Tossed Stanley Cup Leads To Arrest For Cocaine Trafficking, Weapon
July 15, 2026
An Escambia County man is facing multiple charges after deputies saw him tossing a Stanley cup and rummaging around in his vehicle.
Tristan Salter was charged with trafficking cocaine, concealing a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were investigating a separate case on Smiley Avenue when they observed him throwing a Stanley cup across a fence into a neighbor’s yard before reaching around in the backseat of his vehicle.
When deputies searched the vehicle and the Stanley cup, they reported finding a firearm, 104 grams of cocaine, 507 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
Smiley Drive is located a few blocks south of East Nine Mile Road and the John R. Jones Athletic Park.
Florida Prisoner, 74, Becomes The Oldest Inmate Executed In State’s Modern History
July 15, 2026
Dennis Michael Sochor was executed Tuesday evening for the death of 18-year-old Patricia “Patty” Gifford in Broward County 44 years ago, becoming the oldest person put to death by the state since executions were revived in 1977.
Sochor, 74, was executed by lethal injection at 6:16 p.m. (EDT) at Florida State Prison, according to the Department of Corrections.
The execution occurred hours after the U.S. Supreme Court denied his latest motion for a stay.
Sochor was 18 days older than Dusty Ray Spencer when he was executed June 18 for killing his estranged wife. The execution was the tenth in Florida this year.
According to court documents, Gifford went to a bar with a friend to celebrate New Year’s Eve 1981, where they encountered Dennis Sochor and his brother Gary Sochor. The friend was escorted to a car in the parking lot, where she fell asleep. The brothers took Gifford in Dennis Sochor’s work truck, intending to get breakfast. Instead, Dennis Sochor stopped his truck in a secluded spot and took Gifford out of the vehicle.
Sochor confessed that when Gifford refused to have sex with him, he became angry, choked her until she died, and disposed of her body, which was never found, records state. Sochor told police his brother wasn’t with him at the time.
The Gifford family released a statement Tuesday thanking prosecutors, investigators and others who carried the case forward and to “correct a painful misconception” that Patty Gifford “willingly went off with Dennis Sochor and his brother Gary.”
“Sochor’s conviction and sentencing in 1987 gave our family a measure of justice, consolation, and closure in knowing that he would never again be free to hurt another woman,” according to the family’s statement provided by Patricia Gifford’s brother, Bob Gifford
“When he confessed in 1987 and led detectives to the Alligator Alley area in an attempt to locate Patty, we also came to understand that her remains would likely never be recovered.”
“Today marked the end of a legal process that lasted nearly half a century,” the statement continued. “Patty’s remains were never recovered, but her life was never lost to us. She was our sister, our daughter, our friend, and she mattered.”
Sochor is the 17th prisoner executed in the U.S. this year. Besides Florida, there have been four inmates put to death in Texas, two in Oklahoma and one in Arizona.
There were 47 executions last year, with Florida accounting for 19, the most in one year for the state in the modern era.
Because of the increased pace of executions, Rev. Jeff Hood, Sochor’s spiritual advisor, challenged Gov. Ron DeSantis to attend an execution to experience what corrections officials go through. Hood also questioned the selection of aged inmates for the latest round of executions.
Sochor may not hold the oldest executed distinction for long.
DeSantis has already signed a death warrant for Dominick Anthony Occhicone, 80, who is set to be executed on July 28 for killing his former girlfriend’s parents four decades ago.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
MILO Mobile ID And Licensing Unit In Century On Thursday
July 15, 2026
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO) will be in Century on Thursday, July 16.
The mobile unit will be available from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse. The next visit to Century is planned for August 20, followed by September 17 stop at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
The event was originally scheduled for last week but was postponed to tomorrow.
MILO offers a convenient way for residents to access essential tax collector services, including:
- Driver License Services: Renewals, replacements, out-of-state license conversions/reciprocations, and address or name changes.
- Identification Cards: First-time issuance and renewals.
- Vehicle Services: Registration renewals and replacements, title transfers, and parking placards.
- Tax Payments: Property tax payments.
- Business Tax Receipts: Applications and renewals.
- Certified Driver Transcripts
Written and driving tests are not available at the MILO unit.
Florida drivers may renew their vehicle registrations for a period of one or two years and may renew up to three months in advance of the registration expiration. Vehicle registrations expire at midnight on the first owner’s birth date unless the owner is a business.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector’s MILO at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Camp Fire Century, The Town’s Only Childcare Facility, Closes Permanently On Friday
July 14, 2026
After 18 years, the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center will close permanently on Friday.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking that we have to go through with and close the doors in Century,” La-Vonne Haven, executive director of the Gulf Wind Council of Camp Fire U.S.A., told NorthEscambia.com. “They have all been truly incredible kids.”
