking out three and walking two.
Layna Lowery earned the win for Jay in four innings, allowing 10 hits and six runs while striking out two and walking four. Caden Carroll was in the circle for three innings with no hits, no hits, no walks and one strikeout.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With Vehicular Homicide For High Speed 2023 Fatal I-110 Crash
May 3, 2024
An Escambia County man has been charged with vehicular homicide in connection with a 2023 crash on I-110 in Pensacola.
On October 7, 2023, about 2:35 a.m. , a crash involving a 2020 Dodge Charger occurred on I-110 involving A Dodge Charger driven by Jewayne Mykel Floyd killed one of two occupants. The vehicle was traveling north on I-110 when the Floyd lost control south of Airport Boulevard.
The right rear passenger, a 33-year old man from Lewisville, Texas, was pronounced deceased at the scene, and a second passenger was injured. Floyd and the surviving passenger were transported to an area hospital.
Florida Highway Patrol traffic homicide investigators determined the Dodge Charger was traveling between 131 and 146 miles per hour at he time of the crash, causing the vehicle to overturn multiple times into a shallow ditch.
Floyd surrendered Wednesday at the Escambia County Jail and is being held without bond.
Jay Downs Northview 5-0 For District Baseball Championship
May 3, 2024
After four-and-a-half scoreless innings, the Jay Royals had five runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 5-0 District 1-1A championship win over the Northview Chiefs.
Jackson Bridges went six innings for the Chiefs, giving up five runs and six hits while striking out two and walking two.
Landon Golden earned the win for the Royals, surrendering three hits and no runs in seven innings, recording six strikeouts, and walking none.
Robbie Bodiford, Brady Smith, and Jase Portwood each had a hit for Northview.
Ethan McDonald went 2- with two RBIs and a run to lead the Royals at the Plate.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Pace Takes District Softball Crown With Win Over Tate (With Gallery)
May 3, 2024
The Pace Patriots won the District 1-6A championship with a 16-0 shutout of the Tate Lady Aggies Thursday in Pace.
The Aggies just could not recover after the Patriots had 13 runs on nine hits in the second inning.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Kata Balagbagan took the loss for Tate. She went one inning, surrendering two hits and three runs while striking out one and walking none. Jordan Smith pitched two thirds of an inning, giving up eight hits and 11 runs while walking two and striking out zero. Peyton Womack went for one-third of an inning in the circle, giving up two hits and three runs while walking three.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Kept Quiet In 6-1 Loss to Braves
May 3, 2024
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw their three-game winning streak come to an end on Thursday night, falling 6-1 to the Mississippi Braves.
Hurston Waldrep (W, 1-3) earned his first professional win, scattering four hits over 5.2 innings and allowing only an unearned run. Atlanta’s top pitching prospect, who allowed seven runs on 11 hits to the Blue Wahoos in his season debut last month, fanned five and walked only one.
After three scoreless innings, Pensacola starter Valente Bellozo (L, 1-2) allowed a pair of runs in the fourth on RBI singles to Bryson Horne and Cal Conley. A fielding error and Dalvy Rosario RBI single in the top of the fifth helped the Blue Wahoos draw to within a run, but the Braves answered back with two of their own in the bottom of the inning on a Drake Baldwin RBI single and Bellozo wild pitch to take a 4-1 lead.
Jonathan Hughes entered in the sixth and helped the Braves escape a jam, ultimately pitching 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. Brandon Parker added an RBI double and Cade Bunnell hit an RBI single in the eighth off Lincoln Henzman to stretch the Mississippi lead to 6-1 before Parker Dunshee finished the game with three strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth.
Jacob Berry was a bright spot for the Blue Wahoos, going 2-for-4 with a single, double and a deep flyout.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Friday evening. First pitch from Trustmark Park is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Sawmill Day Festival And Car Show Is Saturday In Century
May 3, 2024
The annual Sawmill Day Festival and Car Show will be held Saturday in Century from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Car show awards will be at 3 p.m.
The free event will be held in the historic district at the corner of 4th Street and Jefferson Avenue.
The day will feature live entertainment, food, crafts, contests and prizes, museum tours, exhibits and more.
Pictured: The 2023 Sawmill Day Festival and Car Show. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Fails To Test Drinking Water For Cyanide, Organic Compounds For Entire Year, DEP Says
May 2, 2024
The Town of Century failed to properly monitor their water system for several compounds for an entire year, according to a warning letter from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
According to an April 24 letter to Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr., Century failed to test for inorganic cyanide, secondary color, secondary foaming agents, and all synthetic organic compounds for the 2023 monitoring period.
Century will now be required to issue a public notice to water customers advising them of the missed sampling within 90 days and respond to the allegation within 15 days.
For a copy of the required public notice template, click here.
“Violations of Florida Statutes or administrative rules may result in liability for damages and restoration, and the judicial imposition of civil penalties,” the DEP letter states. “This Warning Letter is part of an agency investigation, preliminary to agency action in accordance to (Florida statutes.)”
Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo Is Friday And Saturday; Here’s How To Win Tickets (And How To Buy Online)
May 2, 2024
The 30th Annual Tate FFA Alumni Foundation Rodeo will be Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 at the Escambia County Equestrian Center on Mobile Highway.
Tickets can now be purchased on GoFan: https://gofan.co/app/school/FL19840_1
Advance tickets are available at Farm and Nursery Mart, Hill Kelly Dodge, Barnes Feed Store and Cantonment Mercantile. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children in advance and $15 and $5 at the gate. Children age 5 and under will be admitted free.
For a chance to win one of five four-packs of tickets from the Tate FFA Alumni Foundation and NorthEscambia.com, click or tap here, then share and comment on this NorthEscambia.com Facebook post. The contest closes at 1 p.m. Friday.
For more information about the Rodeo, call (850) 937-2308.
Pictured: The 2023 FFA Alumni Foundation Rodeo. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
