Armed, Dangerous Attempted Murder Suspect Still On The Run
July 13, 2022
The search is continuing for an attempted murder suspect from Atmore.
Rayvon Desha Madison, age 31 of Atmore, is wanted for attempted murder and multiple other charges.
The Atmore Police Department responded to a residence in Atmore just after midnight June 20 for a domestic disturbance with shots fired and determined Madison was a suspect.
Atmore Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Darrell McMann told NorthEscambia.com that Madison is still at large.
Madison should be considered armed and dangerous, according to police, and should not be approached. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911.
Wahoos Open Series With 2-1 Win Over Chattanooga
July 13, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos opened up their series against the Chattanooga Lookouts with a 2-1 win on Tuesday night, riding 6.1 scoreless innings from starter A.J. Ladwig to their second straight victory.
Ladwig (W, 3-3) struck out a season-high seven batters and held the Lookouts to six harmless hits for his fourth quality start in a Blue Wahoos uniform.
Jorge Soler, joining the Blue Wahoos on a rehab assignment from Miami, was 1-for-4 with a single in his first game in the Southern League since 2016.
Pensacola’s only scoring against Chattanooga starter Andrew Abbott (L, 4-5) came in the second, as they turned a Paul McIntosh single into the game’s first run thanks to three walks. Devin Hairston drew a free pass with the bases loaded to force McIntosh home, and José Devers extended the lead to 2-0 with an infield RBI single.
Ladwig departed with two runners in scoring position and one out in the seventh, but Jefry Yan cleaned up the mess with back-to-back strikeouts to neutralize the threat. Eli Villalobos (S, 5) surrendered a two-out solo home run to Ivan Johnson in the ninth, but retired the next batter to close out the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Chattanooga Lookouts on Wednesday.
Two Arrested During ECSO Warrant Service At Bratt Home
July 12, 2022
Two people were arrested after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a warrant service operation at home in Bratt midday Monday.
Matthew John McGhee, 32, booked into the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola as a fugitive from justice on outstanding warrants out of Atmore. Curtis James Jackson, 32, was charged by Florida authorities with felony dealing in stolen property and later released from jail Monday on a $2,500 bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division responded to a home in the 7400 block of North Highway 99, about one-third of a mile south of the Florida-Alabama state line. They were acting on a tip received by Atmore Police that McGhee was at the residence and a stolen truck was outside.
For additional photos, click or tap here.
Atmore Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Darrell McMann told NorthEscambia.com that his department holds warrants on Jackson for attempting to elude and violation of probation. McMann said McGhee had previously fled from Atmore police when they attempted to stop him in a silver Audi vehicle for traffic violations.
McGhee remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday without bond awaiting extradition back to Alabama.
A black Ford F150 pickup truck reported stolen off Robinsonville Road near Atmore was recovered Monday at the Bratt residence.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Plans Filed For Popeyes Restaurant In Cantonment
July 12, 2022
Plans are in the works for a Popeyes in Cantonment.
Plans have been filed with the Escambia County Development Review Committee for a Popeyes in the 700 block of Highway 29 — between a convenience store to the south and the Grocery Advantage shopping center to the north.
Plans show a 2,354 square foot Popeye’s restaurant and 24 parking spaces on half of the 2.4 acre parcel, with the southern half of the property reserved for “future development”. There will be access to the parking lot from both Highway 29 and Highway 95A.
The Development Review Committee has a pre-application meeting scheduled for Wednesday on the proposal. Multiple additional steps in the review and permitting process would be required before any construction could begin, and the developer could choose to never build the project.
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Holding Youth Football Camp Next Week
July 12, 2022
Northview Chiefs Football will host Youth Camp 2022 next week.
The camp, for ages 8-14, will take place from 5-7 p.m. on July 21-22 at Northview.
Registration is $50 per child. Attendees will receive fundamental coaching and instruction led by the Northview High coaching staff. T-shirts will be provided.
For more information, email Coach Wes Summerford at WSummerford@ecsdfl.us.
Woman Charged With Fentanyl Overdose Death Of Her Escambia Jail Cellmate
July 12, 2022
A woman has been charged with the fentanyl overdose death of her cellmate at the Escambia County Jail.
Pamela Faye Schwarz, 40, is charged with first degree homicide, drug possession, smuggling contraband and destroying evidence.
According to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, Schwarz was remanded into custody from drug court and taken to the Escambia County Jail on May 25 and placed into a cell with a 52-year old female. There was no one else in the cell.
“Within minutes, Schwarz digs deep into her pants and retrieves a plastic bag,” Simmons said. Schwarz and the cellmate shared the powdered substance from the bag, he said. “Within just a few minutes it’s clear that the cellmate, the victim in this case, has an adverse reaction to whatever she just ingested.”
Instead of calling for help, the sheriff said Schwarz helped her cellmate into bed before flushing the rest of the drugs down the toilet.
