Judge: Suspect Competent To Stand Trial For Police Chase, Death Threat
October 28, 2010
A Century man that led police on a vehicle chase and then threatened to kill a deputy has been found competent to stand trial.
An Escambia County Circuit Court judge ordered a psychological evaluation of Christopher Angelo Phifer, 38, of Field Road Century earlier this year and committed Phifer to a state institution. Following another psychological evaluation, Judge Joel Boles has ruled Phifer competent and set a December trial date.
Phifer was charged with with DUI, fleeing/eluding a law enforcement officer, registration/tag expired more than six months, driving while license suspended/revoked, threatening a public servant, two counts of resisting arrest, possession of weapon by a convicted felon and violation of probation. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department report, Deputy James Gilman spotted a Jeep Cherokee occupied by Phifer at McMurray Park in Century at 12:20 am September 6, 2009. When Gilman ordered Phifer to exit the vehicle, Phifer took off in the Jeep, according to the report.
Deputy Gilman gave chase, using his lights and siren as he pursued Phifer down Pond Street, onto Jefferson Street and onto Salters Lake Road. On Salters Lake Road, Phifer hit a washed out area in the road, according to the report, causing his vehicle to roll over. Phifer fled into a wooded area on foot, with Gilman giving chase, also on foot. Gilman tackled Phifer, the report says, and arrested Phifer with the help of deputies Jason Land and Scott Rivkin.
About 10 minutes after Phifer was placed in the back of Gilman’s patrol car, he told deputies he had pain in his arm. Atmore Ambulance was called to the scene, and Phifer was transported to Baptist Hospital where he was treated and released.
A search of Phifer’s Jeep turned up a .22 long rifle cartridge on the driver’s side floorboard.
At the hospital, Phifer told the deputy “Gilman I’m going to kill your a** and you know I have guns,” according to the ECSO report on the incident, and that he intended to kill or put a hit out on Gilman.
Escambia Students Of The Month Named
October 28, 2010
Escambia County Students of the Month for October have been named by the Escambia Association for Administrators in Education. The awards are presented monthly to two students from participating schools.
The following students were named from North Escambia area schools:
- Jim Allen — Jason S. McGowan, fourth grade; Haleigh S. Goodale, fourth grade.
- Molino Park — Michael D. Antrim second grade; Valerie J. Gahimer, third grade.
- Ernest Ward — Kayleigh G. Linam, sixth grade; Liberty D. Peebles, seventh grade; Penny N. Banda, eighth grade.
- Ransom — Hunter G. Nesmith, sixth grade; Madison R. Rondeau, sixth grade.
- Northview — Jessica N. Mahon, 10th grade; Devon L. Cottrell, 10th grade.
- Tate — Anna B. Barlow, 12th grade; Lemard D. Cyrus, 12th grade.
Pictured top: Devon Cottrell and Jessica Mahon, Northview High School’s Students of the Month for October. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Halloween Dates: Saturday Or Sunday?
October 28, 2010
Several communities in the North Escambia area are encouraging Trick or Treating for Saturday rather than on Sunday which is Halloween.
A list of Trick or Treat days are below, and on Friday and Saturday, we will publish a comprehensive list of Fall Festivals, Trunk or Treats and other celebrations and events the area.
Florida
- Escambia County, Florida — Sunday
- Century — Saturday, beginning at dusk
- Jay — Saturday, (including downtown), 5-8 pm
- City of Pensacola — Sunday
- Santa Rosa County, Florida — Sunday
- Milton — Saturday
- Gulf Breeze — Saturday
Alabama
- Atmore — Saturday, 5-8 pm
- Flomaton — Saturday, 5-8 pm
- Brewton — Saturday, 5-8 pm
- East Brewton — Saturday, 5-8 pm
- Bay Minette — Saturday
Molino’s Lady Astros Finish Winning Season
October 28, 2010
Molino’s Lady Astros were runner-ups in the recent GulfSouth Fall State Finals.
After losing their third game against Extreme Velocity to fall into the loser’s bracket, the Lady Astros came back with three state wins to make the championship game. In a close game — with seven scoreless innings — the Lady Astro’s fell to Southern of Troy 1-0.
“We played great offense and defense hitting two home runs and one grand slam against Velocity,” Coach Donnie Nicholson said.
The Lady Astros of Molino finished their summer and fall season with a 25-11 record.
The Lady Astros include local players from area schools.
Pictured: (front, L-R) Kayla Rosario (WFHS), Maggie Swinford (Washington), Cat Tucker (Tate), Kiana Rosario (PJC), Jessi Ujvari (Tate), (back, L-R) Coach Nick Rosario, Rachuel Zampino (Tate), Brook Waters (Tate), Piehden Courtney (Escambia), Ronni Renfroe (Tate), Nikki Cody (Pace), Misty Doran (Northview), and Jami Ujvari (Tate). Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Park Completed
October 28, 2010
Work is substantially complete at the new Bratt Park on West Highway 4, and the park is open for use.
The 13-acre park includes an eight-foot wide, seven-tenths of a mile walking track, a well equipped playground and two covered pavilions with picnic tables.
The park also includes two softball fields, a full basketball court and exercise and rest stations positioned along the track. The softball fields will not be lit for night play; in fact, the park’s hours will follow that of other county parks — sunrise to sunset.
