Man Charged With Cantonment Stabbing Around The Corner From Active Crime Scene
April 11, 2023
A Cantonment man has been charged with a Thursday night stabbing that occurred literally just around the corner from where a large Escambia County Sheriff’s Office presence was investigating a drive-by shooting.
Tommie Lee Bonner, Jr., 52, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was released on a $10,000 bond.
Deputies were on scene of the shooting off Shepherd Street when they received a call of a cutting victim in the 100 block of Calloway Street. Deputies arrived to find the victim in the ground saying he was stabbed, pointing toward Lewis Street. Bonner was located at the corner of Calloway and Lewis Streets and taken into custody. A folding knife was located nearby, according to an arrest report.
The victim suffered injuries to his thigh and chest that were consistent with being cut with a knife, the report states.
According to the report, a witness said he saw Bonner and the victim fighting near the street. The victim tried to get away, but Bonner followed. The witness said he then saw Bonner on top of the victim making stabbing motions.
According to the ECSO, Bonner and the victim are nextdoor neighbors.
The ECSO said the stabbing was unrelated to the shooting.
Escambia (AL) Deputy Fired, Charged With Have Sexual Contact With Inmate
April 11, 2023
An Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s deputy was fired and arrested after allegedly having sexual contact with an inmate.
Eric Glenn Lambeth, Jr. was charged with custodial sexual abuse and a felony ethics violation. He was released from jail on a $45,000 bond.
Sheriff Heath Jackson said his office received a complaint that Lambeth had sexual contact with an inmate who was being transported to jail.
“Lambeth was terminated from his position and transported to the Escambia County Detention Center,” Jackson said.
The sheriff said Lambeth previously worked at the jail and was transferred to patrol after attending the law enforcement academy in 2022.
Investigation Continues Into Cantonment Drive-by Shooting
April 11, 2023
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate a drive-by shooting Thursday night in Cantonment.
The woman was in her vehicle outside a home on Sheppard Street near Lincoln Street about 9 p.m. Thursday when she was shot in the face during the drive-by, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. She was transported by Escambia County EMS to a Pensacola hospital as a “trauma alert”. An update on her condition was not available.
According to the ECSO, she had just pulled up to her residence when multiple vehicles were struck by gunfire.
As of late Monday, there had been no arrests in the case.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
A man has been arrested for a stabbing that occurred in the same neighborhood about an hour later, but deputies said it was not related. Read more…
Pictured: The scene in Cantonment Thursday night after a woman was shot in the face during a drive-by shooting and one person was stabbed. Photos contest WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
District 5 Town Hall Discussion Dominated By Roads, Traffic And Growth
April 11, 2023
Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry held a District 5 town hall meeting Monday evening in Cantonment.
Most of the questions and comments centered around infrastructure issues — roads, traffic and development.
One citizen told Barry that he knows growth in the county is moving northward, but he was “just asking, please, just take common sense and dot it properly with a lot of infrastructure that is still not in place”.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Pictured: Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry held a town hall Monday evening at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man With 48 Prior Convictions Gets 30 Years On Firearm Charge
April 11, 2023
A career criminal that opened fire after becoming angry about a car that cut in front of him at a lounge and opened fire has been sentenced to state prison.
Christopher Alexander Sidener was sentenced to 30 years for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Jude Linda Nobles found that Sidener qualified as a habitual felony offender and imposed the maximum 30 year sentence. Nobles cited Sidener’s 48 previous criminal convictions and the clear danger that he posed to the community.
In March of 2022, Sidener became angry and opened fire while in the drive through lane at Chaser’s Lounge and Liquor Store, because a car cut in front of him, according to the State Attorney’s Office and law enforcement.
Escambia Fire Lt. Steve Bode Retires After 32 Years
April 11, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue Lt. Richard “Steve” Bode has retired after 32 years of service to Escambia County.
Bode began his career with Escambia County in November of 1989 as a part-time EMS paramedic and went full-time on March 5, 1990. Bode transitioned to Escambia County Fire Rescue in 2000 as a Fire Lieutenant, where he served most of his tenure. During his time with ECFR, he remained a part-time paramedic for EMS for an additional 15 years.
Throughout his public safety career, Bode has worked during multiple emergency activations, including mutual aides, hurricanes, tornadoes, oil spills, ice storms, floods, the COVID-19 pandemic and several other local disasters affecting the citizens of Escambia County.
He attained his fire officer certification and has served as an alternate or acting battalion chief. He has spent many years mentoring and training fire personnel in basic and advanced life-saving emergency medical care and certifying paramedics in advance airway and critical care.
During his career, Bode responded to cardiac arrest events and other complicated medical emergencies. During one of those calls, he is credited with saving the life of a Navy pilot that was struck by a vehicle on Perdido Beach. The pilot remains in contact with Bode.
“Lt. Bode has had an amazing career stretching beyond his time as a career firefighter,” said Deputy Fire Chief Paul Williams. “Beyond being hired by ECFR, Steve was a volunteer firefighter at our Pensacola Beach fire station. In addition to the lives he’s saved, he has numerous surf rescues as well. Steve was also known for his abilities as a paramedic, having saved numerous lives in that capacity. His many, many years of service and talent will leave a void in the organization. We wish Steve the best in his well-deserved retirement.”
Century Woman And Her Dog Rescued After Hitting Semi In Cantonment
April 10, 2023
A Century woman and her dog were trapped in their vehicle after crashing into a semi-truck early Monday morning in Cantonment.
The 42-year old woman hit a semi pulling a flatbed trailer and attached forklift about 5 a.m. on Highway 29 at Morris Avenue, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Firefighters from the Cantonment station of Escambia County Fire Rescue were quickly able to extricate both from the vehicle.
