Phony Cop Sketch Released
January 31, 2009
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department has released a composite sketch of a phony cop that has been targeting young women.
He has been described as a white male in his 20’s or early 30’s. He is reportedly has dark bushy hair, a stocky build and is bout 6′2″ tall. He has a mole under his left eye.
The sketch was based upon information provided by a young female was sexually assaulted by the suspect Tuesday night near I-110 and Brent Lane in Pensacola. The suspect was wearing some type of uniform with no name tag and a belt, according to reports, at the time of that assault. He was driving a white Ford Crown Victoria with a spotlight. He may have had the word “Sheriff” in green letters on the side of the car. Tuesday’s victim said he had a New England type accent.
On January 20, a young female was stopped a phony cop, possibly the same man, near Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road. She was not injured. A young University of West Florida student reported a man in a white sedan flashed blue lights at her on University Parkway last Saturday night.
If you have further information about this phony cop, call the Sheriff’s Office at 436-9630 or Crime Stoppers at 433-7867.
Pictured above: A sketch of a phony cop suspect that appears to be targeting women in Escambia County. The sketch was released Friday night by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.
Byrneville Elementary Students Star In A Glamorous Photo Shoot
January 31, 2009
The students at Byrneville Elementary School got the star treatment Friday as they dressed up for glamour shot photo sessions in preparation for a big event Tuesday night. Hollywood will come to the school as the red carpet will be rolled out, a movie will hit the big screen and parents will learn about making their student a star. NorthEscambia.com will have a complete story and a photo gallery with dozens of glamour shots Monday morning.
Pictured above: Byrneville student Chloe Smith gets treated like a star during a glamour shot photo session Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Rough Night On The Court For Northview Boys And Girls
January 31, 2009
Friday night was not kind to the varsity boys and girls basketball teams from Northview.
The Northview boys lost to Jay, 75-50.
The Northview girls ended their regular season with a loss to East Hill, 53-43.
The Northview varsity boys have two regular games to go this season – Tuesday at home against Escambia Charter and Thursday on the road at Baker.
Jay 75, Northview 50 (boys)
Northview—Lance Bushaw 18, Jody Levins 12,Aaron Bellamy 7, Colton Sims 4, Luke Killiam 4, LaDarion White 4, Dabney Langhorne 2, Jocqus Lett 2.
Jay — Dale Barlow 10, Hunter Boutwell 12, Rush Hendricks 5, Bugg Fischer 2, Steven Brabham 1, Luke Rowell 4, Greg Nelson 41.
Northview 14 14 9 16—50
Jay 23 8 19 25—75
East Hill 53, Northview 43 (girls)
Northview — Gabe Wesley 14, Shaniqua Jones 11, Laneicia Gomez 10, Shakeria White 4, Angela Roddriguez 4.
NV 9 8 12 14—43
EHS 10 16 7 20—53
Reported Vehicle Fire In Century
January 30, 2009
The Century station of Escambia Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a reported vehicle fire on North Century Boulevard about 9:30 Friday morning.
An 18-wheel truck was reported to be on fire with smoke coming from under the hood. It was in the median on North Century Boulevard near Hecker Road.
The first fire units on the scene reported that there was no fire. The smoke was apparently caused by a broken belt under the hood.
The truck was hauling stadium seats.
Highway 4 Crash Injures One
January 30, 2009
One person was injured in a two vehicle accident Friday morning on Highway 4 near Highway 97.
The accident, which involved a car and a pickup truck, happened about 7:30 Friday morning at the intersection of Pine Barren Church Road and Highway 4 in Davisville. The female driver of a car was transported from the scene by ambulance. The driver and passenger of a pickup truck were not injured.
The car driver’s injuries were not believed to be extremely serious.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill station of Escambia Fire-Rescue and Atmore Ambulance responded to the call.
Pictured above: The driver of this car was injured in a two vehicle accident on Highway 4 near Highway 97 Friday morning. Pictured inset: The pickup truck involved in the crash. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Federal Probe Of Escambia Sheriff’s Department, County Jail
January 30, 2009
A federal investigation has been launched into the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and the Escambia County Jail.
New Sheriff David Morgan held a press conference Thursday afternoon to announce that the U.S. Department of Justice was beginning the probe into his department. Morgan received word of the probe on January 9, three days after he was sworn into office.
The letter says the DOJ “investigation will focus on use of excessive force by deputies of the ECSO”.