On April 5, 2008, Haven cut the ribbon (pictured left) for the childcare facility in a municipally owned building in the Century Industrial Park, capping a nine-year dream of meeting a critical need for childcare and a VPK program in Century.
The facility opened with 18 students enrolled before the first day of operation and a license to serve up to 75 children. Hundreds of children from not only Century, but also surrounding communities, are Camp Fire graduates.
“Over the years, we have cherished the moments spent with your children and have enjoyed watching them grow and thrive in our care,” Haven said in a letter to parents announcing the closure. “Thank you once again for allowing us to be a part of your child’s life. We will always hold fond memories of our time together and wish you and your family all the best in the future.”
“Your employment with Camp Fire Century will officially end on July 17, 2026,” Haven wrote in a closure and termination notice to employees. “We sincerely appreciate your hard work, dedication, and contributions to the company…Thank you for your service.”
She signed her name to the employee notice, followed by “Wo-He-Lo” — a phrase known by all Camp Fire kids. The name is an acronym created by combining the first two letters of the words “Work, Health, and Love”, the Camp Fire motto.
Haven said that as of last Friday, there were only four children and two staff members remaining at the Century facility as the closure neared.
What Lead To The Closure Decision?
She said the reason for the closure is simply economics and changing times.
“Everything is just so, so high, and the money just isn’t there,” she said, “We tried everything we knew how to raise money, but nothing came to fruition.” She also noted that qualified teachers became progressively harder to find.
The Century Center was the last for the Gulf Wind Council of Camp Fire U.S.A., based in Pensacola. Their other facilities in Pensacola have already been closed, including most recently a childcare facility at Pensacola State College.
Haven, now 86, said she contributed 35 years to childcare in the area, and, more recently, contributed tens of thousands of her own money to Camp Fire in an attempt to make payroll and keep the doors open.
“It’s about kids, not about Camp Fire,” she said, emotion evident in her voice. “It’s about the kids.”
The Lease
In September 2004, the Town of Century leased two buildings, totaling 4,200 square feet, to the non-profit Camp Fire for $1 per year on a 100-year lease. At the time, Century’s mayor and council felt like it was a good deal to finally bring a licensed childcare facility to the town, providing childcare for working parents and educational opportunities for young children.
Camp Fire has notified the town that they are terminating the lease and anticipate being out of the building by July 31.
What’s Next?
In response to a request from NorthEscambia.com last Friday afternoon, Haven said Camp Fire will donate most of the facility’s property — essentially a fully outfitted childcare facility and playground — to the Town of Century, or the next occupant of the building, if it is a non-profit that will operate a childcare center.
Local, county and state leaders went to work on Friday afternoon, and a preliminary plan was reached to tentatively bring another non-profit into the building to operate a state-certified childcare facility. NorthEscambia.com will post a follow-up story if the plan becomes a reality, or if the Town of Century moves forward with leasing the buildings to any other entity.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
16-Year-Old Charged With Handing Gun To Shooter In Downtown Pensacola Shooting
July 14, 2026
A juvenile has been charged in connection with a downtown Pensacola shooting on July 5 that took the life of one person and injured six others.
On Monday, Pensacola Police said 16-year-old Kanye Dewayne Walker was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a person under the age of 18, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (principal in the second degree).
“Walker was observed on surveillance video handing Nicholas Safford the firearm that he used to fire shots. The investigation is continuing to determine who or what was struck by those shots,” PPD spokesman Mike Wood said.
Nicholas Lilane Safford, 26, of Daphne, Alabama, is also charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Safford has two previous felony convictions in Alabama.
Lillian Myllicen Meyers, 25, of Pensacola, has also been charged with tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact. Pensacola police say the shooter gave her one of the weapons used, which she then removed from the scene. Both are being held without bond.
The shooting, which occurred during the early morning hours of July 5, claimed the life of 19-year-old Phillip Devon Monte Sheppard Jr. All but one of the six other victims have since been released from the hospital. Pensacola Police Chief Eric Winstrom said Monday that an ongoing feud led to the shooting.
There have not been arrests for the death of Sheppard, but PPD said more arrests are forthcoming.
Walker’s mugshot was not immediately available.
