Leaders Discuss Escambia Gun Violence Solutions
October 19, 2022
Tuesday night, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office hosted a Gun Violence Round Table event to address gun violence and explore potential solutions.
Sheriff Chip Simmons said there have been 25 homicides so far this year, but none of them have been random, and none have been gang-related. The increase is not across the board; he said the number of violent crimes like aggravated assaults, robberies and sexual batteries not increasing.
“You may hear that crime is going up and up but statistically, that is not true in every benchmark,” Simmons said during the event at the Brownsville Community Center. “I can tell you that these numbers that are considered violent crime are at or below last year’s level.”
“When a gun discharges, we are missing a lot of shots fired calls because people become so immune to it in their community that they just figure that nothing can be done about it. That’s unacceptable,” Pensacola Police Chief Eric Randall said.
The group, consisting of city, county and state officials, agreed that it will take time to find the ultimate answer to gun violence in Escambia County. They plan to schedule additional meetings to work toward executing solutions.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
VFW Essay Contest Winners Named
October 19, 2022
Savanna Hudson has been named Northview High School’s winner of the Atmore VFW Post 7016 essay contest.
Second and third place winners of the “Why The Veteran Is Important” themed contest were Tyler Carach and Samantha Minchew. English teacher Vicki Baggett organizes the event for Northview, and selected teachers grade the essays.
They will now compete with other students from the area for scholarship opportunities.
Pictured: (L-R) Samantha Mitchell, Tyler Carach and Savanna Hudson. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With DUI, Felony Grand Theft Of A Stop Sign
October 19, 2022
A Cantonment man charged with DUI and felony grand theft for allegedly stealing a stop sign after crashing into it.
Dean Micah Hatcher, 20, was charged with DUI, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage and grand theft of a stop sign.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a prowler complaint on Old Bridge Road in Cantonment. He arrived to find Hatcher behind the wheel of a red GMC truck that was idling stationary with the rear half of the vehicle in the road and the front half in a driveway. The deputy also observed two stop signs in the back of the truck, a ong with the street signs for the intersection of Annie Bell Drive and Earl Gene Road. One of the stop sign poles had paint transfer from the truck that was consistent with damage to the front of the truck, all according to an arrest report.
The deputy and a responding Florida Highway Patrol Trooper both noted in the report that they could smell the odor of alcohol on Hatcher’s breath. A field sobriety test was conducted, and he was placed under arrest. He was released on a $4,000 bond.
Under Florida law, the theft of any stop sign is a felony offense.
Northview And Tate Fall In District Volleyball Tournament Play
October 19, 2022
Both Northview and Tate fell in district volleyball tournament play Tuesday.
In 6A District 1, Gulf Breeze defeated Tate in three straight, 25-17, 25-11, 25-9. Navarre will be at Gulf Breeze Thursday night for the district championship
The Aggies finished their season at 13-14 overall.
In 1A District 1, Baker beat Northview in three straight, 25-6, 25-17, 25-11.
Jay defeated Central 3-2 to advance to the district championship Thursday night against Baker.
Northview’s season ended at 6-11.
Pictured: Gulf Breeze at Tate earlier this season. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gonzalez Farm Share Thanksgiving Food Distribution Planned For November 12
October 19, 2022
Rep. Michelle Salzman, Farm Share and other community partners are sponsoring a Thanksgiving food distribution on Saturday, November 12 in Gonzalez.
The event begins at 8 a.m. and will continue while supplies last (minimum of 300 families) at the Gonzalez United Methodist Church.
“Feeding the community has been one of our office’s top priorities. The north end of our county has many unique challenges, one being the lack of access to community-based resources. Providing a Thanksgiving meal to our families will be a much-needed blessing this holiday season,” Salzman said.
The food distribution will include fresh food from Farm Share, a donated whole chicken from The Butcher Shoppe, and the traditional holiday sides such as cranberry sauce, corn, stuffing, green beans and more.
The distribution is made possible by partners including Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry, Florida Power & Light, International Paper, Tyler Kercher with State Farm, Aaron Erskine, A Foundation for Hope and more.
This Thanksgiving food distribution site will be drive-thru with a designated space for walk-up. Vehicles may line up no earlier than 7:30 a.m. on the day of the event. To volunteer, call volunteer coordinator Jennifer Harrison at (850) 741-6024 or email Jennifer.Harrison@myfloridahouse.gov.
Pictured: A Farm Share food distribution on July 30 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Deputies Searching For Armed Bank Robbery Suspect In Escambia County
October 18, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for an armed robbery suspect that held up a bank Tuesday afternoon.
The robbery occurred at the Hancock Whitney Bank on Creighton Road, near North Davis Highway, shortly before 3 p.m.
Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Escambia, Florida, Attempted Murder Suspect Arrested In Atmore In Domestic Violence Incident
October 18, 2022
An Escambia County, Florida, attempted murder suspect was arrested Tuesday in Atmore on a domestic violence charge.
Atmore Police responded to the 100 block of Marshall Avenue Tuesday morning where a woman told them that her boyfriend, 38-year old Jason Wayne Coleman of Pensacola, struck her and grabbed her by the neck. Officers said she suffered scratches on her neck and arms.
