18 Hour SWAT Standoff Ends With Arrest
November 7, 2011
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Richard Howard Jr., 21, of Pensacola, about 7:00 Monday morning following an 18 hour standoff. Howard was taken into custody without incident by members of the Pensacola Police Department SWAT team.
Around 1:00 Sunday afternoon, deputies responded to reports of Howard standing on his roof in his underwear yelling at neighbors and threatening suicide. When deputies arrived, Howard jumped from the roof and barricaded himself inside his residence. The Escambia County SWAT team was then activated to establish a perimeter and negotiations were conducted with Howard.
During the course of the stand-off, SWAT team members entered the residence to find that Howard was in the attic of his home. When Howard saw the deputies, he fired rounds at the deputies, but no one was injured. SWAT team members utilized gas agents as a means to get Howard out of the house, but the gas had no effect on Howard. Due to the extended period of time, Escambia County SWAT team members were relieved by the Pensacola Police SWAT team.
After 18 hours, SWAT team members from the Pensacola Police Department entered the attic of the residence and took Howard into custody without incident. Howard was taken to a local hospital for evaluation prior to being booked into the Escambia County Jail on an aggravated assault charge.
Pictured. Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Bratt Park To Be Renamed Tuesday For Fallen Marine Lcpl. Travis Nelson
November 7, 2011
The Bratt Community Park will be renamed Tuesday in honor of LCpl. Travis M. Nelson, the local Marine killed in action in Afghanistan on August 18.
An official dedication for the “LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park” and a monument in his honor will be held on Tuesday, November 8 at 2 p.m. at the park on West Highway 4, just west of Northview High School.
The Nelson family requested the county’s permission to place a monument at the park on Highway 4 near Northview High School, just two doors down from where Travis Nelson grew up. The Escambia County Commission later voted to rename the park in the Marine’s honor.
Nelson was the first soldier killed in action from the Walnut Hill or Bratt area since 1969.
Pictured top: Work continues on a memorial in honor of LCpl Travis M. Nelson at the Bratt Community Park, which will be renamed Tuesday in Nelson’s honor. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Driver Hits Concrete Ditch, Airlifted To Hospital
November 7, 2011
A driver was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after apparently suffering from a medical condition and running into a concrete ditch Sunday afternoon in Cantonment.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 77-year old Rudolph M. Smith of Pensacola was southbound on Highway 29 near Cedar Tree Lane when drifted the roadway and struck a street sign before his 2002 pickup came to rest in a concrete ditch.
Smith was transported by LifeFlight to West Florida Hospital suffering from an unknown medical problem, according to the FHP.
There were no other injuries in the crash.
Molino Man Gets Probation On Drug Charges
November 7, 2011
A Molino man has been sentenced to probation on drug charges.
Adjudication was withheld by Judge Michael Allen as he sentenced 26-year old Thomas Sheffield to 24 months probation on a felony count of marijuana possession with intent to sell and felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations/Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant in July 2011 at Sheffield’s residence in the 9000 block of Gibson Road.
Sheffield told deputies that all of his drugs were on the back porch, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. That’s were deputies found over 20 grams of marijuana and a 9mm Glock handgun, according to the arrest report. Inside the house, deputies reported finding more marijuana, questionable prescription medication, a .22 caliber handgun, a SKS rifle and $1,725 in cash located on the top of the fireplace.
District Attorney Looking For Answers In Fire That Claimed 3 Children
November 7, 2011
The Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office and a local district attorney are continuing their investigation into a Wednesday night house fire that claimed the lives of three children in Atmore.
Family members identified the children as3-year old Aniyia Abner, 3-year old Takia Abner and 22-month old Michael Coleman.
Escambia County (Ala.) District Attorney Steve Billy says his office is awaiting the outcome of an ongoing investigation by the the Alabama State Marshal. Pending the outcome of the investigation, the children’s mothers, 18-year old twins Akeivia Abner and Jekeevia Abner, could face criminal charges.
“We’ve still got to gather the hospital records. Of course, the children were sent to Mobile for an autopsy, so we’re waiting on the preliminary findings from the pathologist. Of course, we’re still trying to determine the cause of the fire and interviewing witnesses. So there’s a lot of unknowns out there that are still under investigation,” Billy told FOX 10 TV.
Initial reports said that an oven door was open inside the home at the time of the fire, perhaps indicating that it was being used as a heat source. Photographs taken Thursday morning (see top of page) clearly show the oven door inside the kitchen of the home propped partially open. But it was not immediately known if that was the cause of the fire.
