Century Man Arrested For Meth Trafficking, Weapons Charges Following Traffic Stop
August 25, 2023
A traffic stop led to the arrest of a Century man on several weapons and drug charges.
Ladarrious Tamiraye Lett, 29, was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of marijuana.
Lett was the front seat passenger in a vehicle stopped on Pensacola Boulevard by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for window tint violation.
Deputies located a .25 caliber handgun in Lett’s pocket, a located and chamber rifle in the trunk, 69.7 grams of crystal methamphetamine and a marijuana cigar in the glovebox, four alprazolam tablets in Lett’s pants pocket, ammunition in the center console, alprazolam in the center console, an additional 41 rounds of ammunition in the center console, ammunition in the glove box, and additional pills in his pants pocket, according to an arrest report. All of the items were attributed by deputies to Lett.
Lett also had a large quantity of cash and a cellphone on his person, deputies said.
Lett was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $63,000 bond.
Salzman Proposes Term Limits For County Commissioners
August 25, 2023
Rep. Michelle Salzman is proposing a constitutional amendment to limit county commissioners across Florida to eight years in office.
The term limit would prohibit commissioners who have held office for the preceding eight years from seeing reelection. The term limits would apply to terms of office beginning on or after November 5, 2024.
If approved during the next legislative session, the amendment would require approval by 60% of Florida voters.
“I’m looking forward to seeing this on the 2024 ballot,” Salzman said. “The people of Florida have been asking for this opportunity to choose for a while. I fully support term limits at all levels of government.”
The proposal was Salzman’s first filing for the 2024 session.
In Florida, the governor, cabinet members and state lawmakers already have an eight-year term limit. The legislature has also approved an eight-year term limit for school board members.
Ascend Volunteers Work To Get Roy Hyatt Environmental Center Ready For Field Trips
August 25, 2023
A group of volunteers from Ascend Performance Materials worked last Friday to spruce up at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center.
The group worked to help the facility get ready for upcoming student field trip visitors. They worked to clear trails, clean debris from ponds, trim the turtle enclosures, powerwash picnic tables and pavilions, repair equipment and more.
For more photos, click or tap here.
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center assists students in mastering science concepts and processes through the integration of science disciplines in studying the environment.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
We Are Now Officially In A Moderate Drought. And That May Impact Crops Like Peanuts.
August 25, 2023
A moderate drought exists across much of the North Escambia area, according to the latest information released Thursday by the National Drought Mitigation Center.
“High temperatures and only spotty rainfall are drying soils and could begin to impact peanut and cotton yields at a time in development where water demand is highest,” according to the Florida Climate Center at Florida State University.
All of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida and all but the far eastern portion of Escambia County in Alabama are in the moderate drought category.
Pictured top: Peanuts in a dry field Thursday afternoon in North Escambia. Pictured below: The latest drought map. NorthEscambia.com photo and graphic.
Northview Defeats Flomaton (With Gallery)
August 25, 2023
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Flomaton Hurricanes 3-2 (25-23, 25-17, 18-25, 21-25, 15-9) in high school volleyball action Thursday evening in Bratt.
Northview was coming off a 3-2 win over Central on Tuesday.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McIntosh’s Late Homer Lifts Blue Wahoos To Fourth Straight Win
August 25, 2023
Paul McIntosh broke a tie with a go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning, giving the Pensacola Blue Wahoos a 4-3 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Thursday night.
The catcher’s opposite field home run, his first since returning from Triple-A Jacksonville last week, gave the Blue Wahoos their fourth win in a row and secured at least a split in their road series in Biloxi.
The Blue Wahoos got another quality start from ace Patrick Monteverde, who allowed three runs over 6.0 innings, but it was Luarbert Arias (W, 2-1) and Jefry Yan (S, 13) who came up biggest out of the Pensacola bullpen to protect the one-run lead in the final innings.
Biloxi took a quick 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Wes Clarke homer, but the Blue Wahoos claimed a 3-1 lead of their own in the fifth inning with a two-out rally. McIntosh drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, and Norel González delivered a two-run single to give the Blue Wahoos their first lead of the night.
The Shuckers chipped away, scoring an Ethan Murray triple in the fifth on a Lamar Sparks fielder’s choice, before tying the game on a solo homer from Jackson Chourio in the sixth.
