Deputies Arrest 31 During Two Month Undercover Operation
August 10, 2009
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested 31 people during a two-month undercover operation that concluded Monday.
The operation targeted the drug trade in the Englewood area, also known as Shanty Town, in Pensacola during a sweep dubbed “Operation Town Haul”. In addition to the arrests, the operation resulted in the seizure of 125 grams of crack cocaine, 13 grams of cocaine, 140 grams of marijuana, five vehicles, six firearms, and $90,446.00 total cash.
To see the mug shots of those arrested and the charges against them, click here for the information as provided the Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured above: Those arrested during the two month “Operation Town Haul” conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. Click image to see the charges against against each person. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Report: Mexican Mafia Might Be Behind Billings Murders
August 10, 2009
Ties to the Mexican mafia have been mentioned by every suspect in the Byrd and Melanie Billings murders, according to a report published today by a local independent newspaper publisher.
Rick Outzen, publisher of the Independent Weekly, writes in an article on the The Daily Beast that each one of the seven suspects has mentioned the Mexican mafia, with one witness saying “Those guys will kill you”.
As reported last week on NorthEscambia.com, Henry “Cab” Tice, who has been charged with grand theft for stealing from the Billings’ finance company, told investigators that he borrowed $50,000 from the Mexican mafia, and that he was still in debt to them. In his dealings with the Mafia, Sheriff David Morgan said Tice would sell cars across the border to be resold in Mexico. The sheriff said the deals were cash, under-the-table.
Read more about the Mexican mafia connection to all of the suspects in the article by Outzen on The Daily Beast by clicking here (opens in new window).
Principal, Athletic Director Face Criminal Contempt Charges For Prayer; Defense Fund Established
August 10, 2009
Two Santa Rosa educators are facing criminal charges for praying in violation of a federal court order, and a criminal defense fund has been established to help with with their legal expenses.
Pace High School Principal Frank Lay asked the school’s athletic director, Robert Freeman, to bless a meal where sports boosters had gathered to celebrate the completion of a new field house.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in federal court almost a year ago against the Santa Rosa School District, Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and then-Santa Rosa Superintendent John Rogers. The suit alleged that Santa Rosa County Schools “persistently and persuasively promote their personal religious beliefs in the public schools and at school events”.
A federal court order earlier this year prohibited, among other things, any prayer in schools, “reading from a sacred text”, “calling upon a deity to offer guidance, assistance or a blessing” and religious services such as baccalaureate services. There are circumstances were student-led prayers are permissible, but school employees are prohibited to participate in the prayer, even prohibited from “a posture or manner that is likely to be perceived as an endorsement of prayer, e.g. bowing their heads, kneeling or folding their hands”.
Lay and Freeman were ordered to appear before a federal judge on criminal contempt charges for allegedly violating the court order. They are scheduled to appear in federal court on September 17. They could, depending on the judge’s ruling, be forced to pay fines or serve time in jail.
Several supporters, including Milton insurance agent Robert Smith have formed a legal defense fund to help the two men pay their legal expenses. It will, according to the site, take $8,000 for them to pay the retainer for a lawyer to represent them in the September 17 hearing.
The site, layfreemandefense.com, asks supporters to make donations to the Lay and Freeman Defense Fund at any First National Bank of Florida. The site is also selling t-shirts for $10.
The site also details a Sawmill Band concert and hamburger supper that will be held at 5:30 on September 10 at the Farmer’s Opry in Chumuckla to benefit the criminal defense fund.
The criminal defense fund was opened last Tuesday. By Wednesday, the balance was at $3,710. By last Friday, the fund balance had grown to $6454.35.
The lawsuit filed last year names specific events at several Santa Rosa schools, including Jay. The suit states that Jay High School held an invocation and benediction prayer each year from 2004-2008 led by students from groups such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The ACLU also complains in the suit that Jay High School has held baccalaureate services that were religious in nature.
The ACLU also requested documents from the Escambia County School District that might relate to religion or prayer. Specifically, the ACLU requested records from Escambia Schools about graduations and baccalaureate services. The ACLU public records requests also asked for the notes of all speakers at the event as well as any audio or video recordings of the events. The ACLU request extended to all schools in Escambia County, including Northview High School.
Read the complete criminal contempt order against Lay and Freeman by clicking here (pdf).
Molino Duo Win Pensacola’s Outcast Mega Shark Tournament
August 10, 2009
A Molino duo claimed the top spot in the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament this weekend in Pensacola.
