Century Man Sentenced For Stealing Semi Truck And Its $80,000 Cargo
July 29, 2023
A Century man was recently sentenced for stealing a semi truck and its cargo of $80,000 worth of rolled steel.
Aftered pleading no contest, Cecil Devon Brown, 41, was found guilty of grand theft of a motor vehicle, first degree felony grand theft of cargo valued at $50,000 or more in interstate commerce, and criminal mischief with property damage. He was sentenced to 24 months probation after credit for 123 days served. He was also ordered to maintain employment, pay fines and costs, and make $1,400 in restitution to the victim payable at a minimum of $100 a month.
The victim told investigators that she hired Brown to drive her 2007 Volvo semi and the rolled steel cargo from Mobile to Pensacola to Birmingham before making a return delivery to Milton. She said he did pick up the truck and cargo and drove it to Pensacola, but then she lost contact with Brown. She stated that she texted him and told him there was a tracking device on the truck, then the GPS device went offline.
Another of the victim’s drivers spotted the truck in Flomaton. The victim found the trailer and rolled steel parked next to the Dollar General at 9410 North Century Boulevard, but the truck was missing. While she was there, Brown pulled up in her Volvo semi truck and ran away, according to an arrest report.
Deputies located Brown nearby at his residence on Ivey Street.
According to the report, Brown was suspected in the theft of a Garmin truck GPS and $520 he received to purchase diesel fuel. The truck’s radio was also ripped from the dash, causing about $300 in damage.
The truck, trailer and $80,000 worth of rolled steel were released to the owner.
Staffed Escambia Fire Stations Are ‘Safe Havens’ For Newborns
July 29, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue stations that are staffed 24/7 have been designated as Safe Havens for newborns.
Safe Haven is considered a safety net for both the mother and the newborn infant. The program allows mothers, fathers or whoever is in possession of an unharmed newborn, approximately seven days old or less, to leave them with someone at Safe Havens with full anonymity and no questions asked.
Safe Haven locations include staffed fire stations, hospitals or any staffed emergency medical service station. Once a baby is delivered to a Safe Haven, a local participating adoption agency is contacted.
“ECFR is proud to partner with A Safe Haven for Newborns to provide mothers a safe, secure location to drop off a newborn child while remaining anonymous,” said Deputy Fire Chief Paul Williams. “This program also offers a confidential 24/7 toll-free helpline as a resource for mother-to-be or mothers of newborn babies. The program has saved over 300 newborn babies in Florida alone. We now have the Safe Haven signs on all our stations that are staffed 24/7.”
Woman Convicted Of Battery, Child Abuse In Death Of Her Daughter
July 29, 2023
Friday, an Escambia County woman was found guilty of battery and child abuse for an incident that claimed her daughter’s life in 2021.
Jessica Ann Caroline Bortle, 36, was originally charged with negligent manslaughter and aggravate child abuse for the death of 14-year old Jasmine Singletary inside Sacred Heart Hospital.
A jury returned a guilty verdict Friday on lesser charges of battery and child abuse.
Pensacola Police said Singletary — described as a special needs patient with a neuromuscular disorder — was in her room at Sacred Heart with her grandmother and Bortle.
Jasmine unexpectedly lost consciousness and stopped breathing, police said. Hospital staff began life saving procedures, but those efforts were unsuccessful and Jasmine died.
The autopsy showed that Jasmine had suffered massive injuries to her ribs and her liver. Those injuries were not present when she was admitted to the hospital.
Pensacola Police investigators said they determined that the injuries were caused by Bortle. An arrest report states told police that she “slammed the hospital table into Singletary’s abdomen and then leaned onto the table with her weight” after she became angry after Jasmine cussed at her over color crayons.
During her trial, Bortle maintained that it was all an accident.
Bortle is set to be sentenced on October 4. She remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Time Is Running Out For Free Dog And Cat Adoptions At The Escambia Animal Shelter
July 29, 2023
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare is participating in the Bissell Pet Foundation “Empty the Shelters” event through next Monday, July 31.
Adoptions for all cats and dogs 1 year or older will be free. Puppies will be available for $50 and kittens will be available for $25. An $11 licensing fee will be applied to all adoptions for Escambia County residents.
“We are proud to participate with Bissell for the first time for their ‘Empty the Shelters’ event,” said John Robinson, Director for the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare. “This will provide opportunities for all of our great dogs and cats to find their new families this summer. Adopting a pet not only gives our homeless animals a second chance, but also creates space that will allow our organization to help many other animals in need of temporary housing. We have a large number of animals available for adoption that will make a great addition to your family.”
The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center is located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 12-5 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m
Braves Top The Wahoos 4-1 Friday Night
July 29, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw their five-game winning streak come to a close on Friday night with a 4-1 loss to the Mississippi Braves.
Despite plenty of opportunities, the Blue Wahoos went 1-for-11 with men in scoring position and were victimized by some bad luck in yet another low-scoring game in Mississippi.
The Braves took the game’s first lead in the second on a solo home run from Drew Lugbauer and an RBI single from Beau Philip. Lugbauer’s home run was his 15th of the year, and 16th in his career against Pensacola to lead all active Southern League players.
Mississippi starter Nolan Kingham (W, 1-0) lived on the edge through 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing doubles to Will Banfield and Norel González that nearly cleared the outfield fence but stayed in the ballpark. He outdueled Blue Wahoos starter Jonathan Bermudez (L, 2-3), who allowed four runs over 5.0 frames in the loss.