Several hours later, the victim was found unresponsive. Her death was caused by a fentanyl overdose, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Schwarz remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond. Simmons did not release the victim’s name.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Boating And Fishing Violation Reports
July 12, 2022
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following recent activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Burkhead was on patrol traveling on the highway when a vehicle appeared, ran a stop sign, and pulled out in front of him at a high rate of speed. Officer Burkhead initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and found that the driver was operating a vehicle under a suspended license. He also found that the driver was on probation for felony driving while license suspended. Officer Burkhead placed the driver under arrest for the violations and transported the individual to the Escambia County Jail. He also wrote the driver a written warning for careless operation of a motor vehicle.
Officer Specialist Allgood and Officer Burkhead was on patrol at Big Lagoon State Park boat ramp, when the officers noticed a vessel violating the idle speed zone. They conducted a vessel stop to address the violation. While speaking with operator of the vessel, Officer Allgood noticed several signs of impairment. He conducted Standard Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST) and the operator was arrested for Boating Under the Influence (BUI). He was transported to the Escambia County Jail.
Officer Specialist J. Allgood was on patrol conducting resource and safety inspections at Mahogany Mills Boat ramp. He observed a vessel pull into the dock from fishing. He conducted a resource inspection and discovered an undersized gray triggerfish. Officer Specialist Allgood issued a resource citation for the illegal fish.
Officer Specialist J. Allgood was on patrol conducting resource inspections at Mahogany Mills Boat ramp. He observed a vessel pull into the dock from fishing. He conducted a resource inspection and discovered an undersized greater amberjack. Officer Specialist Allgood issued a resource citation for the illegal fish.
Officer E. Burkhead was on patrol conducting resource inspections at Navy Point Boat ramp. He observed a vessel occupied with four subjects pull into the dock from fishing. He conducted a resource inspection and discovered seven undersized gray triggerfish. He issued resource citations to each subject for possession of undersized gray triggerfish and warnings to three of the subjects for over the daily bag limit of gray triggerfish.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Mullins and Corbin were on water patrol when they observed a sailboat in derelict condition. The vessel was washed on shore, stripped, and appeared abandoned. The registered owner was contacted and provided information of who the vessel was sold to. The current owner of the vessel was located and advised he had sold the vessel to another person but had no documentation to prove it and that person denied ever owning the vessel. After speaking with the owner of the vessel it was determined the vessel had no propulsion, the mast had been removed, the interior had been stripped, the deck was rotten and falling apart, and the owner failed to transfer the title. The subject also had a warrant for his arrest for grand theft. The owner of the vessel was arrested on the warrant and issued notice to appear citations for failure to transfer title and storing a derelict vessel on state waters.
Officers Bower, Allgood, and Burkhead conducted a local seafood inspection. Inside the freezer were stacks of different labeled boxes of bait to include shrimp and fish. During the inspection, the officers observed a trash bag on the ground which contained stingray. Next to it was a large swordfish tail and a cooler that contained a cubera snapper. The owner was not able to provide an invoice for the saltwater products and was issued a notice to appear citation for unlawfully selling, delivering, shipping, transporting, or possessing any saltwater products without having an invoice for the saltwater products.
Officers Bower and Corbin were conducting boating safety and resource inspections in the Santa Rosa Sound. The officers observed a vessel with no navigational lights displayed. The officers initiated the patrol vessels blue lights, a short while later the distracted operator noticed the blue lights and stopped. Throughout the stop the operator showed multiple signs of impairment. The operator refused to conduct Standard Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST) and refused to speak with the officers. Based on all the circumstances, the operator was arrested and charged with operating a vessel with normal faculties impaired and was also issued uniform boating citations for refusal to submit to breath test and for navigational lights not present or operational.
Officers Bower and Corbin were on patrol in Blackwater River when they observed a vessel being operated without a registration decal attached. A vessel stop was conducted, and the officers discovered the vessel had been acquired more than 30 days ago and the owner/operator of the vessel had failed to transfer the title/registration. Further, it was discovered that the vessel did not have a HIN number attached and the
registration numbers on the vessel did not return to the vessel. The operator had previously been stopped and warned for these violations. During the stop the operator did not have a lifejacket on board and there were several empty beer cans in the stern of the vessel. There was also a half empty case of beer matching the empty cans on board. The operator agreed to conduct Standard Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST) and was arrested and refused to provide a breath sample. The operator was charged with operating a vessel while normal faculties impaired, failure to transfer title, and operating a vessel on state waters with no HIN number attached. He was also issued citations for insufficient number of life jackets and refusal to submit to breath test.