Anthony Adams and Jeff Jordan reeled in a massive hammerhead shark weighing in at 399.4 pounds aboard Adam’s boat “My Amy”. The hammerhead was tops in the hammerhead divison of the fourth annual tournament at Palafox Pier, and it made My Amy the top small boat.
The almost 400-pound hammerhead was also large enough to give the Molino men the biggest overall shark in the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament by about 150 pounds. The second place finishers, Matt Bosler and Mark Bosler pulled in a bull shark at 246.6 pounds. The Bosler brothers were last year’s overall winners.
Funds raised in the shark tournament benefit the United Cerebral Palsey Foundation.
Pictured top: Jeff Jordan (left) and Anthony Adams won the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament this weekend in Pensacola with this 399.4 pound hammerhead shark. Pictured inset and below: More photos of the winning shark. Submitted photos by Deni Deron for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Church To Provide Free School Supplies
August 10, 2009
School starts in just two weeks in Escambia County, and for some families it is financially difficult to purchase the necessary supplies.
A Century church will provide free school supplies on Friday to help those in need.
Abundant Life Assembly of God will distribute school supplies at no charge on Friday, August 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church at 8040 North Century Boulevard.
Parents will need to bring their student’s list of necessary school supplies from their child’s school to the distribution.
Fire Departments Respond To Fire Call At Fire Station
August 10, 2009
Several Escambia Fire Rescue fire stations were dispatched just before midnight Sunday to the Ensley Fire Station.
Firefighters at the Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue reported smoke in their station at 8630 North Pensacola Boulevard at about 11:55 p.m. Sunday. The source of the smoke was not immediately known, but firefighters inside the station reported that they were unable to locate any flames.
Several other fire stations, including Cantonment, were dispatched to the Ensley Station to aid in the investigation.
There were no injuries reported.
Bratt-Davisville Water Precautionary Boil Water Notice Continues
August 10, 2009
The Bratt-Davisville Water System has issued the following Precautionary Boil Water Notice:
To: Residents of Still Rd, Sandy Hollow Rd, Rigby Rd, Pine Forest Fd, Highway 4, Highway 97, Greenland Rd, and Meadows Rd — a water main break has occurred at the above locations.
Therefore, as a precaution, we advise that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative bottled water may be used.
This “precautionary boil water notice” will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
What to do during a precautionary boil water notice (PBWN)
*When a PBWN is issued, a rolling boil for a period of one minute is sufficient to render water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes microbiologically safe, free of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.
*Tap water can be disinfected by adding 8 drops of unscented household bleach (4-6% active ingredients) to each gallon of water, then mixing the water and allowing it to stand for a minimum period of 30 minutes.
*Note: cloudy water requires 16 drops of bleach and a 30 minute contact time. also, other approved chemical disinfectants are available at stores that sell camping and hiking supplies.
If you have any questions you may contact Sherry Roley, Bratt-Davisville Water, at 850-327-6865.
Masland Employee Cuts Pony Tail To Help Rely, Locks Of Love
August 10, 2009
A Masland Carpets employee had a haircut at work this week, helping a child in need and the American Cancer Society at the same time.
The Masland Carpets Relay for Life team sold chances for one person in the Atmore plant to cut inventory control analyst Jim McMorris’ 12-inch pony tail for the Locks of Love program. Each chance was a donation to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
McMorris’ wife Jennifer has cancer, and they decided that this would be an opportunity to help both Relay for Life and Locks of Love.
Maria Hixon, who works as a creeler, won the chance to give McMorris his haircut. His pony tail was sent to the Locks of Love program, a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
“She was nervous and kept asking Jim if he was scared, but I’m sure he wasn’t,” Susan Gunn, Masland human resources assistant, said. “He did have an appointment a few minutes after the cut with (Atmore hairstylist) Hazel Strawbrige to get his hair adjusted.”
Pictured top: Masland employee Maria Hixon cuts the 12-inch pony tail of fellow employee Jim McMorris for the Locks of Love program and Relay for Life. Pictured inset: A Masland engineer measures the pony tail. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Billings Theft Suspect Tice Had Previous Problems With Worthless Checks
August 9, 2009
Henry “Cab” Tice has been named a “person of interest” in the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings, and he was arrested last week on grand theft for writing $17,342.51 in worthless checks to the Billings’ family company Worldo Financial Services.