Reports indicated that the two young mothers were at another location several blocks from the home at the time of the fire.
For an earlier stories about the fire, including photos from the aftermath of the fire Wednesday night, click here and click here.
Pictured top: This photo shows the oven door propped open inside the kitchen of a home were three children died in a house fire Wednesday night. Pictured bottom inset: A makeshift memorial outside the home. Pictured below: The remains of a 1st Street home in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Football Standings: Champions And 3-Way Ties
November 7, 2011
It’s the final week of the regular season in high school football, with district kings already named in two local districts, while one is in a three-way shootout Monday night.
The Northview Chiefs easily chomped the Baker Gators last Friday night to take the District 1-1A championship and claim home field advantage for the playoffs.
The District 1-5A title will come down to a three-way shootout Monday night between West Florida, Gulf Breeze and Arnold. The top two teams are playoff bound, while number three heads to the lockers for the last time. (For an update to this story, click here.)
The shootout will take place at 7 p.m. at West Florida’s home field at Woodham Middle School.
Pensacola High is on top of District 1-6A, while the Pace Patriots are in second. For the Tate Aggies, an 0-10 season ended Friday night.
Pictured top: Action as Northview beat Baker Friday night to claim in the District 1-1A championship. Pictured inset. Tate takes on Washington last Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Students Place With Fair Art Exhibits
November 7, 2011
Middle and high school students from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were recognized for their entries in the school art exhibit at the Pensacola Interstate Fair.
The winners were as follows:
Middle Schools
Best in show: Celeste Bishop, Woodham Middle School; Winston Foster, educator.
Drawing: Leslee Scruggs, Ransom, first place; Audrey Mahon, PATS, second; Ashley Ament, Ransom, third; and honorable mentions for Amanda Tobler and Aidan Garcia, Bailey; Joey Jordan, PATS; Taylor Rouchon, Kailee Nolan and Brennan Rohde, Ransom; Brandias Larock, Woodham; and Cameron Rettig, Workman.
Mixed media: Teah Wiley, Workman, first; Brianna Leatherwood, PATS, second; Jackie Gibson, Woodham, third; Maddie Conley, Ransom, honorable mention.
Painting: Callastasia Williams, Woodham, first; Kenard Cook, Woodham, second; Lizzie Partington, PATS, third; Morgan Litton, Workman, honorable mention.
Printmaking: Sakura Kawasaki, Woodham, first; Ebony Coger, Woodham, second; Madelyn Mahon, PATS, third; Addie McKeon, Workman, honorable mention.
Sculpture: Jacob Reosti, PATS, first.
High Schools
Art Program Award of Excellence: Escambia High School; Kymberly Rejda, Marie Henderson and Ruth Fidler, educators.
Best in Show: Savannah Cain, Pace; Kathleen Tracey, educator.
John Frenkel Sr. Award: Jasmin Rhea, Milton; Kenya Longmire, educator.
Beginning art: Cameron Jones, Tate, first; Jacob Brown, Tate, second; Jiwon Kim, Pensacola, third; and honorable mentions for Austin Duffy and Brent Bowman, Central; Cody Overton and Parker Hitt, Escambia; Shonteila West, Glendine Jones and Era Cooper, Tate; Ayannia Cole, Washington; and Lauren Cleary, West Florida.
Ceramics: Frankie Derise, Tate, first; Kimberly Wakefield, Pensacola, second; Austin McElwrath, Pine Forest, third; and honorable mentions for Bridget Stephens, Pace; Sara Omler, Pensacola; and Tyler Maynard and Kimberlee Richards, Tate.
Digital arts: Adrian Brown, Chris Netherton and Kimberlee Richards, Tate, first; Shane King, Washington, second; Jamie Lewis, Tate, third; and Trey Godfrey and Jared Felling, Tate, honorable mention.
Drawing: McKenna Jobe, Escambia, first; Sara Omler, Pensacola, second; Danielle Wheeler, Tate, third; and honorable mentions for Taylor Walden, Escambia; Maranda Wise, Jay; Michael Melendez, Milton; Keondre Hull, Tate; Meredith Gretzinger, Washington; and Kelli Brock, West Florida.
Jewelry/textiles: Dakota Major, Pace, first.
Mixed Media: Katie Ledbetter, West Florida, first; Sara Pertgren, Escambia, second; Matt Lowe, Jay, third; and honorable mentions for Alana Lami and Alyssa Elliott, Escambia; Paul Sebough, Jay; Kyndall Hall, Northview; Stephanie Gunton, Pace; and Luna Zepp, Washington.
