Man Wanted For Shooting At FHP Trooper Arrested In Connecticut
April 7, 2010
The man wanted for shooting at two Florida State Troopers on March 25 was arrested by U.S. Marshals, Connecticut State Police and local law enforcement officers early this morning.
Officials in Winchester, Conn., took Brody James Whitaker, 37, into custody after a brief struggle. Whitaker escaped authorities two weeks ago after shooting at two Florida troopers who attempted to pull him over for a traffic violation.
After firing on the Florida troopers, Whitaker crashed the Chevrolet Suburban he was driving and fled on foot into the Lake Panasoffkee Wildlife Management area in Sumter County. Federal, state and local law enforcement officers joined the Florida Highway Patrol in a widespread search of the area for two days as Whitaker eluded his pursuers, which sparked a nationwide manhunt. Yesterday, authorities tracked him to a residence in Connecticut.
“The Florida Highway Patrol wants to thank all the agencies involved in the search and capture of this dangerous man wanted in two states,” said FHP Director, Colonel John Czernis. “Law enforcement officers throughout the area, including Sumter County Sheriff Bill Farmer and his deputies, worked tirelessly in a coordinated effort. Without the combined efforts of law enforcement across state lines, the arrest of this fugitive would not have been possible.”
Whitaker faces an assortment of charges, to include aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer and aggravated assault on a police officer in Florida. He has a criminal history in several different states: Michigan, Virginia, California, Florida and Ohio. He is wanted in Michigan for illegal drug possession. From today’s arrest, Connecticut has charged him with being a fugitive from justice and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Currently, Whitaker is in custody and awaiting court proceedings before a judge in Connecticut. He will subsequently await extradition to Florida to face charges.
One Injured In Highway 4 Crash
April 7, 2010
One person was injured in a single vehicle accident early Wednesday morning in Bratt.
The accident happened just after 5:30 a.m. on West Highway 4 near Vaughn Road. The driver of a pickup told authorities that he was westbound on Highway 4 when he lost control and ran off the road. His truck traveled through fences on two different pieces of property and came to rest upright in the yard of home.
The driver was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
It was extremely foggy at the time of the accident, but it was not immediately known if fog contributed to the crash. The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not available.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the call.
Pictured above: The driver of the truck was injured in an early morning crash Wednesday on West Highway 4 in Bratt. Pictured below: The truck traveled through two fences and some landscaping after the driver left the roadway. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sneak Peek: Plans For Molino Library, Museum, Community Center
April 7, 2010
Preliminary architectural drawings are done for the renovation of the old Molino School into a community center, library and museum.
The drawings show one section of the main building converted into a library with both a children’s and adult area, computers and thousands of linear feet of book shelving. The old auditorium will remain a community auditorium with available seating for 242 people. The rest of the building will include a museum, classrooms and meeting rooms.
“We are very pleased with the design,” Gene Fischer, director of the West Florida Public Library, said in an email.
The final drawings from DAG Architects are expected to be completed and the project let for bid by summer, according to District 5 Commissioner Kevin White.
“By this time next year, we should have the project completed,” White said. Plans are still in the works to convert additional portions of the facility in offices for county officials, he said.
On February 12, several top county officials toured the old school with White. Among those touring the building was Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley who is considering moving her north end office to Molino when her lease at her current Cantonment location expires in 2012. Supervisor of Elections David Stafford and Property Appraiser Chris Jones are also considering locating in the building.
In May, 2009, commissioners approved the $400,000 purchase of the building from the Escambia County School District. Commissioners have since approved a budget of $2,089,156 from Local Option Sales Tax monies for the renovation project. DAG Architects is being paid $214,580 to design the renovations.
The school campus includes 9.66 acres and four buildings — the largest of which is 16,630 square feet.
First opened in 1939, the Molino School closed in 2003 when the new Molino Park Elementary School consolidated Molino Elementary and Barrineau Park Elementary.
Pictured top: District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White and Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley discuss potential plans for the old Molino School in the auditorium of the facility back in February. Pictured bottom inset: This end of the old school will be converted into a library. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Century Spells Out Job Requirements For New Town Clerk
April 7, 2010
After advertising for a new town clerk and getting no response, the Town of Century has decided to set higher standards for the job.
Current Century Town Clerk Dorothy Sims is retiring at the end of April, but will remain available to help train her replacement. The town advertised the position in the local weekly newspaper, but received no response, according to Mayor Freddie McCall. The advertisement detailed a set of basic requirements for job applicants.