But NorthEscambia.com has learned it was not the first time that Tice had problems with vehicle financing and bad checks. In August 1999, Tice gave numerous checks totaling $174,000 written on an AmSouth bank account to Dan Jaquish, who Tice described as his “best friend” and business associate. At the time, Jacquish was a wholesaler and retailer of used vehicles under the name of “Auto Outlet”.
The checks written by Tice on his business account were made payable to “Auto Outlet” and were, according to Tice, security for a loan Jaquish had made to Tice. Jaquish was to hold the checks and cash them later, according to court documents. Tice claimed that he made other payment arrangements on the loan, and both agreed that Tice would issue a stop payment at AmSouth on the loan security checks.
Tice went to an AmSouth branch and placed a written stop-payment order on the checks to Auto Outlet. The stop payment orders expired, under AmSouth’s terms, in six months.
Almost two years later, Jaquish, or someone acting on his behalf, presented the checks for payment at Amsouth on May 18, 2001, according to court records. After paying the old checks, Tice’s account was overdrawn, causing AmSouth to return six checks totaling over $95,000 payable to Manheim’s, an automobile auction company with which Tice did business. Tice claimed that because of the bad checks, he was blacklisted by Manheim’s and other automobile auction companies.
On August 23, 2002, Manheim’s obtained a judgment against Tice in the amount of $148,957.75 — the amount of the bad checks plus interest and attorney’s fees.
Tice sued AmSouth, claiming they should have never paid the checks written to Jaquish. A jury awarded Tice $52,206.75 for his expenses and $290,000 for mental anguish. AmSouth appealed, and the Alabama Supreme Court overturned the lower court’s findings.
Click here to read the entire Alabama Supreme Court case (pdf).
Escambia’s Roots Found In Molino; UWF Uncovers Historical Site
August 9, 2009
Escambia’s roots have been uncovered in Molino, along with evidence of habitation thousands of years ago.
The University of West Florida archaeological field school has wrapped up a successful summer dig last week, uncovering evidence of the San Joseph De Escambe Spanish mission dating back to the 18th century in Molino.
The Mission San Joseph De Escambe was established upriver along the Escambia River — which, along with Escambia County, actually took its later name from the mission near Molino. The Apalachee Indian settlement with about 75 residents is well documented, according to archaeologist John Worth. It was established in the 1740’s. A Franciscan missionary was stationed by the Spanish at the village along with 15 members of a Spanish cavalry unit until about 1757.
The village was led by Apalachee Chief Juan Marcos Fant until it was destroyed during a Creek Indian raid on April 9, 1761. The village and the church were at least partially burned during the raid. Following the raid, the residents moved down the Escambia River to what is now downtown Pensacola.
The mission was uncovered by the UWF archeology students under the leadership professor Dr. John Worth. Worth spent years digging through historical records before the actual digging in Molino began.
The missions settlement is believed to have included a Spanish missionary church and a small Apalachee Indian village. Evidence of the buildings was discovered during the summer field school, including a wall that appears to have been a post-on-sill construction type that was commonly used on French colonial sites. It has also been documented in Pensacola’s Spanish presidios. UWF archeologists said the Molino site also included an apparent floor structure on the inside of the building.
While the walls have deteriorated over time and appear to the casual observer to be nothing more than darker soil, UWF students found almost 40 wrought iron nails in their original positions. In what was called an “amazing” find, students uncovered a wrought iron nail still embedded in piece of wood (pictured left), the remains of a beam or post where the nail was hammered about 250 years ago.
One of the wall areas discovered was considered substantial, possibly part of the Spanish Calvary barracks or the actual mission church.
In addition to the 18th century Mission San Joseph De Escambe, UWF archeology students uncovered evidence of much earlier prehistoric life along the river in Molino. The oldest item found was a spear point dating between 1,200 and 3,900 B.C.
Friday was the final official day for the UWF field school, with students spending 14 hours wrapping up their research and filling holes. A few students will return next week to finish some final documentation and fill the remaining excavations.
The mission site was located near Yuhasz Road near Fairground Park. The entire site is on private property and is not open to the public.
For more information on the project, visit pensacolacolonialfrontiers.blogspot.com for the project blog. Also see two previous NorthEscambia.com articles:
- UWF Archeology Uncovers Possible Spanish Mission Evidence In Molino (July 21)
- UWF Digging For The Past In Molino; 2,000 Year Old Artifacts Found (June 29)
Pictured above: UWF Archeology students carefully sift through soil while they search for artifacts near Molino. Pictured bottom inset: A wrought iron nail in a fragment of wood from about 250 years ago. The excavation below shows evidence of two walls (the darker overlapping areas). NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
