Ten Arrested In Alabama Drug Roundup, Eight More Still Wanted
October 28, 2011
Ten people were arrested during a multi-agency drug roundup in Brewton Thursday, and authorities are still searching for eight more suspects on outstanding warrants.
Over 40 law enforcement officers from two states participated in the roundup focusing on illegal drug activity. This was the second such undercover operation conducted by the Brewton Police Department in the last five months.
According to Brewton Police, the following people were arrested and charged:
- Kenneth McWilliams, 19, Titi Street Flomaton, distribution and possession of controlled substance
- Luther Kelley, 72, Karen Street Flomaton, criminal conspiracy to commit controlled substance crime
- Carol Winstead, 60, Old Castleberry Road Brewton, distribution and possession of controlled substance
- Ganie Spears, 45, Gowan Street Brewton, distribution and possession of controlled substance
- Mario Lovelace, 32, Dacus Street Brewton, distribution and possession of controlled substance, two counts each,
- Terrance Heath, 35, Conley Street Brewton, distribution and possession of controlled substance
- Robert Jones, 55, May Street Brewton, distribution and possession of controlled substance
- Emanuel Jackson, 36, East Jackson Street Brewton, distribution and possession of controlled substance
- Deparrish Campbell, 19, East Jackson Street Brewton, distribution and possession of controlled substance
- Ashante Smith, 29, Palmer Street Brewton, possession of controlled substance-cocaine
According to the Brewton Police Department, authorities are still searching for the following individuals on outstanding narcotics related warrants:
- Katherine Walker Mobley, 49
- Wendell White, 53
- Iviory Miles, 59
- Michelle Rabe, 40
- Eubie Kennedy, 27
- Sherry Flowers, 47
- Daymond Jones, 36
- Gentell Green, 24
Agencies assisting with the roundup Thursday were the Brewton Police Department, 22nd Judicial Drug Task Force, 21st Judicial Drug Task Force, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Pardon and Parole, and a Florida Department of Corrections K-9 Team from Century Correctional Institution.
Couple Accused Of Starving, Beating Children With Electrical Cords
October 28, 2011
Information from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has led the arrest of a couple in Georgia charged with beating their five children with electrical cords while depriving them of food and water for days.
Anthony Irvin, 33, and his wife, 33-year old Tammy Irvin, are charged with 10 counts of cruelty to children, five counts of contributing to the deprivation of a minor, four counts of battery/family violence and two counts of false imprisonment. The couple was booked into the Clayton County, Georgia, Jail.
The abuse allegedly occurred at the couple’s home in Hampton, Georgia, about 20 miles south of Atlanta, according to WSB TV in Atlanta.
The abuse was reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office while the children were visiting relatives in Escambia County. According to the WSB TV, the children told relatives in Escambia County that they were locked in garage without food and water and not allowed to go to the bathroom. Some of the children also told authorities that they were locked in a closet for days after being beaten.
FHSAA Suspends Pace Player For Fight During Tate Game
October 28, 2011
A Pace High School football player has been suspended for six games for his involvement in a what was determined to be a fight last Friday night in a game against the Tate Aggies.
The Florida High School Athletic Association handed down the automatic suspension for senior defensive tackle Troy Gaoa for the incident at Tate’s Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment. Pace High is expected to appeal the ruling.
Two other area players received the automatic six game suspension earlier this year following an alleged altercation. Both Jay and Baker high schools appealed, and both suspensions were reduced.
Pictured above: Action from Tate and Pace last Friday night in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
In The Mail Monday: $250 Million In Escambia Tax Bills
October 28, 2011
Collection of the 2011 real estate and tangible personal property taxes will begin November 1, according to Janet Holley, Escambia County tax collector
This year’s tax rolls include 177,000 accounts totaling $250 million. Bills will be delivered to the post office on October 31 for mailing, and there will be a 4% discount for early payment is good through November 30..
