Funeral Service Held Saturday For ECSO Master Deputy Kevin Ray
October 22, 2022
A funeral service was held Saturday for Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Kevin Ray of Cantonment.
Ray passed away on October 15 when his vehicle was struck by an alleged drunk driver near Laurel Hill, Florida.
The graveside service took place Green Hills Memorial Cemetery in Troy, Alabama.
Ray’s daughter, Lauren, continues to recover in Florida hospital.
For the complete obituary, click or tap here.
Police Searching For Suspect In Second Bank Robbery Of The Week
October 22, 2022
Police are searching for the suspect in the second bank robbery of the week in Escambia County.
About 3:50 p.m. Friday, Pensacola Police responded to the robbery of the Wells Fargo on Bayou Boulevard.
A white male with short brown hair and brown eyes wearing a gray jacket robbed the bank, according to police. He was wearing a black mask
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1901 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
On Tuesday, the Hancock Whitney Bank on Creighton Road was robbed. A suspect was soon arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Ethics Commission Recommends Doug Underhill Be Removed From Office
October 21, 2022
The Florida Commission on Ethics Friday morning recommended that Gov. Ron DeSantis remove Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill from office and fine him $35,000.
The Ethics Commission found that Underhill misused his position by publicly sharing or publishing confidential transcripts, including minutes from Escambia County Commission shade meetings. A $10,000 fine was imposed for this offense.
The Commission recommended a fine of $6,250 for each of four ethics violations for soliciting donations from a county vendor or lobbyist, and gift disclosure laws.
The recommendation goes next to Gov. Ron DeSantis who can decide whether to enforce the order.
Underhill is expected to appeal.
Winning $57K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold At Beulah Store
October 21, 2022
Someone is over $57,000 richer today after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket at a Beulah convenience store.
The quick pick ticket sold at the Circle K at the corner of Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road was one of three winning tickets sold in Thursday night’s drawing and is worth $57,057.87. The other winning tickets were sold in Orlando and Odessa.
The 180 tickets matching four numbers won $153 each. Another 6,545 tickets matching three numbers are worth $11.50 each, and 66,642 ticket holders won a free ticket for picking two numbers.
Thursday’s winning numbers were 03-22-24-32-35.
Cantonment Man Arrested At Gunpoint After Ramming ECSO Vehicles
October 21, 2022
A Cantonment man was taken into custody at gunpoint after allegedly ramming his vehicle into two deputy vehicles in a Publix parking lot as they tried to arrest him on stalking warrants.
Russ Hines McNair, Jr., was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest with violence.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Unit was searching for McNair on outstanding warrants when they located him sitting in a Toyota Tundra in the parking lot of the Publix on Mobile Highway. Due to McNair’s previous history of fleeing from law enforcement, deputies pulled their vehicles in front of, and behind McNair’s vehicle, according to an arrest report. The emergency lights on both vehicles were activated.
McNair, 44, put his Tundra in reverse and rammed an unmarked ECSO Ford Explorer to the rear and drove forward into a marked ECSO vehicle, the report states. He then accelerated, causing his tires to spin, as he attempted to push the ECSO vehicle away.
McNair was then taken into custody at gunpoint.
He had multiple outstanding warrants for stalking and violating protective injunctions involving an adult female. Last Sunday and Monday, he sent the victim 42 text messages, called her 30 times and left several voicemails, according to court records. He also allegedly threatened to physically harm the victim.
McNair remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday without bond.
$2 Million Grant Will Benefit Arts Programs At 15 Escambia Schools
October 21, 2022
Students at 15 schools will benefit from a $2 million, 5-year arts education project.
“The All in for the Arts grant will grow a sustainable arts ecosystem that supports and develops students and teachers who champion the arts, leading to outcomes that extend beyond the four walls of the classroom,” said Escambia School Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith. This marks the 10 consecutive year the school district has received a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).