The park was funded with $200,000 in LOST (local option sales tax) monies set aside for the park’s construction. Bratt Park is located near the First Baptist Church of Bratt, just west of Northview High School.
For more information, or to reserve the park for a birthday party, church event, family reunion or other event, contact Escambia County Parks and Recreation at (850) 475-5220.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Authorities Seek Dangerous Texas Fugitive That May Be In Escambia County
October 27, 2010
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force is asking for help in locating a man they say may be in Escambia County. He is wanted for Obstruction of an Investigation by Tampering with Evidence of a Human Corpse and who is a suspect in a woman’s murder in Texas.
Police and the U.S. Marshals in Houston, TX are searching for convicted killer Dennis Ray Anderson, 64, after a Crime Stoppers tip led authorities to find a woman’s body in a barrel at his Houston-area home last Thursday. It is believed that Anderson fled the Lake Charles area of LA Sunday night on a Greyhound bus and was headed to Pensacola due to arrive around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Anderson is a white male, approximately 6 feet tall, weighing about 230 pounds with blue eyes; he has receding white hair and may or may not wear glasses. He was last seen wearing a grey short sleeve button up shirt, blue jeans, tan work boots and a black NASCAR cap with yellow stripes/flames on it. Anderson was also reportedly carrying a small black/brown leather bag and a “six pack” blue and white cooler. It is believed that Anderson has no connections to the Pensacola area and was actually headed for Ft. Lauderdale or Boston, MA. It is also believed that he has no money and will be on foot looking for a place to stay or food.
Investigators have developed information that Anderson may be in possession of a gun and is to be considered armed and dangerous. Anderson should not be approached by the public.
Anderson had been sentenced to life in prison for the 1972 slayings of a woman and her 3-year-old granddaughter during an antique shop robbery. In 1973, he was also convicted in Hardin County, Texas of arson, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison and a theft, for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Anderson was paroled in 1989 and ordered to remain on parole supervision for life. In February of 2010 Anderson was charged in Harris County with robbery causing bodily injury after he was accused of choking a woman and threatening to kill her.
If anyone has information on Anderson’s whereabouts, they are asked to immediately contact the U.S. Marshal’s Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force investigators at (850) 776-3019 or (850) 554-6602 or local law enforcement.
Meth Lab Discovered In North Escambia, Walnut Hill Man Charged
October 27, 2010
The 30th meth lab found this year in Escambia County was discovered near Walnut Hill, and the man deputies said is responsible is behind bars.
Mark Allen Shipps, 37, was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana after the meth lab was discovered late Monday night at a shed located at his home at in the 6400 block of Rockaway Creek Road in the Nokomis community.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department said Shipps’ ex-wife called the department and told authorities that he was cooking meth in the shed behind the house, and she gave deputies permission to search the property.
When deputies arrived, Shipps reportedly told them that he had did not have anything illegal and gave them permission to search. Shipps reached into his pocket and pulled out a baggie with rolling papers and a small amount of marijuana, according to the arrest report. Deputies also found a small baggie containing methamphetamine and two glass pipes in another pocket.
Under a shed awning, deputies found items known to be consistent with a meth lab, and the ex-wife told deputies that Shipps had already burned some of the meth-making equipment.
According to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the meth lab discovery was the 30th in Escambia County so far this year.
“And I expect that there will be more,” Roy said.
As of early Wednesday morning, Shipps remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $26,000.
87-Year Old Gets Prison Time For Selling Crack To Cop
October 27, 2010
An 87-year old woman caught on video selling crack cocaine to undercover officers was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in state prison.
Ola Mae Agee, 87, of Pensacola, was found guilty on one felony count of selling cocaine. Agee was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackleford after she was found guilty by an Escambia County jury.
Agee was arrested May 13 at her Dr. Martin Luther King Drive home. An undercover Escambia County Sheriff’s Office video shows Agee selling a $20 piece of crack cocaine inside her house to an undercover deputy.
In 1996, Agee was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to forfeit $1,971 seized at the time of her arrest for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver and resisting arrest with violence. In 1999, she once again faced charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, but those charges were dropped.
Northview, Ernest Ward, Tate FFA Fair Booths Awarded
October 27, 2010
Northview High School’s FFA booth at the Pensacola Interstate Fair took top honors, while Tate place second and Ernest Ward placed fourth.
The FFA booths showcased each school’s FFA chapter.
Northview’s booth showcased career development experiences, while Ernest Ward showcased Ag in the classroom and an EWMS project where FFA students from Ernest Ward visit and read to students at Bratt Elementary each year.
Pictured top: The blue ribbon Northview High School FFA booth at the Pensacola Interstate Fair. Pictured below: The Ernest Ward Middle School FFA booth. Pictured bottom: The Northview High FFA Alumni and Friends booth. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Showband Takes Top Honors At Marching Classic
October 27, 2010
The Tate High School Showband of the South took first place in Panhandle Marching Classic at Pace High School.
Ten marching bands from schools in Florida, Alabama and Georgia took part in the competition. Bands were ranked on ensemble music, general music, ensemble visual, percussion and auxiliary.
Bands placed as follows:
- Tate High School
- Escambia High School
- Fort Walton Beach High School
- Fairhope High School
- Daphne High School
- Pine Forest High School
- Alpharetta High School
- Spanish Fort High School
- Davidson High School
- Navarre High School
Pictured top: The Tate High School Showband of the South marches past the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” home on Sunday. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.