Now, the town council has voted to set more stringent requirements for the job at the recommendation of Council President Ann Brooks.
The new town clerk will be required to hold at least an associate’s degree with a minimum of three years experience in records management, data processing or experience in municipal government including supervisory experience and any equivalent combination of education and experience.
The applicant will also be required to have working knowledge of state statutes and bylaws relating to the duties and responsibilities of the town clerk, local government procedures and office procedure requirements, as well as other office and financial record keeping experience.
Brooks, who operates an accounting business in Century, told the council that she had considered applying for the job, but she said it would hurt her business to much.
She suggested that by hiring a more qualified town clerk, the town could eliminate much of the work that is currently done by the town’s accountant, Robert Hudson.
The higher qualifications were approved by the council 5-0.
Escambia Could Restrict Tethering Of Dogs
April 7, 2010
The Escambia County Commission may soon restrict how and when dogs can be tethered in the county.
The commission will vote Thursday to set a public hearing for April 22 on a proposed tethering ordinance. The ordinance will require dogs to have a shelter large enough to stand up, turn around, lie down and stretch comfortably.
Tethering of animals over six months old will be allowed, if the ordinance is approved, if the animal is within eyesight of the owner and the tethering system is at least six feet long, below 1/16 the weight of the animal and fitted with a proper collar. The animal can not be tethered during extreme weather or while it is sick.
There are additional requirements set forth in the ordinance. To read the ordinance, click here.
If the commission votes Thursday to set the public hearing on the ordinance, the hearing will be held at 5:31 p.m. on Thursday, March 22 in the commission’s chambers.
Walnut Hill Man Pleads Not Guilty To Threatening Family With Knife Following Funeral
April 7, 2010
A Walnut Hill man has entered a not guilty plea in an incident where he allegedly used a knife to threaten three members of his family after a funeral last month.
David Earl Fountain, 54, of Arthur Brown Road, Walnut Hill, remains in the Escambia County Jail on $75,000 bond. He was charged March 13 with three counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Escambia County deputies responded to a residence in the 6000 block of Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill where family members said the incident occurred. Fountain’s wife, age 50, told deputies that she had returned home after a funeral and began to hug family members to console them. That’s when Fountain became angry, grabbed a pair of scissors and swung them at his wife, according to the arrest report. The wife’s son then grabbed Fountain in attempt to protect his mother. The trio began to wrestle before Fountain broke free and grabbed a knife from the kitchen, the report states.
The victim’s daughter escorted Fountain, 32, outside where he was still armed with the knife, deputies said. Fountain’s son said his father tried to stab him several times with the scissors, and another son, 36, said Fountain tried to stab him with the knife, according to Deputy Tod Day’s incident report.
Fountain had left the residence and traveled to Atmore before deputies arrived. Family members called Fountain and convinced him to return to Walnut Hill where he was arrested.
All of the victims refused medical treatment.
Fountain is due back in court in July.
Northview Diamond Club Plans Baseball Tournament
April 7, 2010
The Northview High School Diamond Club will sponsor a baseball tournament on Saturday, April 17 at Showalter Park in Century.
The entry free is just $50 per team for the round-robin two game guarantee tournament. Space is limited on a first come, first served basis.
For more information about the tournament and contact information, click here.
Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Might Be Headed Back
April 7, 2010
The Florida House voted Tuesday to reinstate Florida’s back-to-School sales tax holiday in an effort benefit Florida’s families.
The bi-partisan measure, sponsored by Representatives David Rivera (R-Miami) and Anitere Flores (R-Miami), passed 115-0 on the House Floor in a bi-partisan vote. The bill provides for a one-time three-day sales tax holiday for clothing and other school supplies purchased from August 13-15 of this year. Backers of the bill point out that sales tax collections actually increase during the period as people tend to shop more and buy items not covered by the tax holiday.
Democrats tried to amend the bill on the floor Tuesday to extend the sales tax holiday for additional days and to make it permanent each year, rather than having lawmakers enact the proposal, but Republicans opposed the proposals saying the money wasn’t available this year, and that it may or may not be in future years.
“The bottom line here is that this is not Tallahassee’s money,” said Rep. Rivera. “The money belongs to Florida taxpayers and they deserve some of it back as they stretch their hard-earned dollars to ensure that their children have the school supplies they need. This bill provides Florida families relief.”
