FDLE Investigating Death Of Inmate From Escambia County At Blackwater Correctional
August 3, 2022
The death of an inmate from Escambia County is under investigation at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility in Milton.
Andrew Alexander Thompson, 35, died on July 27, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. A cause of the death has not been released due to an ongoing investigation by FDLE and the Office of Inspector General.
Thompson was sentenced in March to 45 years in prison on 12 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of sexual activity involving animals.
The charges stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. During the execution of a search warrant at Thompson’s home, law enforcement found multiple hard drives, a phone, and a computer that contained child pornography. It was later determined that the he possessed over 2,000 images and videos of child pornography.
During the course of the investigation, it was found that Thompson recorded himself participating in sexual activity with a dog in the home.
After the trial, prosecuting attorney Carrie Gilmer stated, “Based off of everything discovered during this investigation, this defendant posed a serious danger to the community. This sentence was needed to protect and prevent the continued victimization of children.”
Blackwater is a private prison under contract with the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS), according to Deputy Communications Director Molly Best with FDC
“We can confirm that an inmate died at Blackwater River Correctional Facility on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 and the incident is under investigation by Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) with assistance from the Office of Inspector General,” Debbie Hall with DMS stated in an email to NorthEscambia.com.
One Injured In Highway 97 Rollover Crash Early Wednesday Morning
August 3, 2022
One person received minor injuries in a single vehicle rollover crash early Wednesday morning in Walnut Hill.
A pickup truck left the roadway and overturned in a ditch on Highway 97 just south of North Highway 99 about 3:30 a.m.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Early Morning Fire Heavily Damages McDavid Home
August 3, 2022
Fire heavily damaged a home in McDavid early Wednesday morning.
The fire was reported about 4:30 a.m. in the 1500 block of North Century Boulevard, about 1.5 miles north of the McDavid Fire Station.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find flames from a window and heavy smoke coming from the eaves of the home. The occupant of the home was able to escape the fire without serious injuries.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Northbound Highway 29 was completely closed for about an hour as firefighters worked.
The McDavid, Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, along with the Flomaton Fire Department and Escambia County EMS.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Hitting Woman With Bar Stool, Punching Her
August 3, 2022
A Cantonment man was charged after allegedly hitting a woman in the head with a bar stool and punching her.
Dimitiri DyShawn Bryant, 43, was charged with felony aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, and misdemeanor battery.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she was working in a food trailer on Highway 29 when she heard a door open. When she turned around, Bryant threw a wooden bar stool, hitting her in the head before punching her in the face and ripping hair from her head, according to an arrest report.
A deputy noted that had injuries consistent with her allegations, and hair was on the floor of the food trailer. Bryant is the son of the food trailer owner and had dated the victim in the past, the report notes.
In an unrelated incident involving a second victim, Bryant was charged with battery after he allegedly grabbed a woman and held her down against her will at a residence on Moreno Court. He also punched her in the face, and bit her on the chest and arm, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Bryant was released on a $2,000 bond.
Century Spends Large Chunk Of American Rescue Plan Funds On Sewer Equipment
August 3, 2022
The Century Town Council voted Tuesday night to spend a large portion of the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds they’ve received so far on wastewater equipment.
For an even $200,000, Century will buy a vacuum trailer, bypass pump, a water pump and a “jetter trailer” with sewer machine and camera system. A jetter trailer uses high pressure water to clear sewage blockages.
Century has received $462,287.83 in APRA funds to date, and a second payment of the same amount is being processed.
The funding is fairly significant for the town. Century has a $5.7 million budget for fiscal year 2021-2022, with a large part of that coming from grants.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Woman, 72, Convicted Of Shooting Neighbor Six Times
August 3, 2022
A 72-year old Escambia County woman has been convicted of attempted second degree murder.
Yagaunda Grace Buschbaum shot her neighbor six times at Myrtle Grove Villas on Lillian Highway. He survived critical injuries.
Three days before the shooting, Buschbaum made a false complaint of burglary against the victim, resulting in a warrant for his arrest. On the night of the shooting, she called law enforcement to come serve the warrant. Before law enforcement arrived, Buschbaum lured the victim closer to the back door of her apartment under the pretense of giving him a gift, then shot him six times and claimed he was trying to break into her apartment.
“Buschbaum had developed romantic feelings for him and he believes wanted a relationship with him, but he had zero interest,” according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. She allegedly tried to kiss him, but he was forced to physically stop her.
Buschbaum will be sentenced in late November. She faces up to life in prison and must serve a mandatory minimum of 25 years.
Dozens Receive Driver’s License Services In Century, Mobile Unit To Return
August 3, 2022
Despite heavy rain, Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford was pleased with the turnout for the Florida Licensing On Wheels (FLOW) mobile office in Century on Tuesday.
The event was a partnership between Lunsford and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse on North Century Boulevard.
There were nine driver’s license and four identification transactions process Tuesday. In addition there were 24 tags processed, with others to be completed on Wednesday.