Other discount periods are as follows: December‑‑3%; January‑‑2%; February‑‑1%; and the gross amount is due in March 2012. Taxes become delinquent April 1 and are assessed a 3% penalty. When mailed, discounts are determined by postmark of payment. When a discount period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the discount period will be extended to the next business day for walk‑in customers only.
Tax revenue is generated for the various taxing authorities and is approximated as follows: District School Board, $120 million; Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, $107.4 million; City of Pensacola, $15.2 million; Sheriff, $6.6 million; Northwest Florida Water Management, $566,000; Downtown Improvement Board, $358,000; and Town of Century, $27,000. Additionally, MSBU collections totaling $13.9 million include: County fire protection, $10.5 million; City Stormwater, $2.5 million; and various others, $910,000.
Residents can check the status of their taxes and pay on the website at www.escambiataxcollector.com. Online payments are available, along with other options including payment by mail, by phone, or in person. If a tax bill is not received by November 10, call the tax collector’s office at (850) 438‑6500, ext. 252.
Flomaton Beats Excel
October 28, 2011
The Flomaton Hurricanes defeated the Excel Panthers Thursday night, 42-7. With the non-region win, the Canes finished their regular season at 9-1.
Neiko Robinson returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown, plus scored on runs on 5 and 26 yard for the No. 7 Hurricanes. Dustin Postlewait had 117 yards rushing for Flomaton, along with touchdown runs of 19 and 12 yards. Quarterback Ryheem Dixon was close behind with 109 yards on a dozen carries and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Bonds.
Excel (3-7) had less than 120 yards total offense for the night.
Flomaton is No. 2 in 2A Region 1, behind No. 1 Leroy. As playoffs begin next Friday night, the Hurricanes will host Region 4’s number three team Billingsley.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge
One Toddler Shooting Suspect Extradited, Cantonment Man Still On The Run
October 27, 2011
One suspect in the July 15 shooting of a Pensacola toddler is now behind bars in Escambia County, while police continue to search for a Cantonment man in the case.
Shaquill Jerell Besst, 18, was transported Tuesday from Tangipahoa Parish Prison in Amite, LA, to the Escambia County Jail. His bond was set at $2 million during a Wednesday afternoon court appearance.
Authorities are still searching for former Cantonment resident Dwayne “Money” Pinestraw, 19. He is the suspected triggerman in the shooting a death of 19-month old Ty’Quarius Moultrie at a Pensacola Village apartment on Fairfield Drive.
Multiple shots were fired into the apartment back on July 15, according to Pensacola Police, killing Moultrie and wounding 23-year old Vincent Dennis.
Prior to the shooting, Besst and Pinestraw were reportedly robbed by two armed men as they sat in a car on a North Davis Highway gas station. Besst, Pinestraw, and two other men allegedly went to Pensacola Village a short time later and fired a .45 caliber gun through an apartment window.
Besst was taken into custody in August in Lousiana, while Pinestraw remains at large. Pinestraw’s last known address was on Lake Drive in Cantonment.
Pinestraw is a black male, approximately 5-feet 6-inches tall and approximately 130 pounds. He should be considered armed and dangerous, according to Pensacola Police.
Anyone having information on Pinestraw’s location or the shooting is asked to contact Lt. Doug Baldwin at (850) 435-1908, Detective James Reese at (850) 435-1976, or the Desk Sergeant’s Office at (850) 435-1900.
Century Man Charged With Grand Theft, Also Wanted In Alabama
October 27, 2011
A Century man is facing a felony charge after allegedly selling a stolen boat and two stolen boat motors as scrap, and he will be extradited to Alabama to face additional charges.
Joshua Duane Griffis, age 24 of North Century Boulevard, is charged with grand theft and was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $50,000.
On October 11, a resident of Elsie Davis Road in Century reported that during the previous weekend someone had stolen several items from his yard, including three used boat motors, a 14-foot aluminum boat and three Poulan chainsaws.
