Cantonment Man Charged With Late-Night Vehicle Burglary Attempt
June 4, 2026
A Cantonment man was arrested after allegedly prowling through a Pensacola mobile home park and attempting to break into vehicles.
Vontarius Lavont Gulley, 20, was charged with felony attempted burglary of an unoccupied unarmed conveyance and misdemeanor loitering and prowling. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $3,500 bond.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, deputies responded to the Oakstead Mobile Home Park on Massachusetts Avenue around 12:50 AM on May 29, 2026, following a report of a burglary in progress. A resident alerted dispatch after surveillance cameras captured two individuals in black clothing, hoodies, and masks walking through yards and pulling on vehicle door handles.
Upon arrival, deputies spotted two individuals running through the complex. While one suspect eluded law enforcement, deputies successfully detained Gulley on the west side of the property.
Home surveillance footage linked Gulley to the scene, showing him—identifiable by a specific logo on his jacket—approaching an SUV on the property and attempting to open the door. Investigators confirmed the targeted vehicle was unlocked, but nothing was reported missing.
According to the arrest report, Gulley admitted he traveled to the area specifically to enter vehicles.
Domestic Violence Arrested Leads FDLE To Charge Man For Child Porn
June 4, 2026
A 44-year-old Escambia County man has been charged with 20 child porn counts.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Ronnie Cooper, 44, for possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The arrest is part of FDLE’s statewide initiative to identify and apprehend offenders who target children and share files depicting child sexual abuse.
In March 2026, agents received Cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), reporting that an unknown user uploaded over 1,300 files containing images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Agents traced the associated IP address to Cooper’s residence and identified Cooper as the user of the account.
While under investigation by FDLE, Cooper was arrested on April 29 for a domestic violence battery charge by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Cooper allegedly got into a physical altercation with his girlfriend when he was discovered viewing child sexual abuse material on his laptop.
Agents obtained an arrest warrant for Cooper for 20 counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The warrant was served on Cooper in jail the same day.
Cooper remains in the Escambia County Jail with bod set at $213,000.
Escambia County Felon Indicted On Federal Gun, Drug Charges
June 4, 2026
An Escambia County felon has been indicted on federal gun and drug possession charges.
Joseph Jerome Reynolds, Jr., 31, was indicted for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
His jury trial is scheduled for July 6.
Reynolds, Jr. faces a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and up to three years’ imprisonment for each count of possession of a controlled substance.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Blue Wahoo Bats Go Quiet In 4-1 Loss
June 4, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped game 2 to the Chattanooga Lookouts Wednesday night by a final score of 4-1.
Alex Williams (L, 2-5) got the ball in game 2 and was quickly touched up in the first inning. Carlos Jorge, who would end his night with 3 hits, led things off with a single and quickly stole his 17th base of the season to get into scoring position. Two batters later, Cam Collier knocked a two-out, run scoring single into left field to give the Lookouts an early 1-0 lead.
Chattanooga’s opener, Nick Sando, would allow nothing after a leadoff single from Cam Cannarella, facing the minimum over his two innings of work. The Wahoos would strike back against Nate Peterson (W, 3-1) in the third. Peterson gave up a booming leadoff double to Garret Forrester, which was followed by a Dylan Jasso walk and an Emaarion Boyd single to load the bases with nobody out. Primed to do damage, Cannarella would send what looked like a sacrifice fly into left field, but a perfect throw home from Jay Allen II would cut down a tagging Forrester for a double play.
With men on second and third and two away, Aiva Arquette sent a single into center field that would score Dylan Jasso, but would see Emaarion Boyd get thrown out at the plate on a strike throw from Carlos Jorge. With two runners thrown out on the bases, the Wahoos had still managed to tie the game at 1-1.
This would be all the offense Pensacola could muster while the lookouts continued to put on runs. Two more would score on a two run single off the bat of Cam Collier in the 5th, giving him all three RBIs to that point. An inning later, the Lookouts would tack on another, this time off of Wahoos reliever Nigel Belgrave, when Carlos Jorge would bring in the 4th and final run on an RBI knock to give Chattanooga a 4-1 lead.
Pensacola would manage to get at least one man on base in innings 5-8, but was never able to capitalize on the Lookouts bullpen, who went a combined 7.0 innings allowing just one run. They would go down 1-2-3 in the 9th against Jonathan Lavallee (S, 3), putting the final nail in the coffin.
Relievers Jake Christianson and Michael Perez would make their Double-A and Blue Wahoos debuts and each pitch a scoreless, hitless inning.
Pensacola would fall to a 27-26 record while the Lookouts would jump to a 28-25 record.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Thursday.
written by Charlie Hobert
Legislature Approves Placing Homestead Property Tax Amendment On November Ballot
June 3, 2026
Both the House and Senate on Tuesday approved putting lower homestead property taxes on the November ballot, potentially keeping money in residents’ pockets while causing chaos with local budgets.
The measure, a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis, passed the House 75-26 and moved through the Senate on a 30-9 vote. Rep. Michelle Salzman, Rep. Alex Andrade and Sen. Don Gaetz all voted in favor.
If 60% of voters approve in November, the constitutional amendment will raise the homestead exemption from the current $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with future increases tied to the Consumer Price Index.