Lunsford said the FLOW mobile will return to Century later this year.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Groundbreaking Held For New Skatepark
August 3, 2022
The City of Pensacola broke ground Tuesday for a new skatepark.
The Blake Doyle Skatepark at Hollice T. Williams Park will include about 25,000 square feet of skateable surface area for skaters of all ages and skill levels. The skatepark will feature a beginner area, multilevel skate plaza, and two skate bowls, along with an additional 5,700 square feet of surrounding sidewalk and gathering areas.
“I know there are so many people in our community who have been waiting for this day,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “I’m incredibly excited to see the Blake Doyle Skatepark project take this monumental step toward becoming a reality, and I’d like to thank everyone who worked together to make this happen. I look forward to providing our skating community a dedicated place to skate right here in the City of Pensacola.”
Additional improvements through the project will include stadium seating, sidewalks, concrete gathering areas and artificial turf areas, benches, multi-colored concrete, trash cans and a small stage area.
Construction of the Blake Doyle Skatepark is expected to be completed in summer 2023, weather permitting.
Blue Wahoos Rained Out At Montgomery
August 3, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Montgomery Biscuits saw their series opener postponed due to rain at Riverwalk Stadium on Tuesday night.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday, with game one of the twin bill scheduled to begin at 4:30.
The Blue Wahoos and Biscuits return to play on Wednesday. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Century Loses Bond Agency Deal That’s Made Them $1.8 Million By Approving Nearly $4 Billion In Projects
August 2, 2022
Century has lost a deal that has earned them nearly $1.8 million since 1999, with most of that coming in just the past six years.
The town has served an integral role in the tax-exempt financing of nearly $4 billion worth of projects, including affordable housing projects, airport facilities, hotel and convention developments promoting tourism, health care projects, and K-12 educational buildings.
On the surface it might seem unlikely that Century, one of the poorest small cities in the state, could play a part in the financing of dozens of multi-million projects including the Community Maritime Park in Pensacola, $439 million in hotel and convention centers for the Seminole Nation, airport cargo terminals, schools and apartment complexes. The bond money is not from municipal funds of either Gulf Breeze or Century.
The approvals were granted by Century and Gulf Breeze as members of the Capital Trust Agency (the “Agency”), an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA, certifying that the projects meet a public purpose under IRS rules and regulations.
The City of Gulf Breeze has now partnered with the newly formed Capital Trust Authority (referred to hereafter as the “Authority” in this article). The new Authority has reached a deal with Quincy, Florida, as their second signature for all new bond issues. With no involvement, Century will receive no income.
In 2019, a scathing grand jury report found that Century was in a state of financial emergency, and that the council and administration failed to act in the best interest of the community. “Town officials have shown a clear lack of knowledge and understanding as to the operations of a governmental organization,” the grand jury found.
About the same time 2019, Century pushed for the first rate increase in about 20 years, from $350 for each $1 million of bonds issued with a $2,500 minimum per issuance. An agreement was reached to up the payment to $400 per million up to $50 million and $325 for each additional million.
By 2021, Century was looking for another fee increase to $775 per million. And the old CTA was facing increased difficulty in getting bonds approved smoothly by the Century town council. Due to the lack of a quorum, some Agency bond projects were delayed, and CTA faced growing discord between council members.
The Authority’s new deal with Quincy will pay that city $400 per million in bonds, with a minimum of $5,000.
“The Capital Trust Agency (the “Agency”) is still in existence and will continue to administer the outstanding bonds that have been issued dating back to 1999,” Denis McKinnon told NorthEscambia.com. He is the executive director of both the old Agency and the new Authority. Century only received payment upon the issuance of bonds, so their income from the Agency will now presumably by zero as all new bonds will be issued by the Authority with Gulf Breeze and Quincy.
The Agency has paid Century a total of $1,789,828.52 with more than $1 million of that since 2016.
Century’s budget for the current fiscal year ended September 30 projected $200,000 in income for CTA. According to a recent financial report, the town had realized $264,841.09 this fiscal year.
“I have not heard from them (the Agency) since January,” Boutwell recently said. “They have not contacted me whatsoever…I thought we had a good deal; I thought we had a good partner.” The Century town council has not been informed of the situation to date in a regular council meeting.
Boutwell said he realizes Century will be impacted when some quarter million dollars is removed from next year’s budget, but the town should have never relied heavily on that income since an exact amount was never guaranteed.
“It’s a gift; you won’t know what you are getting. Who knows if anything could go through; I don’t depend on it,” he said. “We are not losing financially; it was a gift.”
Pictured top: Capital Trust Agency Executive Director Denis McKinnon addresses the Century Town Council, Century attorney Matt Dannheisser, then Century interim town manager Vernon Prather, and then town clerk Kim Godwin on October 14, 2021. Pictured inset: Century Attorney Matt Dannheisser during an October 14, 2021, town council workshop to discuss the Capital Trust Agency fees. Pictured below: (L-R) Capital Trust Agency bond counsel Kareem Spratling, Executive Director Denis McKinnon and Gulf Breeze Mayor Cherry Fitch met with the Century Town Council on October 14, 2021. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