Jesse Franklin V doubled the Mississippi lead to 4-0 in the fifth with a two-out, two-run double. The Blue Wahoos scored their lone run on a Dalvy Rosario RBI fielder’s choice in the seventh inning, and saw an eighth-inning rally come up short before Kyle Wilcox (S, 3) locked down the Braves win in the ninth.
Luarbert Arias struck out three batters in 2.0 hitless innings of relief for the Blue Wahoos in his Double-A debut.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Saturday.
written by Erik Bremer
Century Woman Refuses To Exit Plane, Runs Out Next To Pensacola Airport Runway, PPD Says
July 28, 2023
A Century woman was arrested after she became unruly on a plane and ran out to an area next to a runway, according to police.
Dorissa Louise Owens, 35, as charged with felony trespassing for violating a designated operational area of an airport.
Owens became unruly on an American Airlines flight on the ground at Pensacola International Airport this week and first refused to leave the aircraft, according to an arrest report. She reportedly borrowed a man’s cell phone and went to the back to the plane with it. After he wanted his phone back, Owens began to ask other passengers for their phone.
Owens was asked to leave the plane by a flight attendant, the pilot and an airline supervisor. Pensacola Police said Owen refused.
When officers arrived, Owens was still refusing but eventually exited the plane, PPD said.
While speaking to officers, Owens took off running down a breezeway and through a fire exit by Gate 5 and onto the ramp area next to the runway, the report states. Two officers caught up with her and took her into custody without further incident.
Owens remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond awaiting extradition on outstanding warrants from Denton, Texas, a Dallas suburb. According to court records in Denton County, Texas, Owens is wanted for failure to appear in a 2022 case in which she was indicted on two counts of harassment of a public servant, and two counts of assault on a peace officer or judge. All of the charges are felonies.
Walnut Hill Man Gets Over 7 Years In State Prison For 2021 Shots Fired Incident
July 28, 2023
A Walnut Hill man has been sentenced to prison for a 2021 shots fired incident in Pensacola.
Robert Douglas Green, 36, pleaded no contest and was found guilty this week of multiple counts of felony aggravated assault, deadly missiles, felony criminal mischief, and misdemeanor criminal mischief.
He was sentenced by Judge Coleman to 86.55 months (just over seven years and two months) in state prison, with credit for 728 days service while awaiting trial.
On July 7, 2021, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported shots fired incident at the Avery Street Grocery where deputies found 9 mm shell casings in the road and a Toyota with a shattered window. The clerk stated she was in the back room of the store when she heard multiple gunshots. She walked toward the front where she observed a female pulling and banging at the door. She watched surveillance of Green running toward an abandoned house adjacent to the store, the report states.
The victim told the ECSO that Green pulled up in a U-Haul and told her to get in with him, but she ran. When she refused to get in the U-Haul, Green pointed a handgun at her and pulled the trigger, according to the arrest report.
The report states the woman told deputies that she had only known Green for three weeks and “stopped talking to him because he’s crazy”.
The store was hit by gunfire, as was the clerk’s Toyota and a second vehicle, according to the ECSO.
Green remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond Friday morning.
Authorities Seek Information On Cantonment Illegal Dumping Suspect
July 28, 2023
Crime Stoppers is seeking information from the public on someone dumping illegally in the Cantonment area.
The suspect was caught on camera driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck with one notable feature — a black rim on the back passenger side and a silver rim on the front passenger side. Authorities believe the driver is from Cantonment.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Callers with a tip that is used can earn a reward up to $3,000.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friends Of The Library Big Summer Book Sale Is This Weekend
July 28, 2023
The Friends of the West Florida Public Library Big Summer Book Sale continues through the weekend.
Books, DVDs, audiobooks and CDs will be available, with the books sorted into categories to make it easier to find your favorites.
Saturday, July 29, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Half off day No admission fee.
Sunday, July 30 , 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. — $7 Bag Sale. No admission fee.
Credit and debit cards will be accepted.
The sale will be at the Downtown Library, 239 North Spring Street.
File photo.
Northview Chiefs Receive FHSAA Sportsmanship Award
July 28, 2023
The Florida High School Athletic Association has selected Northview High School as the Class 2A runner-up for the Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award.
FHSAA recognizes member schools that promote sportsmanship both on and off the field. The award is given to schools whose athletic teams demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship during the 2022-2023 regular season as well as FHSAA State Series competition. This year, 14 high schools and two middle schools received the prestigious award. Northview was the only Escambia County recipient.
“Northview’s coaches always instill in their athletes respect and class on and off the field,” Northview Athletic Director Obreonne Smith said. “The athletes, coaches, and community working together have made this award possible. Northview High School will continue to strive to ensure all programs are successful.”
The Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award is presented to one school in each classification whose total sports program best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship as demonstrated by its coaches, players and spectators. Awards are also given to a runner up within each classification. Criteria for selection of the winners includes programs and activities implemented within the school and community to promote sportsmanship; the number and type of exceptional sportsmanship reports; and the source of the nomination.
The award, presented annually since 1991, is named in honor of FHSAA Commissioner Emeritus Fred E. Rozelle.
Classification runners-up receive $500 and a commemorative plaque.
While Northview competes in Class 1R in football and 1A in other sports the Chiefs compete in Class 2A in sports including girls and boys track and field.
Pictured: Northview High Principal Mike Sherrill and Athletic Director Obreonne Smith with the Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.