RELATED: Escambia County Braces For $94 Million Revenue Loss If Homestead Amendment Passes
The exception for school taxes won’t be included and will remain at $25,000.
New Florida residents won’t qualify for anything more than the $50,000 exemption until they have lived in their home for five years. For non-homestead properties, future value assessments will be capped at 5% per year instead of the current 10%.
Governments will be limited in how they can spend their remaining property tax revenue, restricting it to public safety, infrastructure, schools, debt service, pensions, county constitutional officers (like Elections Supervisors, Clerks of Court, and Property Appraisers), and essential local government operations or administrative costs.
RELATED: Century Stands To Lose About $10K A Year If Property Taxes Are Cut
Century Council, Mayor Donate $1,000 For Northview FFA State Convention Trip
June 3, 2026
The Northview High School FFA chapter received $1,000 in donations Tuesday night after requesting funds from the Century Town Council to attend the state FFA convention in Orlando later this month.
Numerous Northview FFA members will compete in several events, and nine students will be awarded their State FFA Degree — the highest FFA honor at the state level — and one will receive the American FFA Degree.
“What they are trying to do is build future leaders,” Council member John Bass said. “I would definitely like to be part of that as a council.”
The town council voted to contribute $750 from budgeted donation funds, and Mayor Ben Boutwell committed to a personal donation of $250.
“These are your future leaders,” Boutwell added.
Pictured: Northview FFA President Grace Oliver and member Jackson Simmons address the Century Town Council Tuesday night.NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Stands To Lose About $10K A Year If Property Taxes Are Cut
June 3, 2026
If voters approve a property tax cut in November, the impact on the Town of Century will be negligible because most of the town’s revenue is not generated by property taxes.
The impact on the town in the first year (FY 2027-2028) with a $150,000 homestead exemption is estimated at $9,320, according to an estimate by the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office. Under the full $250,000 exemption in the second year, Century would lose $10,823 based on the 2025 tax rolls.
RELATED: Legislature Approves Placing Homestead Property Tax Amendment On November Ballot
“As a homeowner, of course I don’t want to pay property taxes,” Century Council member Shelisa Abraham said Tuesday night. “As a council person, I realize we need that income to keep us going. For a small municipality of Cenutry, this will create a shorfall for us. You may have to cut local services or raise utility prices to make up for it.”
The current Century budget relies on property taxes for $59,680 for the general fund and $45,000 for the CRA, for a total of $104,680.
A majority of Century’s $9.2 million 2025 budget was funded by utilities at $2.11 million and grants at $5 million.
RELATED: Escambia County Braces For $94 Million Revenue Loss If Homestead Amendment Passes
Escambia County Braces For $94 Million Revenue Loss If Homestead Amendment Passes
June 3, 2026
If voters approve a homestead property tax amendment in November, Escambia County government will face a major reduction in revenue.
For Escambia County, it’s estimated that will be just over $38 million the first year and $56.2 million the second year, according to estimates from Escambia County Property Appraiser Bubba Peters and his staff, based upon the 2025 tax roll.
RELATED: Legislature Approves Placing Homestead Property Tax Amendment On November Ballot
“We been strategizing, planning different ways to make up for the shortfall,” Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno said on Tuesday afternoon. “Sometimes that is a reduction of services.”
West Florida Public Libraries will lose $2 million in year one and $3 million in year two.
For the City of Pensacola, it’s $7.2 million gone by the second year, and for Century that’s about $10,800.
The Escambia County Children’s Trust would see ad valorem revenue drop by $3.2 million in year two.
Schools will not be impacted and will be excluded from the increased homestead exemption.
RELATED: Century Stands To Lose About $10K A Year If Property Taxes Are Cut
Jessica Rhea Named Bratt Elementary Volunteer Of The Year
June 3, 2026
Jessica Rhea was named the Bratt Elementary School Volunteer of the Year. Rhea logged 172 volunteer hours during the last school year. Pictured: Bratt Elementary School Principal Amy McCrory (left) and Volunteer of the Year Jessica Rhea. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Deploys 43 New Artificial Reefs
June 3, 2026
Escambia County recently deployed 43 new artificial reefs, providing excellent habitats for marine life and adding even more local reef sites for anglers and divers to explore.
The reefs were deployed by the Escambia County Marine Resources Division and Walter Marine, with 217 concrete modules distributed across the 43 artificial reef locations.
Funding sources for the new artificial reefs included:
- $500,000 from Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment for 39 sites
- $60,000 from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Artificial Reef Program, funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration Program for three sites
One of the new artificial reefs was privately funded by friends and family of the late Capt. Robert Edward “Eddie” Lively, a local charter boat captain and lifelong deep sea fisherman who passed away in 2025.
These artificial reefs are constructed as part of an experimental design process, which provides opportunities for scientific research and insight into optimal designs for future artificial reef projects. The artificial reef experimental design process was a collaborative effort by the Escambia County Marine Resources Division, Escambia County Marine Advisory Committee, Santa Rosa County Environmental Department, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Sea Grant, University of West Florida, and Escambia High School science staff, teachers and students.
The location of the new artificial reefs is 4.5 nautical miles at 110 degrees from Pensacola Pass, with water depths of 45-55 feet.
Coordinates for the new artificial reefs are in the Escambia County Public Artificial Reefs List at myescambia.com/artificialreefs.
