FHP Highway 29 Pursuit Ends With Crash And Arrest
December 7, 2023
A Florida Highway Patrol pursuit on Highwya 29 ended with a crash and arrest Wednesday.
A Florida Highway Patrol Trooper was stopped at a red traffic light on Pensacola Boulelvardd at W Street, when he observed a newer model Nissan Altima directly in front of him with dark tinted windows. He attempted a traffic stop for the tint violation.
The driver, later identified as Antoine Vonche Booker, rapidly accelerated and swerved left towards a K9 Trooper’s vehicle who just arrived to assist with the traffic stop. The driver then swerved right into a Circle K gas station located at 7950 Pensacola Blvd. As the vehicle entered the parking lot, the trooper observed what appeared to be a Ziploc type bag with a light-colored powdery substance being tossed out of the window, and a a pursuit followed.
The driver continued traveling through the Circle K parking lot northbound at a high rate of speed towards Broad Street. By this time the K-9 Trooper became primary in the pursuit as the vehicle turned onto Pittman Ave from Broad Street. The driver continued south on Pittman Ave then east on Hope Drive. Troopers said booker then ran a posted stop sign and turned right to continue south on Palafox St. The driver continued southbound at a high rate of speed with a willful and wanton disregard for the motoring public’s safety as he continued to disobey traffic control signals, passed other innocent motorist in a no passing zone and drove on the wrong side of the roadway multiple times. The driver then continued south and attempted to turn right into the Taco Rock 29 parking lot (5454 Pensacola Blvd) where he collided with a curb, and the vehicle overturned.
Booker immediately exited the vehicle through the rear window and surrendered. He was later transported to Escambia County Jail and charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding with property damage (rental vehicle), possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of a machine gun (Glock modified to fire full-auto) and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
Rain By The Weekend
December 7, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 57. South wind around 10 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 52. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
McDavid Man Charged With Fighting With Deputies Attempting To Arrest Him
December 7, 2023
A McDavid man is facing additional charges after allegedly resisting arrest and fighting with Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Deputies went to a residence on C.W. Carraway to arrest Haden Brock Howard, 29, on two outstanding warrants for failure to appear on charges of possession of a firearm by convicted felon and as a habitual traffic offender.
They located Howard and gave him several loud commands to surrender, but he refused, according to an arrest report. He continued to fight deputies, and he was forcibly placed on the ground where he refused to comply.
“Due to Howard’s resistance, I delivered several closed fist strikes to his face and delivered a knee strike to his rib area to gain compliance,” a deputy wrote in his report. After another deputy delivered several strikes, Howard complied and was detained.
Howard was transported to Baptist Hospital for evaluation. A deputy sustained a small cut to his finger that did not require medical attention.
In addition to the outstanding warrants, Howard was charged with resisting arrest with violence. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
ECSO Seeks Armed Robbery Suspect
December 7, 2023
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to identify an armed robbery and aggravated assault suspect. The incident occurred November 19 at a store in the 4500 block of W Street.
He is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 850-433-STOP or the ECSO at 850-436-9620.
FHSAA Honors Tate Girls Golf, Volleyball Teams As Academic Champions
December 7, 2023
Tate High School’s girls golf team has been named the Florida High School Athletic Association’s 3A Academic Team Champions for the fall of 2023-24. The team’s unweighted GPA was 3.876.
Also, the Tate girls volleyball team finished in 7th place for class 6A teams. Their team unweighted GPA was 3.683.
Each classification winner receives a commemorative plaque.
Byrneville Elementary School Presents Annual Christmas Musicals (With Gallery)
December 7, 2023
Byrneville Elementary School presented their annual Christmas musicals this week under the direction of Elaine Holk.
The K-2 musical and 3rd-5th musicals were presented at Grace Fellowship Church in Atmore.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Receives $1.4 Million For Downtown Area Sewer Improvements
December 7, 2023
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management on Wednesday announced $1.4 million in financial assistance for West Escambia Utilities using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act for sanitary sewer system improvements in the downtown Atmore area.
The project consists of sanitary sewer line inspection by a closed-circuit TV to locate defects. Sewer lines would be rehabilitated by internal lining with a cured-in-place liner and/or physical removal and replacement of defected sewer lines. Service lines will be reinstated by internally opening up the liner at each service location. Completion of this project will provide for an improvement to the sanitary sewer system.
Coffee Shop Announced For Molino
December 7, 2023
A coffee shop is coming to Molino.
Cozy Corner Grooming and Boarding is building a new pet grooming facility and leasable retail space at 4178 Highway 29 on two adjacent lots totaling 1.82 acres between the Florida Forest Service fire tower to the south and Highway 196 to the north.
Cozy Corner announced Tuesday on social media that The Parking Latte Cafe “will be parking for good at the other Corner of Cozy Corner with a drive-through and indoor service”.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suspect In Custody After Bomb Threat At NAS Pensacola
December 6, 2023
Navy Security Forces (NSF) in conjunction with Pensacola area law enforcement agencies responded to a bomb threat at approximately 9:35 a.m. Dec. 6 onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola.
No one was injured. The individual suspected of making the threat has been apprehended, but a name has not been released.
NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Terry Shashaty lauded the efforts of NSF and responding local law enforcement agencies during the hour-long incident.
“The security and safety of the service members, civilian employees and visitors to Naval Air Station Pensacola remains our top priority,” he said. “The professionalism of our Naval Security Forces is unparalleled and the partnership we share with local law enforcement is critical in ensuring the safety of both the installation and surrounding communities.”
The suspected bomb threat came four years to the day after the shooting onboard the installation.
“This incident unfortunately occurred on the fourth anniversary of the shooting here, but these two incidents are unrelated,” Shashaty said. “Our Naval Security Forces personnel are highly trained, and responded to the suspected incident quickly and efficiently.”
Both gates to NAS Pensacola have since re-opened.
No Injuries Reported In Highway 29, Highway 97 Crash
December 6, 2023
There were no injuries reported in a two vehicle crash Wednesday morning at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
The driver of a passenger car apparently failed to stop and ran under a utility trailer being pulled by a van.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Babour, click to enlarge.