After Coleman was taken into custody, officers found that he was wanted for attempted murder by the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office.
According to ECSO, Coleman has an outstanding warrant for attempted murder for a September 25 shooting on Rampart Way. An adult male was found outside a home with a single gunshot wound about 2:30 a.m. The victim in that shooting survived.
Coleman was charged by Atmore Police with domestic violence third degree and booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center as a fugitive from justice pending an extradition hearing on the attempted murder charge.
Time Running Out For Nonprofits To Apply For United Way Certification
October 18, 2022
Time is running out for local nonprofits to apply for agency certification from United Way of West Florida. The deadline for applications is October 21 at 5 p.m.
Applications are open to nonprofit organizations in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Becoming a certified partner agency is required for any organization planning to apply for funding from United Way of West Florida in January of 2023. Agencies must reapply for certification every year. Certification does not guarantee funding.
Agencies not seeking funding from United Way can also benefit from certification, according to the organization. It confirms that an organization has been thoroughly vetted and meets United Way of West Florida’s standards for transparency, financial health, and governance.
Agencies can find more information online at uwwf.org/agency-certification.
Report Details Allegations Against Suspected Drunk Driver That Killed Escambia Deputy
October 18, 2022
A Florida Highway Patrol report obtained by NorthEscambia.com details the allegations against a suspected drunk driver that struck and killed an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy Saturday night while critically injuring his teenage daughter.
Master Deputy Kevin Ray of Cantonment and his 15-year old daughter were traveling from Troy, Alabama, when the crash occurred on Highway 85 just east of Laurel Hill, Florida, at 8:40 p.m.
Tristen Cole Parker, 26, failed to stop at a stop sign, and his bucket truck struck an oncoming silver Jeep driven by Ray.
Parker was charged with negligent DUI vehicular manslaughter, DUI with serious bodily injury and driving with a suspended license habitual offender.
Ray was pronounced deceased at the scene and his daughter was airlifted to an area hospital. The 2012 white Dodge bucket truck driven by Parker overturned multiple times, destroying utility poles before coming to rest in a field in the southwest corner of the intersection.
“There were beer cans near the passenger door of the Dodge truck that were in the pickup and thrown while overturning,” the investigating trooper wrote in the report.
“When the witness rolled up on the crash, Tristen Cole Parker had self-extricated from his vehicle but identified himself as the sole occupant and operator of the suspect vehicle,” the report states. “While being treated on scene by Okaloosa County Fireman Paramedic (redacted), Tristen Cole Parker admitted to consuming 3 to 4 alcohol beverages prior to the collision. (The paramedic) also smelled an odor of alcohol coming from Tristan Cole Parker while he was speaking.”
Parker was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
“During conversation with Tristen Cole Parker, Mr. Parker spontaneously uttered to (the trooper) that he had 2 or 3 ‘beers’ prior to the collision’,” the report continues. Despite initial consent for a voluntary blood draw, Parker refused to provide the blood sample when hospital staff arrived in his room.
A FHP traffic homicide investigator also noted that Parker had bulged eyes, slurred speech, a dry mouth, thick tongue, flushed face and smelled of alcohol in the emergency room. The investigator said Parker had labored breathing, slow deliberate movements and repeated himself.
FHP said Parker’s certified driving record from Texas showed multiple convictions for driving with suspended license in that state.
Ray had been a member of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office family for over 20 years. He had been assigned to courthouse security for over a decade.
A Year Later, Emergency Rental Assistance Still Available For Escambia County Residents
October 18, 2022
Escambia County residents struggling to pay rent and utilities due to COVID-19 can still apply for help from the Escambia County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The program opened a year ago.
The application portal is now open and available clicking or tapping here. Call (850) 403-6044 to make an appointment for in-person assistance, or see a list of libraries below.
Emergency rental assistance may be provided to eligible low-income Escambia County residents and families who:
- Have been financially impacted by COVID-19;
- Have total household income at or below 80% Area Median Income;
- Are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
- Have not received any other rental assistance for the requested months
Both the renter and the landlord must submit an application through the portal. Reimbursement will be paid directly to the landlord or utility provider. View eligibility requirements and see if you qualify here.
The program can cover up to 12 months of overdue or late rent and utility bills for households in Escambia County. Additional details for rental assistance for landlords and renters can be found at MyEscambia.com/erap.
Escambia County has received the following allocations:
- $9,611,771 from the Consolidated Appropriations Act
- $7,605,344 from the American Rescue Plan
Escambia County ERAP Policies and Procedures are in alignment with the U.S Treasury Department’s guidelines (full policies and procedures).
Email ERAP@myescambia.zendesk.com or call (850) 403-6044 with any questions.
Citizens may use the computers at the following public libraries to complete their application:
- Century Branch Library – 7991 N. Century Blvd., Century
- Molino Branch Library – 6450-A Hwy. 95A, Molino
- Tryon Branch Library – 1200 Langley Ave., Pensacola
- Genealogy Branch Library – 5740 N. Ninth Ave., Pensacola
- Pensacola Library – 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola
- Southwest Branch Library – 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- Westside Branch Library – 1301 W. Gregory St., Pensacola