The woman was transported to a Pensacola hospital by Escambia County EMS, and animal control was called for the dog. There was no word on their conditions.
Pictured: A Century woman and her dog were trapped in this vehicle after it ran under a flatbed semi trailer (bottom photo) early Monday morning in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barber and others, click to enlarge.
Alabama State Trooper Shot Sunday Night; One Suspect Dead, Two Others Injured
April 10, 2023
The Alabama state trooper shot Sunday night in Escambia County (AL) has been identified as Cpl. Jeremy Alford. One suspect is dead, and two others were injured.
“I can confirm that there was a shooting in our county that involved a trooper, and he was injured ,” Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson told NorthEscambia.com. “We are praying for him and his family.”
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said Alford attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation near the 101 mile marker on I-65 in Conecuh County. The driver attempted to elude, and a pursuit followed. The chase continued south on I-65 nearly 25 miles to the Brewton exit and then traveled south on Highway 41.
The suspect vehicle left the roadway where the officer-involved shooting occurred along Highway 41 near Emmons Road, about seven miles south of I-65, or about eight miles north of the Brewton city limits.
Alford was transported to an area hospital for treatment. ALEA said one suspect was killed, and two others were injured and transported to an area hospital.
“After visiting with Cpl. Alford and his family this morning, I am extremely relieved and thankful to share that he is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery,” said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor. “Cpl. Alford acted with true courage and heroism over the course of the incident and was able to secure the scene and ensure public safety while injured. With nearly three decades in law enforcement, Cpl. Alford is a true professional and public servant, dedicated to keeping the citizens of his local community and the State of Alabama safe. I ask that you please continue to keep Cpl. Alford and his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers as we all look forward to a speedy recovery.”
ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation special agents are investigating the officer involved shooting. ALEA said the investigation is ongoing and the results will be presented to the Escambia County (AL) District Attorney’s Office.
Further details, including the names of the suspects, have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
More Lifeguards For Escambia Beaches? Leaders React After Multiple Rescues (With Gallery)
April 10, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to over a dozen water rescues in the last week — a few on Pensacola Beach but most on Perdido Key.
On Thursday, at least four people were transported to the hospital from Perdido Key.
There are no lifeguards on Perdido Key until Memorial Day; the federal government pays for Escambia County lifeguards on Johnson’s Beach.
That has led to discussion among county officials about adding more lifeguards on Perdido Key.
Photo Gallery: Lifeguards And Surfers On Pensacola Beach
“We have never provided lifeguards at our very small footprint access points on Perdido Key–although we do have signage warning of dangerous rip currents,” Commissioner Jeff Bergosh wrote on his blog “With miles and miles of Federal, State, and privately owned beaches out there–we have a total of a little over 500 feet of publicly accessible, county owned beaches for use. So our (county) footprint is miniscule out there juxtaposed with the miles and miles of shoreline controlled by others. Nevertheless– We will be adding signage explaining that no lifeguards are present and swimmers must ‘Swim at their own risk’ at our access points in the weeks ahead. We will also add additional flagpoles at each access point and will have our fire station’s crew add the appropriate flag daily at our access points for visitor awareness.”
“When people go out to those beaches, they swim at their own peril,” Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore said. “But we do have signage out there for people to understand rip currents. We have a flag system to understand what the conditions are.”
“We all must know our limitations–and must do our best to inform visitors of these dangers,” Bergosh added.
Escambia County offers the following information about rip currents:
Rip currents are the greatest danger to beach patrons and account for more than 80 percent of water rescues performed by surf rescue lifeguards. Rip currents cause more deaths each year than shark attacks do each decade. The best defense against drowning is knowing how to swim. Swimming in a pool is not the same as swimming at a surf beach with crashing waves, winds and dangerous currents. The conditions in the Gulf of Mexico can change very quickly, and you should be a strong swimmer before entering the water.
What is a Rip Current?
Rip currents are powerful channels of water that are caused by breaks in the sandbar just offshore. Currents flowing away from the coast move fastest where the sandbar is reduced or not present and the water is deeper. Always swim near a lifeguard and ask them where it is safest to swim. If lifeguards are not present, attempt to stay on the sandbars and avoid the area between sandbars where the water color is typically darker. Avoid swimming near piers and jetties where permanent rip currents are present.
How to Escape
If you become caught in a rip current, escape by swimming sideways to the direction the current is pulling you, or parallel to shore. If you cannot swim out of the rip or the current is too strong, go with the flow offshore and the rip current will weaken. Then, swim back to shore at an angle away from the rip current.
Photo Gallery: Lifeguards And Surfers On Pensacola Beach
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Man Charged With Twice Stealing From Sporting Goods Retailer, Returning Items For A Refund
April 10, 2023
A Jay man is accused of twice stealing merchandise from a Pensacola sporting goods store and then returning them for a refund.
Brooks Leon Wolfe, 39, was charged with two counts of retail petit theft and two felony counts of dealing in stolen property. He was released on a $15,000 bond.
On January 17, Wolfe entered Academy Sports and Outdoors on North Davis Highway empty handed, according to investigators. He then took a Gerber Strongarm knife worth $86.03 and a CenterPoint rifle scope valued at $59.97 off the shelves and took them to the customer service desk for a refund, his arrest report states. Since he did not have a receipt, he was given a card with a $146 store credit. Deputies said he provided his driver’s license to customer service in order to obtain the store credit.
On January 24, he returned to Academy Sports and took a Yeti cooler, deer camera and a knife valued at a total of $338.61 and again received store credit, investigators said. He later came back and made a purchase with the store credit of $187, for a total alleged theft of $525.61. Again, he had provided his driver’s license in order to receive the store credit.
Wolfe was arrested March 31 at a business on Longleaf Drive.