Painting: Dylan Nadsady, Jay, first; Sierra Keltz, Escambia, second; Hannah Fernandes-Martin, Pensacola, third; and honorable mentions for Stephanie Gunton, Pace; Kimberly Wakefield, Pensacola; Avery Gaal, Tate; and Kerrie Anderson, West Florida.
Photography: Vivianna Sanich, Pensacola, first; Kelly McDaniel, Washington, second; Carlene Langlois, Escambia, third; and honorable mentions for Alana Lami and Maria Brown-Doig, Escambia; Megan Evans and Sara Thomas, Pine Forest.
Printmaking: Elizabeth Anderson, Pensacola, first; Taylor Young, Pine Forest, second; Tiffany Chiang, Pensacola, third; and honorable mentions for Travis Prescott, Jay; Alicia Echagnggura, Pensacola; and Jessica Broussard, Washington.
Sculpture: Randy Allen, Escambia, first; Brittany Gibson, Pace, second; Emily Downs, Escambia, third; and honorable mentions for Emily Downs, Escambia; Michael Melendez, Milton; Casey Touchstone and Katherine Smyth, Pace; Dusty Wiggins, Alex Jackson and Tristan Nichols, Washington; and Jovianna Mallow, West Florida.
Northview, West Fla. Compete In District Cross Country Meet
November 7, 2011
The District 1-2A cross county meet was held Saturday at Sims Middle School in Pace.
The Northview Chiefs finished in seventh place for both boys and girls — missing a trip to regionals. Northview’s Isaac McGahan (pictured) placed 10th overall with a time of 18:03, earning him an individual trip to the regional meet.
Results were as follows:
Top 5 Boys Teams
- Catholic 47
- West Florida 55
- Arnold 85
- Rutherford 92
- South Walton 97
Top Individual Boys
- Kerrigan, Don (Catholic) — 16:35.00
- Sortino, Mark (West Florida) — 16:36.00
- Clark, Alec (West Florida) — 16:54.00
- Leuze, Jacob (South Walton) — 17:04.00
- Wyllie, Andrew (Rutherford) — 17:10.00
- Engel, Daniel (Catholic) — 17:13.11
- LaNasa, Trey (South Walton) — 17:13.86
- Hyman, Alexander (Arnold) — 17:36.00
- Chope, John (Catholic) — 17:49.00
- McGahan, Isaac (Northview) — 18:03.00
- Remich, Michael (Catholic) — 18:07.00
- Qualls, Darrin (West Florida) — 18:14.00
- Armstrong, Derrick (Arnold) — 18:22.00
- Rowe, Griffin (Arnold) — 18:26.00
- Gutierrez, Carlos (Rutherford) — 18:30.00
- Modin, Seth (West Florida) — 18:35.00
- Patel, Saajan (Rutherford) — 18:37.00
- Lance, Jordan (Arnold) — 18:50.00
- Farner, Spencer (Bay) — 18:51.00
- Bromen, Jeffrey (Catholic) — 18:58.00
Top 5 Girls Teams
- Catholic 39
- West Florida 49
- South Walton 96
- Arnold 107
- Rutherford 134
Top Individual Girls
- Roberts, Kaysi (West Florida) — 19:26.00
- Hodges, Mikayla (Arnold) — 19:34.00
- Gaillard, Christina (Arnold) — 20:36.00
- Farr, Rebecca (Catholic) — 20:37.00
- Endacott, Gabrielle (Catholic) — 21:03.00
- Campion, Natalie (Catholic) — 21:14.00
- Sortino, Jordan (West Florida) — 21:40.00
- Nesbitt, Raleigh (West Florida) – 21:43.00
- Bump, Allysa (South Walton) — 21:46.00
- Weiner, A. (South Walton)– 22:02.00
- Gibson, Dale (Catholic) — 22:04.00
- Garred, Melissa (Rutherford) — 22:12.00
- Lockridge, Kaitlin (Catholic) — 22:44.00
- Busch, Taylor (Catholic) — 22:47.00
- Phillips, Jodi (Rutherford) — 22:50.00
- Wiley, Miranda (West Florida) — 22:54.00
- Moore, Hanna (West Florida) — 23:04.00
- Rivera-Santiago, A. (West Florida) — 23:11.00
- Turner, Danielle (West Florida) — 23:12.00
- Ehlers, Elizabeth (Catholic) — 23:26.00
Judge Again Blocks Prison Privatization
November 7, 2011
A Leon County circuit judge has ordered the state to “cease and desist” from taking further steps toward accepting bids for a prison-privatization plan that she found unconstitutional.
