Illegal Farm Worker Charged With Sexual Assault Of 11-Year Old In Walnut Hill
November 14, 2022
A former Walnut Hill farm worker is now in the Escambia County Jail, charged with the sexual assault on a victim under the age of 12 in a case that led to an Amber Alert back in July.
Brijido Manriquez-Ortiz, 43, was extradited from Laredo, Texas. If he is convicted as charged, he faces a maximum of the death penalty or a minimum of life in prison.
On July 28, an 11-year old girl was discovered missing from a home on Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill. Simmons said she was first believed to be in the company of Manriquez-Ortiz based on a note that was left behind and his relationship with her.
About two weeks prior, she was seen kissing Manriquez-Ortiz on the lips. He was employed by Steve’s Catfish Farm and she frequently went to the business, according to an arrest report. He was fired and given a ride to Atlanta, Georgia.
The father told NorthEscambia.com and investigators that he found a cut screen on their Walnut Hill home, and the girl was missing. She left a note behind indicating that she would be with Brijido-Ortez. According to an arrest report, she placed a call to Manriquez-Ortiz at 9:45 p.m. on July 27, and sexually explicit texts and photographs were sent back and forth between the victim and Manriquez-Ortiz.
A security camera at the Escambia Grain elevator nearly across the street recorded a white vehicle pulling into the victim’s home at 10:08 p.m. on July 27.
An Amber Alert was issued the following morning when the girl was found missing. Manriquez-Ortiz was located in Laredo, Texas, and questioned at the FBI office in Laredo. He remained in custody there until his extradition back to Escambia County.
The girl was located by law enforcement in Foley, Alabama, in a white truck that was previously reported stolen by Steve’s Catfish Farm. The victim was interviewed at Gulf Coast Kid’s House, The details of that interview were redacted from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, but it states that Manriquez-Ortiz and the victim had sexual intercourse.
Manriquez-Ortiz is a Mexican citizen and illegally remained in the United States after his work visa expired in 2020.
Pictured inset: The victim’s father showed NorthEscambia.com this window with a cut screen where he said his 11-year old daughter left their home with 43-year old Brijido Manriquez-Ortiz. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Battery of Two People Over Age 65
November 14, 2022
A Cantonment woman is accused of the battery of two people over age 65.
Wendy Jean Allen, 52, was charged with two counts of felony battery on a person 65 years of age or older in a domestic violence situation.
Allen stands accused of hitting her 69-year old mother in the face with a purse after the two got into an argument over a cell phone. Allen allegedly snatched the cell phone out of the victim’s hand before striking her with the purse.
Her 66-year old stepfather then attempted to make Allen leave the residence at which time Allen grabbed him by the shirt, according to an arrest report.
Allen’s mother had blood on her face at a cut on her finger, deputies said.
Allen remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday morning without bond due to a probation violation charge.
Operation Christmas Child Collections This Week At Highland Baptist, First Baptist Bratt
November 14, 2022
Highland Baptist Church in Molino and the First Baptist Church of Bratt are Operation Christmas Child collection sites.
The collection continue through Monday, November 21.
Churches can drop off their OCC boxes during the times below for them to be packed for processing.
Highland Baptist Church
- Monday, Nov. 14 – 1:30 – 3:30p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 15 – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 16 – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 17 – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 18 – 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 19 – 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 20 – 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 21 – 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The church is located at 6420 Highway 95A North in Molino. For more information, contact the church office at (850) 587-5174.
First Baptist Church of Bratt
- Tuesday, Nov. 15 – 9- noon
- Wednesday, Nov. 16 – 9- noon, 5 -8 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 17 – 3 – 6 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 18 – 9- noon
- Saturday, Nov. 19 – 9- noon
- Sunday, Nov. 20 – 4 – 7 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 21 – 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.
The church is located at 4570 West Highway 4 in Bratt.
Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts—filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys—to children worldwide since 1993. Anyone can pack a shoebox! In 2022, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
New Indoor Play Area Opens At Bratt Elementary School
November 14, 2022
A new covered play area and indoor multipurpose room at Bratt Elementary School are now open.
The first classes were held in the building on Friday.
The $2.1 million bid for facility construction contact was awarded in September 2021 to A.E. New, Jr., Inc. There were three other bidders, ranging from $2.134 million to $2.44 million.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
16 Escambia Schools To Share $1.5 Million In School Recognition Awards
November 14, 2022
Sixteen Escambia County schools will share in just over $1.5 million in School Recognition Awards recently announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
These awards are going to 1,400 schools across the state that demonstrated student growth and teaching excellence in the 2021-22 school year. To be eligible, schools must receive a school grade of “A” or improve at least one letter grade from the prior year.