Officer R. Bower and Officer N. Basford were on vessel patrol in the Santa Rosa Sound working the “Billy Bowlegs” detail. The officers passed by a man standing on the bow of his vessel pulling an anchor from the water. A few moments later the man was launched from his vessel and landed in the water. The captain of the vessel forcefully hit the throttle causing the man to go overboard, also causing the vessel to collide with other nearby vessels. During the investigation it was determined the operator of the vessel was under the influence and was placed under arrest.
Officer R. Bower was on patrol working a local “Fishing Rodeo” event. A charter vessel was observed dropping customers off at a dock. A resource inspection was conducted, and Officer Bower located Spanish mackerel not in whole condition, one undersized triggerfish and the boat was over the bag limit of triggerfish. The captain was cited accordingly for the violations.
Officer Bower and Officer Specialist Corbin were on patrol conducting boating safety and resource inspections in the Santa Rosa Sound. The officers observed a vessel with no navigational lights displayed pulling into the boat ramp. The officers watched as the operator had difficulty recovering his vessel from the water. The operator gave up and turned the vessel over to another occupant who had no trouble loading the vessel on the trailer. A vessel stop was conducted and during the stop the operator showed signs of impairment. Standard Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST) were utilized, and the operator was placed under arrest for Boating Under the Influence (BUI). The operator was charged with Boating Under the Influence with a breath alcohol level over .08 and issued a citation for insufficient number of life jackets. Warnings were issued for other violations.
Officers Mullins and Corbin were on patrol when they observed a sailboat in poor condition in Marquis Basin. Upon closer inspection of the vessel, the vessel did not have any propulsion (no motor or sail), the rigging for the mast was in poor condition, and the vessel had no steering. The vessel’s registration was expired since 2007 and
the vessel had no anchor light. Officers Bower and Corbin went to the registered owner of the sailboat residence. The owner of the sailboat confirmed the vessel had no propulsion and no steering. The owner stated he removed both from the sailboat years ago. We advised the owner of the violations, and he was issued a notice to appear citation for storing a derelict (substantially dismantled) vessel on state waters. The owner was also issued citations for expired registration over six months and no anchor light.
Officers Bower and Corbin were on patrol and conducted a seafood inspection at a seafood market. During the inspection the business provided the previous’ business retail license. The business had taken over the building in November of 2021 and failed to buy a retail license to sell saltwater products. During the inspection the business was also found not to have a wholesale license and they had invoices for saltwater products from a supplier who was also not a wholesale dealer. The manager of the business was issued a notice to appear citation for no retail license and warnings for no wholesale license and having invoices without a wholesale dealer’s number on them. The business was educated on the requirements and the supplier was also educated and purchased a wholesale license.
One More Look: The Blue Angels Over Pensacola Beach (Photo Gallery)
July 11, 2022
Here’s one more look back at the Blue Angels during the Pensacola Beach Air Show.
For a gallery, click or tap here.
Photos USN/Blue Angels for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices Slide 15 Cents On Average Last Week In Florida
July 11, 2022
Florida gas prices dropped 15 cents per gallon last week. The state average has now declined for four consecutive weeks, falling a total of 47 cents during that time.
Drivers are now paying an average price of $4.42 per gallon, though Florida residents in some regions are paying less than $4.20 a gallon. The state average is now at a 2-month low. On average, it now costs $66 to fill a 15-gallon tank. That’s $7 less than when prices were at record-levels in mid June.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County is $4.35. In North Escambia, the low price Sunday night was $4.28 on Muscogee Road. In Pensacola, the warehouse clubs were at $3.95 as one station on Nine Mile Road.
“Floridians are getting some welcome relief from record high prices at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The price declines are attributed to falling oil and gasoline futures prices, which suffered steep drops in recent weeks, due to concerns about a potential global economic recession, and how that could result in lower worldwide demand for fuel. However, there is still concerns about global fuel supplies, which is keeping somewhat of a floor on prices. Unless there’s a sudden rebound in the price of oil, the state average should drop below $4.30 this week.”
Escambia Ballots For Military And Overseas Voters On The Way
July 11, 2022
The first vote-by-mail ballots for the August 23 primary election have been mailed to military and overseas voters, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.
Civilian ballots will be mailed no later than July 21 to those that have already requested them.
All registered voters in Escambia County are eligible to receive a ballot in the primary election.
Florida is a closed primary state and Escambia County has single-member districts. Voters can only vote in their party’s primary except in the case of a Universal Primary Contest. As a result, ballots will differ based on where a voter lives in the county and their party affiliation. All registered voters may vote in the County Commission District 2 contest, as it is a Universal Primary Contest. In addition, there are nonpartisan contests on the primary ballot (county judge, school board, City of Pensacola).
If you wish to change your political party, you must do so by the party change deadline of July 25.
Any Florida voter can choose to vote by mail. If you have not already made a request and wish to receive your ballot in the mail, visit escambiavotes.gov/vote-by-mail or call (850) 595-3900. The request deadline is August 8.
The deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation before the August 23 Primary Election is July 25.