All in for the Arts will be implemented at Beulah, Blue Angels, Cook, Hellen Caro, Kingsfield, Navy Point, and Pleasant Grove elementary schools; Bailey, Beulah, and Brown Barge middle schools; Escambia, Tate, and West Florida high schools; Escambia Virtual Academy and Escambia Westgate.
Improved access to resources and opportunities, in tandem with elevated instruction, will afford rich arts experiences for students, according to the district. New extra-curricular tutoring and enrichment programs will provide learners avenues to hone their skills and further explore the arts.
Through supervised, paid internship opportunities, skilled high school arts students will engage young arts students at project middle schools, assisting with instructional activities while gaining valuable work experience
Bicyclist Shot And Killed In Molino
October 21, 2022
A bicyclist was apparently shot and killed Thursday evening in Molino.
It was first reported that a bicyclist had been struck by a vehicle about 5:40 p.m., but first responders arrived to discover that he had been shot, according to Morgan Lewis, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The incident happened on Cedartown Road southwest of Jahaza Road, near a bridge over Wilder Branch.
Lewis said the adult male suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased on the scene.
The man’s death on the is being investigated as a homicide. There were no suspects in custody at last report from the ECSO.
The area were the man was on a remote stretch of the road with no nearby homes.
This developing story will be updated with any additional information.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For Molesting Child
October 21, 2022
An Escambia County man was convicted Thursday and sentenced to life in prison on child sex charges.
Oscar Javier Amador was convicted of sexual battery of a victim less than 12, lewd or lascivious molestation on a victim less than 12, and four counts of sexual battery by a person in familial or custodial authority. Immediately following the verdict, Amador was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Coleman Lee Robinson to life in prison on all counts and was designated as sexual predator.
Testimony during the trial showed Amador sexually abused a child over a period of five years, from about age 10 to 15.
“This defendant was a predator that took advantage of an innocent child that should have been able to trust him. This sentence provides some much-needed closure to the victim and their family while further protecting any other innocent children,” said Carrie Gilmer, prosecuting attorney.
911, Communications Outages Reported In Escambia And Santa Rosa Counties
October 20, 2022
Officials in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are saying that a due a state or regional communications outage for some carriers, some residents may have difficulty reaching 911.
In Escambia County, callers unable to reach 911 can:
- Call Escambia County Emergency Communications at (850) 471-6310 or (850) 471-6300.
- Go to their nearest fire station to report the problem.
“The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s office has received information that telecommunication carriers are experiencing a major outage in the southern region of the US. Currently, our dispatch is not receiving calls consistently,” Jillian Durkin, public information office for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, said.
In Santa Rosa County, if 911 does not work, residents can call (850) 983-1131 for non-emergencies.
“If you are experiencing an emergency, please continue to call 911,” Durkin said.
Escambia Man Charged With Bank Robbery
October 20, 2022
An Escambia County man has been arrested for the robbery of a Pensacola bank on Tuesday.
Dwayne Carlton McDonald, 48, was charged with first degree felony robbery with a firearm and use of a firearm during a felony.
Investigators said McDonald was the man that walked into the Hancock Whitney Bank on Creighton Road near Davis Highway on Tuesday wearing a black ski mask, red jacket and a pair of sunglasses. He walked to the counter, said “this is urgent”, placed a gun on the counter, and demanded cash, according to an arrest report. The cash was placed in a white trash bag with a red drawstring.
He then allegedly walked to a maroon van parked nearby and fled.
Witnesses said McDonald is a regular customer at the bank, and they recognized both his “northern” accent and the Town Country van.
Wednesday, deputies conducted a traffic stop on McDonald as he was leaving his residence and found a white plastic trash trash bag with red drawstring, and he appeared to be wearing the same shoes as the bank robbery suspect.
Based upon information obtained during an interview with McDonald, deputies located a white trash bag in a dumpster at a liquor store in the 7400 block of Pine Forest Road. The bag contained the red jacket, black mask, gray t-shirt and black pants seen in the bank’s surveillance video.
Investigators later found the gun used in the robbery and recovered cash, an arrest report states.
McDonald remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $75,000.