Schools can use the funding for a variety of provisions, including:
- Bonuses to the faculty and staff;
- Educational equipment or materials to assist in maintaining and improving student performance; or
- Temporary personnel for the school to assist in maintaining and improving student performance.
The exact distribution of funds is determined by the school’s staff and school advisory council.
Schools in Escambia County receiving the award are:
- Molino Park Elementary School – $89,892
- Hellen Caro Elementary School – $124,076
- N.B Cook Elementary School – $95,244
- Cordova Park Elementary School – $111,898
- Navy Point Elementary School – $75,541
- Pensacola High School – $235,963
- A.K. Suter Elementary School – $94,417
- Warrington Elementary School – $57,793
- Workman Middle School – $133,692
- Holm Elementary School – $72,508
- Brown Barge Middle School – $94,937
- Lincoln Park Elementary School – $44,567
- Hope Horizon at Judy Andrews Center – $6,676
- West Florida High School – $216,652
- Pensacola Beach Elementary School – $24,487
- Escambia Virtual Academy – $44,489
UWF Football Earns No. 3 Seed, Will Host Limestone On Saturday
November 14, 2022
The University of West Florida football team was awarded the No. 3 seed in Super Region 2 of the 2022 NCAA Division 2 Football Championship as announced by the NCAA on Sunday.
UWF will face Limestone on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. at Pen Air Field on the UWF campus.
UWF is 9-1 on the year and shared the Gulf South Conference championship at 6-1 for the second-consecutive season. The Argos have one of the top offenses in the country, ranking tenth with 473.2 yards of total offense and seventh in rushing offense at 243.2 yards per game. Their 43.8 points per game are fourth nationally.
The Argonauts are making their fourth appearance in the NCAA Playoffs and have a 9-2 all-time record, making them the winningest team in D2 history at .818. UWF won the 2021 national championship and was the 2019 national runner-up prior to last year’s first round loss to Newberry. UWF is 53-20 in its history after starting play in 2016.
Limestone won a program-record eight games this season to finish 8-3 after going winless in 2021. The Saints went 7-2 in the South Atlantic Conference to tie four other schools for the top record in the league. UWF is 3-2 all-time against SAC programs.
TICKET INFORMATION
Ticket prices are $15 for Home Side chairback seats and $10 for East Side bleachers behind the visiting team bench. UWF student tickets are $5.
Tickets will go on sale Monday morning at 10 a.m.
PARKING INFORMATION
Tailgating and parking lots will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Season ticket holders with a parking pass in their package can use the blue NCAA Postseason Parking Pass that was included in your packet at the beginning of the season. All other game day parking will be $10 for cars and $40 for RVs. All RV parking is located in Lot 5.
Stadium gates will open at noon.
Pictured: The Argonauts have been four of the last five NCAA playoffs. Photo Morgan Givens/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Up 12 Cents Last Week
November 14, 2022
Florida gas prices jumped 12 cents per gallon last week. The state average increased from $3.46 per gallon last Monday to $3.58 on Thursday. However, the state average then slipped 2 cents by the weekend. Sunday’s state average was $3.56 per gallon.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $3.30. A low of $3.25 could be found Sunday night at several stations in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices were as low as $2.98 at the warehouse clubs.
“It appears that Florida gas prices have now fully adjusted to a recent oil price hike and the reinstatement of the state’s gas tax,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Oil and wholesale gasoline prices took a step back last week, which should cause gas prices to plateau.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Thanksgiving Food Distribution Held, Benefiting About 500 Families (With Gallery)
November 13, 2022
Hundreds of people received a helping hand Saturday during a Thanksgiving food distribution in Gonzalez.
Rep. Michelle Salzman, with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Ascend Performance Materials, International Paper, Florida Power & Light, Farm Share, The Butcher Shoppe, State Farm (Tyler Kercher), Gonzalez United Methodist Church, and many other community members sponsored the event.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Over 40 volunteers gave away boxes of food to almost 500 families, along with 320 chickens plus Thanksgiving goodies, and 300 Walmart gift cards.
Vehicles began to line up about 5 a.m. for the 30,000 pound distribution at the Gonzalez United Methodist Church.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Rotary Presents Two Culinary Scholarships
November 13, 2022
Cantonment Rotary Club Culinary Endowed Scholarships were present to two students at Pensacola State College. Cantonment Rotary’s Ray Ascherfeld and Tony Lee presented the scholarships to Savannah Barwick (left) and Heather Harvill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
It’s A Wrap: Blue Angels End 2022 Season With Pensacola Show (Photo Gallery)
November 13, 2022
The Blue Angels wrapped up their 2022 season Saturday with their homecoming air show aboard NAS Pensacola.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