In an order dated Friday and made public Saturday, Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford sided with the Florida Police Benevolent Association in halting the procurement process during the state’s appeal of her earlier ruling.
The Department of Corrections had argued that filing the appeal led to an automatic stay of Fulford’s Sept. 30 ruling — effectively allowing the bidding process to go forward. Fulford’s latest order vacated, or rejected, that stay.
“This court finds that the evidence in the record establishes the likelihood of irreparable injury to the plaintiffs (the PBA and members) if the stay is not vacated and further that the defendants are not likely to succeed on the merits on appeal,” Fulford wrote.
The privatization plan calls for the state to contract out the operation of 29 prison facilities across the southern part of the state. Jim Baiardi, the president of PBA’s chapter for correctional officers, issued a statement Saturday praising Fulford’s latest ruling.
“The PBA is pleased that Judge Fulford has stopped this action,” said Baiardi, who testified during a hearing Friday about “panic” among officers. “State correctional officers can breathe a sigh of relief today.”
The dispute stemmed from a Thursday announcement that the Department of Corrections was reopening the bidding process for the privatization plan. PBA attorneys argued during the hearing Friday there was no reason to move forward with bidding, unless the department was trying to gain some type of advantage in the legal challenge or in the legislative session that starts in January.
But the Department of Corrections said Thursday it would not sign a privatization contract while the legal challenge is pending — a point reiterated during Friday’s hearing by Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Glogau.
In her ruling on the stay, however, Fulford noted the testimony of Baiardi, who also is a captain at the South Florida Reception Center.
“Specifically, Captain Baiardi identified such factors as the disruption of families, the threatened separation of families, loss of jobs, change of schools, lack of sleep, loss of homes and displacement of experienced officers to institutions away from their families as concerns which are overwhelming the correctional officers of the affected facilities,” she wrote.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Monday that she would appeal Fulford’s Sept. 30 ruling on the constitutionality of the privatization plan. Bondi made the decision at the request of the Legislature, after Gov. Rick Scott declined to file the appeal.
The PBA challenged the way lawmakers approved the privatization plan, which was included in budget fine print — known as proviso language — instead of in a typical bill.
Fulford found that the constitution required lawmakers to change state law or use an already-existing department review process before privatizing the prisons. She did not say privatization is unconstitutional, just that the way lawmakers approved the plan was unconstitutional.
The proviso language offered a road map to privatize prisons, work camps and other types of correctional facilities in 18 counties.
It called for the Department of Corrections to solicit proposals from private companies and then submit a plan to the Legislative Budget Commission by Dec. 1.
After Bondi announced she would appeal Fulford’s earlier ruling, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, issued a statement expressing confidence that the state will win and that privatization will help save tax dollars.
“Not only is the privatization of our state’s prisons good policy, but it ensures that our state can dedicate more money to education, health care or economic development programs that would otherwise be spent on prisons,” Haridopolos said.
The 1st District Court of Appeal has not scheduled a hearing in the case, according to an online docket.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Walnut Hill Fire Honors Firemen, Community Members During Fish Fry
November 6, 2011
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department honored members of the community and the department during their 42nd annual fish fry Saturday.
District Chief Chris Brown said the Walnut Hill Station had responded to 357 calls during the past year in their 200 square mile district with 16 active members.
Chester Jantz received the department’s community service award for hosting the annual Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo at his catfish pond on South Highway 99. The fishing rodeo is provided to the disabled for free as a project of the Pensacola Fiesta of Five Flags organization. [Click here for a May story about this year's fishing rodeo.]
Jeffrey Huber was recognized as firefighter of the year, an award chosen by his peers. Kevin Mininger was named officer of the year. Arthur Levins was also recognized for 30 years of service to the department on Saturday, his 50th birthday, with a gift, cake and a letter from Gov. Rick Scott.
The department also recognized Robbie Whitfield for providing over 7,200 training hours for station members.
A blood drive during the fish fry collected 25 units of blood, according to Sarah Noel of Northwest Florida Blood Services. She said 110 units of blood were collected during drives at the Walnut Hill fire department during the year, up from last year. The next blood drive at the Walnut Hill Fire Station will be 8 a.m. until noon on January 12.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured top: Kevin Mininger (left) was honored as officer of the year Saturday by the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Pictured inset and below: Hundreds enjoyed the department’s annual fish fry. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