“The…investigation will focus on protection of inmates from harm, including providing adequate medical care, mental health care, protection from inmate violence, and sanitation conditions, as well as use of excessive forces against inmates.” the letter from Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker said.
While the DOJ has not been specific about the target of its investigation, it is believed to center around the deaths of three inmates during the administration of previous Sheriff Ron McNesby:
- Robert Boggon, 65, died at the jail in August of 2005. He was strapped into a restaint chair, and had been shocked by a stun gun. Records indicate that he had struggled with several deputies. The ECSO acted properly in its treatment of Boggon, according to a judge’s ruling.
- Hosea Bell, 55, died after being arrested for public urination in December 2006.
- Jerry Preyer, 45, died at the jail after being hit twice by a Taser stun gun in a struggle with detention staff. Preyer claimed he was Jesus. Deputies were cleared of any wrongdoing in the case.
The Department of Justice did not reveal who made the complaints that led to their investigation, and they did not reveal complete details about the complaints.
Officials from the DOJ are expected to set up at the Sheriff’s Department, where they will be provided with office space, phones and computers. Sheriff Morgan says he plans to fully cooperate with the investigation, which may not begin for several weeks.
Overturned Dump Truck Slows Traffic For Hours; Driver Critically Injured
January 30, 2009
An overturned dump truck delayed southbound traffic on Highway 29 in McDavid for hours Thursday and left the truck driver in critical condition.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Cynthia D. Kinney, 42, of Cantonment was eastbound on Highway 164 about 10:10 Thursday morning when she “disregarded” the stop sign while attempting to make a right turn onto southbound Highway 29. The truck overturned onto the driver’s side. Kinney suffered critical injuries and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight.
The truck’s load of dirt was spilled across the southbound lanes of Highway 29. The southbound traffic was diverted to the northbound side of Highway 29 for several hours.. The roadway was reopened just before 1:00 Thursday afternoon.
The FHP says charges are pending in the accident.
There were no other vehicles involved in the crash, and no other injuries.
Experts From Across The Southeast Attend Annual Farm Day In Walnut Hill
January 30, 2009
The 2009 Farm Day was held Thursday at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
The day-long event featured a variety of expert speakers from the University of Florida, Auburn University, Louisiana State University and the University of Georgia.
Topics discussed included “nematode and disease control in soybeans”, “soybean Insect Control”, “weed Control in soybeans”, “soybean management practices”, “corn management strategies” and “high yielding wheat and minimizing inputs while maximizing yields”.
There were also industry booths, product demonstrations and a free lunch for attendees.
The event was sponsored by the University of Florida IFAS Extension and the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service.
Molino’s Travis Fryman, Former MLB Player, To Speak At Olive Baptist
January 30, 2009
Molino resident Travis Fryman, former third baseman for the Cleveland Indians, will be the guest speaker in both morning services on Sunday at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.
Fryman is speaking on the church’s “Bring a Friend Day”, where church members are encouraged to bring a friend that day to hear his evangelistic message.
Sunday night, Olive will gather in Passmore Hall to watch the Super Bowl after the evening service. Light refreshments will be available to enjoy as church members and guests kick back in the newly renovated building and watch some football on a larger-than-life screen.
“I am trusting God to give us a great day of harvest. Bring your friends to church this weekend,” Olive Pastor Ted Traylor wrote on his blog.
Sunday morning services at Olive Baptist are at 9:30 and 11:00. Evening services are at 6:00. The church is located at the corner of Olive Road and Davis Highway in Pensacola, near West Florida Hospital.
Fryman was a starting third baseman with the Detroit Tigers from 1990 to 1997. He was trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1997 and was traded two weeks later to the Cleveland Indians. He played for the Indians from 1998 to 2002.
He made a total of five trips to the annual All Star Game and won a Gold Glove Award with a 60-game errorless streak.
Gulf Power Crews Headed To Restore Power After Ice Storm
January 30, 2009
Gulf Power employees from our area will leave Pensacola on Thursday morning to help with restoration efforts in the wake of widespread damages from the ice storm that passed through the Midwest earlier this week.
Thousands of Entergy-Arkansas customers have lost power because of the heavy ice on lines and poles. The storm caused outages to more than 1 million people from Texas to Kentucky.
The restoration team of 46 Gulf Power employees from throughout Northwest Florida includes line crews and support personnel. They are headed to north Arkansas and expect to be on assignment for about two weeks.
“We are always more than willing to help other utilities in need,” said Sandy Sims, Gulf Power Company Public Affairs manager. “We’ve been recognized nationally as experts in getting the power back on quickly.”