As part of their investigation, deputies contacted Advanced Environmental Recycling in Flomaton and discovered that on October 8 Griffis sold them an aluminum boat, two used boat motors and a Ford vehicle catalytic converter for $120.44, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
The victim later identified the boat and motors as his property. On October 24, Griffis admitted to deputies during questioning that he was the person that sold the boat and motors to the Flomaton company, according to the arrest report.
Griffis has an outstanding warrant from Escambia County, Ala., for receiving stolen property second degree, according to the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office.
Judge: Lawsuit Against Conecuh Woods Landfill Can Proceed
October 27, 2011
An Alabama judge has ruled that a lawsuit can proceed against the developers behind the 5,100 acre Conecuh Woods landfill near Repton, Alabama.
Repton and Repton Mayor Terri Carter have been joined in the suit by a list of plaintiffs, including Escambia County, Ala.; Escambia County, Fla.; Century, Atmore, Brewton, Flomaton and the Escambia County (Fla.) Soil and Water Conservation District.
According to an Escambia County (Fla.) resolution, the county opposes the landfill because it poses a threat to Escambia River, Escambia Bay and Pensacola Bay, as well as the drinking water supply in the county.
In late April, attorneys filed the original suit in Conecuh County Circuit Court on behalf of Repton (pop. 280) and Carter seeking an injunction to block the 5,100 acre Conecuh Woods landfill. The landfill was approved 3-2 by the Conecuh County Commission just a week before the lawsuit was filed contending that the application violated applicable law and the public did not have ample opportunity to comment on the proposal.
Conecuh Woods’ landfill, will include a 1,600 acre “disposal cell” from Range to Repton to near the Big Escambia Creek. Big Escambia Creek flows southward into Escambia County, Alabama, Flomaton and drains through a North Escambia swamp into the Escambia River and then into Escambia and Pensacola bays.
Pictured: Repton (Ala.) Mayor Terry Carter explains her position against the landfill to the Century Town Council earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Dept. Of Children And Families Impersonator Sought
October 27, 2011
Law enforcement is investigating at least two incidents where someone impersonated Department of Children and Families’ child protective investigators.
One incident occurred in Santa Rosa County when a mother received a call at work from an unknown male subject who identified himself as “Matt Lyles” and said he was an investigator with DCF. The man said he was investigating a case about her son having bruises. The called was described as very professional and he knew details about her family, including her name, phone number, place of employment, date of birth, address, child’s daycare, husband’s name and his place of employment.
After the phone call, the mother went to her son’s daycare, who said they had not been contacted and did not notify DCF about any issues. The daycare center contacted DCF but the agency did not have an open case with the family.
A second incident occurred in Bay County when an unknown male and female knocked on a family’s door and asked for their baby. The mother told them the baby was with another family member. The male was dressed in a dark-colored uniform that looked like law enforcement or security and the family said he was wearing a “weird” badge. The suspects never produced any identification or explained why they were there to see the child before leaving. The mother called the local DCF office and was informed there was no open case and no one had been sent to see her.
According to DCF, their investigators always carry proper identification. The identity of a DCF investigator can also be determined by calling a state hotline at (800) 962-2873 or a local DCF office.
Escambia Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter
October 27, 2011
An Escambia County man has been charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with a September crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Larry C. Johnson, 57, was traveling northbound in the southbound lane of Blue Angel Parkway in a 1995 Saturn at 9:35 p.m. on September 26 when he crashed head-on into a 2006 Land Rover driven by Tanieka Wilson, 29, of Hoover, Alabama. Wilson received minor injuries in the crash, while Johnson was transported to Baptist Hospital in critical condition.
Larry Johnson’s passenger, 54-year old Kenneth L. Johnson of West Palm Beach, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Florida High Patrol said Larry Johnson had a blood alcohol level of .293 at the time of the crash. Johnson surrendered and was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Wednesday morning, October 26. He was being held without bond.