Beulah Academy FFA’s Estella Perea Places First In District Speaking Contest
February 1, 2024
Estella Perea from the Beulah Academy FFA Chapter placed first in extemporaneous public speaking for District 1. She will now advance to the state competition in June. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Robert Bender Takes Oath As Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
February 1, 2024
Now former Escambia County District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender took the oath of office Wednesday afternoon as the new Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.
Bender replaces David Stafford who stepped down effective January 15 after 19 years in office to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as an election security advisor.
Active in his community, Bender is a current member of the Florida Association of Counties Board of Directors, the Gulf Consortium Board of Directors, and is the secretary and treasurer of the Institute for County Government. Bender earned his bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College and his master’s degree in business administration from Emory University.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Boys Soccer Beats Navarre 3-0 For District Championship
February 1, 2024
The Tate High School Aggies boys soccer team won the District 1-6A championship Wednesday night.
Tate defeated Navarre 3-0 at Ashton Brosnaham Park.
Graphic courtesy Tate Soccer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Facing Drug Charges After Traffic Stop
February 1, 2024
A Cantonment man is facing multiple drug charges following a traffic stop.
Tyler Jacob Myers, 33 was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, and introduction of a controlled substance into a detention facility.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle in which Myers was a passenger after it was clocked at 65 mph in a 45 mph zone on Pensacola Boulevard near I-10.
After a K-9 alerted on the vehicle, deputies found Xanax inside of a backpack located in the passenger floorboard between Myers’ legs and a straw with a white residue that tested positive for cocaine, according to an arrest report.
While Myers was being booked into the Escambia County Jail, a corrections officer discovered a small plastic bag in his pocket with a powder that tested positive for fentanyl, the report continues.
Myers remained in jail without bond after his bond was revoked in a November cocaine possession case.
The driver of the vehicle was cited for speed and driving with a suspended license.
Cantonment Man Charged With Leading Deputies On High Speed Pursuit
January 31, 2024
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges after allegedly leading Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high speed pursuit.
Robert Eugene Royce, 65, was charged with fleeing and eluding at a high speed without regard for safety and driving with a suspended license.
An Escambia County deputy attempted to stop Royce’s 2005 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck after an illegal U-turn on Mobile Highway. A deputy activated his emergency lights and siren at Mobile Highway and Green Street before coming to a stop at Green and Cervantes streets, according to an arrest report. Deputies said Royce began yelling something unintelligible and drove off. Royce continued to drive away at speeds of more than 80 mph and drove into oncoming lanes of traffic, the report continues. Deputies then called off the pursuit.
Deputies were later able to identify Royce as the man that fled, according to the ECSO, and an arrest warrant was issued.
Royce remained jailed with bond set at $6,000.
Cantonment Man Charged With Burglary
January 31, 2024
A Cantonment man is facing charges after allegedly being caught during a burglary by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Jimmy Carlton Foley, Jr., 56, was charged with burglary of an unoccupied residence and grand theft. He was later released on a $17,500 bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a possible burglary in progress in the 200 block of San Carloes Road. where they located Foley and another man loading a Honda ATV valued at $800 onto a trailer, according to an arrest report.
The second man was not arrested, according to the ECSO, because he was unaware that the ATV did not belong to Foley.
Cantonment Rotary Continues To Distribute Water Safety Books To Local Students
January 31, 2024
The Rotary Club of Cantonment is continuing to distribute “Josh the Otter” books to kindergarten students at 10 elementary schools primarily in North Escambia. The book relates to water safety and teaching kids how to float. A coloring book also comes with the book.
To date, 800 books have been distributed. Just before Christmas break, books were given to students at Bratt and Byrneville elementary school. Last week the Rotary Club distributed books to Ensley Elementary, and this week members of Cantonment Rotary will hand out books to kindergartners at Molino Park Elementary School.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
January 31, 2024
First graders Camden Clarke and Faith Reed have been named Jim Allen Elementary School Students of the Month for January. Photo for Northescambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDLE Arrests Escambia County Man On Child Solicitation Charges
January 31, 2024
Cyber agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested James Michael Burkett, 31, of Escambia County Monday for sexual solicitation of a child online.
The investigation into Burkett started in November of 2023 when he initiated communication on a social media platform with who he believed was a 13-year-old female. In fact, Burkett was communicating with an FDLE undercover agent posing as a teen.
During the course of the communications, Burkett sent explicit photos of himself to the “child” and sought to meet for sexual relations.
Based on the online communications, FDLE obtained a warrant and charged Burkett with one count of using a computer to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a minor; one count of promoting the sexual performance of a minor; two counts of transmission of material harmful to a minor; and one count of the use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
Burkett acknowledged that he was the individual communicating with the child persona, FDLE said. Burkett was transported to the Escambia County Jail where he was beng held on a $30,000 bond.
Burkett will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit.
Work Release Inmate Recaptured Aftern Beulah Escape
January 30, 2024
UPDATE: Justin Thompson has been located, and is in custody.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is assisting Escambia County Corrections in the search for an inmate who escaped during a road camp detail in Beulah Tuesday afternoon.The ECSO said 44-year old Justin Thompson may be in the area of Isaacs Lane and Beulah Road.
Thomspon was jailed January 1 on charges of smuggling contraband, possession of a controlled substance, and grand theft.
If you have any information, call 911. The Sheriff’s Office said do not approach Thompson.
Beulah Middle School was placed on a lockdown followng the escape.