McIntosh led off the eighth with his go-ahead homer off Max Lazar (L, 0-2), and Arias stranded a runner at second in the bottom of the inning to preserve the lead. Yan walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, but coaxed a double play before striking out Murray to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Friday night.
written by Erik Bremer
Reported Carjacking In Cottage Hill Ends With Suspect Fleeing From Santa Rosa Deputies
August 24, 2023
A reported carjacking Thursday morning in Cottage Hill ended with the suspect fleeing from Santa Rosa County deputies.
A resident of Parker Road reported the carjacking about 5:30 a.m. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the victim told dispatchers that he was following the suspect who was driving his gray Toyota Tacoma. The suspect went east on Quintette Road toward Santa Rosa County, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office was notified.
The ECSO said Santa Rosa deputies initiated a pursuit on West Spencer Field Road.
Information was then received that no force was used — meaning it was simply a stolen vehicle, not a forcible felony carjacking — and the pursuit was canceled.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said the vehicle took off from their deputies at a high rate of speed and later re-entered Escambia County.
No further description of the suspect was available.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Girlfriend Of Mugs & Jugs Murder Suspect Charged With Battery
August 24, 2023
The girlfriend in the Mugs & Jugs murder has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Rachel Marie DeRise, 23, was charged with misdemeanor battery. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $15,000 bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said DeRise is the girlfriend of 25-year-old Christian Ketchup who was charged with homicide in the shooting death of 25-year old Tierra Binion about 1:00 Wednesday morning.
The incident began with an argument between DeRise and Binion inside the bar, deputies said. They went outside and began to fight.
Ketchup blindside-punched Binion and knocked her out, according to the ECSO, before continuing to beat her as she was out cold. Investigators said Ketchup pulled a handgun and shot Binion seven times.
Ketchup remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Couple Charged With Aggravated Animal Cruelty For Alleged Abuse Of Horses Near Century
August 24, 2023
A Frisco City, Alabama, couple has been charged with animal cruelty for the alleged abuse of horses near Century.
Katy Lynell Jones, 27, and Richard Allen Jones, Jr., 25, were both charged with two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty. They were released from jail on a $10,000 bond each.
The alleged abuse took place between July 2022 and February 2023, on Killam Road west of Century.
On February 4, 2023, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a call to Killam Road about a horse that was down and suffering after not being fed.
Editor’s note: Some readers may find the following details disturbing. Discretion is advised.
Deputies arrived and found the horse on the ground, and it appeared from a distance to be deceased. As deputies approached the horse, the horse raised its head in an attempt to get up but was barely able to move.
“I observed the horse to be extremely emaciated, with its rib bones and hip bones projecting prominently. I observed the area around the horse spine to be sunk in with the spine projecting prominently. I observed the ground around the horse to be torm and dug up in a circular area where the horse had obviously thrashed and spun around on the ground in an attempt to get up. The horse had its head and neck lying in horse feces. After observing the horse, it was obvious that the horse had been there for a while,” a deputy wrote in the arrest report.
Another horse in the pasture was extremely emaciated with a cracked and split hoof. A small pony and goat were also present but appeared to be fine.
There was no food or remnants of food, the water trough was dry and grass was dead due to winter.
“I observed the barb wire fence around the pasture to have large amounts of horse hair stuck in the barb wire where the horses had obviously tried pushing on the barb wire to get to the green grass on the outside of the pasture,” the deputy wrote.
Escambia County Animal Control and the Escambia County livestock officer were notified.
It was determined that the animals belonged to husband and wife Katy and Richard Jones who had lived in the home on the property several months prior.
The son of the property owner arrived and told deputies that the Jones family had moved from the property in July 2022. He stated that he fed the animals the day before and texted Katy and Richard Jones to advise them that there was no more food. Robert Jones told him that they were moving the animals on February 5, the report states.
In a FaceTime conversation with the animal control officer, Katy Jones said the last time the animals were fed was February 2 by Richard Jones, and that they had a bale of hay about two weeks prior, the report states.
Katy Jones told a deputy by phone that she did check on the downed horse the day before and it “got up for a good bit but went back down”, according to the ECSO. She stated that a veterinarian had not been contacted.
All of the animals were removed from the property by authorities.
Flomaton Fire Dept. Honors Bo Brantley For Lifetime Of Support
August 24, 2023
The Flomaton Fire Department has honored a local resident for a lifetime of support.
The department presented Bo Brantley with a custom fire helmet and made him an honorary lieutenant.
The helmet was painted by firefighter Chris White and presented to Brantley by White, Chief Steve Stanton and firefighter Jeremy Lee.
Pictured top: Flomaton Fire Department Chief Steve Stanton, honorary Lt. Bo Brantley, firefighter Chris White and firefighter Jeremy Lee. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