“As a parent, I understand how every little bit helps when it comes to crafting a family budget, especially in these challenging economic times,” stated Rep. Flores. “This bill will provide Florida families with a respite from sales taxes at a time when they are preparing their children for the school year.”
“Tax breaks like these are never enough, but it’s a way for elected representatives to remember that the money we spend in Tallahassee belongs to the people and we must seize every opportunity to let Floridians keep their hard-earned tax dollars, especially during difficult economic times such as we are experiencing in Florida. I commend our Democrat colleagues for joining House Republicans in this bi-partisan measure,” said House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach).
Clothes, books, shoes, wallets and certain other items costing less than $50 and school supplies under $10 would be tax free for those three days under the measure.
The measure is expected to gain Senate approval and be signed by Gov. Crist.
Cantonment Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash; Other Driver Charged With DUI Manslaughter And Fleeing
April 6, 2010
A Cantonment man was killed in a motorcycle accident in Pace, and the man that hit him is now in jail.
Motorcyclist Matthew Christopher Harrison, 29, of Cantonment, was eastbound on Highway 90 in Pace about 7:05 p.m. Monday when he was struck by a Ford Taurus driven by Ronnie L. Henley, 49, of Pace. Harrison laid down his motorcycle in an attempt to avoid Henley, but he was run over by Henley’s car, according to the FHP. Harrison was pronounced dead at the scene.
Henley (pictured) immediately fled the scene, according to the FHP. Witnesses, including an off-duty Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputy, followed him. Henley was stopped at the intersection of Floridatown Road and Cotton Road where he was arrested.
Troopers found Henley to be under the influence of alcohol, and blood samples were turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. A small amount of marijuana was also located in the Taurus, the FHP said.
Henley was charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash with death, and possession of marijuana under 20 grams. He remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail on $250,500 bond.
The accident is still under investigation.
Simmons Charged With Armed Robbery Of Convenience Store
April 6, 2010
A Century man that was recently one of Escambia County’s most wanted criminals has now been charged with the March 4 armed robbery of Moyes State Line Food Mart.
Shawn Demarcus Simmons, 30, was charged Monday with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill, grand theft and a robbery with a firearm. Simmons was already in the Escambia County Jail on charges of burglary, robbery, two counts of aggravated battery, stalking, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, criminal mischief and stalking.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department says Simmons was responsible for the March 4 armed robbery at Moyes. He is accused of forcing the clerk at gunpoint to empty the cash register. He also reportedly took several hundred of dollars in Florida Lottery funds and several lottery tickets. After robbing the clerk, Simmons allegedly robbed a customer at gunpoint.
K-9 units from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Century Correctional Institution joined Escambia County deputies and Flomaton Police Department officers in a lengthy manhunt for the suspect. The manhunt was centered in an area bounded by Highway 29, Old Flomaton Road, Highway 4 and the Alabama state line.
Less than two hours after the Moyes robbery, a resident just south of the convenience store called 911 to report that a black male wearing a dark colored hoodie jacket was standing at her door, covered in mud. The resident also described the man as having lips that were light in color and appeared to be burned.
‘Don’t you know me? Don’t you remember me? The police are after me’,” the suspect told the woman, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The man reportedly asked the female if he could enter the house, but she refused and called for help. A black jacket was recovered by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician from behind the woman’s residence. Deputies called off the search about three hours after the robbery, unable to locate Simmons.
The woman at the house later identified Simmons from a photo line up as the man that was at her door. Another witness that was outside the store prior to the robbery also picked Simmons out of a photo line up.
Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers later named Simmons as one of Escambia County’s most wanted fugitives after he was accused of robbing and pistol-whipping a Century man. Simmons was also the subject of additional manhunts in Century and Brewton, Alabama.
Simmons has remained in the Escambia County Jail since he was arrested early the morning of March 24 following a manhunt involving officers from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department. Officers began their search for Simmons after he reportedly attacked a female on Lee Street in Pensacola.
For more details on that story, click here.
Pictured top inset: Tracking dogs are used to search for Simmons following a Century armed robbery. Pictured middle inset: A crime scene technician dusts the door of Moyes State Line Food Mart in Century after a March 4 armed robbery. Pictured below: Shawn Demarcus Simmons is a suspect in the March 4 robbery of Moyes State Line Food Mart in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.