Operation Southern Slow Down Begins: Five States Launch Coordinated Speeding Crackdown
July 14, 2026
Law enforcement agencies across five southeastern states, including Florida, launched a coordinated crackdown on speeding this week as part of a multi-state campaign aimed at reducing traffic-related fatalities and injuries.
Operation Southern Slow Down, now in its ninth year, began Monday, July 13, and will run through Saturday, July 18.
The annual campaign brings together transportation and safety agencies from Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Drivers can expect to see a surge of law enforcement officers on interstates, highways, and major corridors across the region, focusing on increased speed enforcement and public education.
In Florida, the initiative is spearheaded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The enforcement push integrates directly with Florida’s “Target Zero” initiative, an overarching goal to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on state roadways to zero. Local law enforcement agencies are also participating.
According to the 2024 Florida Traffic Crash Facts report, speeding is a factor in approximately six percent of all traffic fatalities across the Sunshine State. Officials stress that these incidents are entirely preventable.
“Unsafe driver behaviors like speeding are a major contributor to fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways,” said FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue. “Remember that your actions behind the wheel can have life-altering impacts: slow down and drive responsibly to help get everyone to their destinations safely.”
FHP Colonel Gary Howze emphasized that state troopers will show zero tolerance for reckless driving behavior.
“Speeding is a conscious choice, and it’s one that costs lives,” Howze said. “Operation Southern Slowdown brings Florida law enforcement and public safety partners across the Southeast United States together around a shared commitment to safer roads through increased enforcement, direct public outreach, and a unified message that reckless driving will not be tolerated. This initiative ensures that those who choose to drive recklessly are held accountable for putting others at risk.”
With summer travel volumes peaking across the region, neighboring states are mirroring the same enforcement push.
“Summer is a time of increased travel on our highways and interstates, and this joint effort will serve as a visible and strong reminder for all motorists to obey traffic safety laws,” said Kenneth Boswell, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. “We support our law enforcement officers in Alabama and the Southeast as they work hard to prevent injuries and deaths from automobile crashes.”
Driving Safely: Tips for the Road
Transportation officials shared several critical reminders for motorists during this week’s enforcement period and throughout the summer travel season:
- Faster speeds require longer stopping distances.
- Stay out of the far-left lane except when passing.
- Stopping distance quadruples when you double your speed.
- Drivers of larger vehicles need more time and distance to stop, especially on wet or uneven pavement.
- Slow down when approaching curves and brakes before entering.
- Set a good example for young drivers by following speed limits.
- Always wear your seat belt and ensure all passengers are buckled.
- Use extra caution in construction and school zones.
- Plan and allow extra travel time to avoid the temptation to speed.
Pictured: A Florida Highway Patrol trooper conducts a traffic stop on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Attorney General Probes Bread Ingredient Over Potential Cancer Links
July 14, 2026
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has officially launched an investigation into the state’s food supply chain, targeting the presence of potassium bromate—a chemical compound used in bakery flours that has been linked to severe health concerns.
As part of the investigation under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, the Attorney General’s office issued a civil subpoena to General Mills, Inc. and General Mills Operations, LLC.
“This investigation is about protecting Florida families and providing transparency to our consumers,” said Uthmeier. “Floridians have a right to know what is in the food they buy and feed their children. We are investigating the supply chain for the presence of potassium bromate in products sold across our state, including any disclosures made to purchasers and research on its potential health effects.”
Potassium bromate is widely used as a flour improver and dough conditioner. However, it is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” It has been banned in California.
Due to health concerns and evidence of tumors in animal studies, the additive has been banned in numerous countries, including the European Union since 1990, Canada since 1994, China since 2005, and India since 2016.
The state’s investigation seeks comprehensive information on how these bromated products reach Florida consumers, commercial purchasers, and schools.
Complete Subpoena Production Demands
The subpoena commands production of documents related to:
- All General Mills products containing potassium bromate sold to purchasers in Florida, including specific items such as Pillsbury Potentate High Gluten Flour, Pillsbury Best Bakers Patent Flour, Gold Medal All Aces Bakery Flour, and Gold Medal Superlative Bakers Flour (50 lb bulk sacks).
- Top purchasers in Florida of these products for the years 2023 through 2026.
- Disclosures provided to purchasers of bromated products or downstream goods made from them.
- Research on the use of potassium bromate in General Mills products and its potential effects on human safety.
- Sales of these products to Florida schools (pre-kindergarten through 12th grade).
FHP Wins America’s Best Looking Cruiser Contest For The Fourth Year
July 14, 2026
For the fourth consecutive year, the Florida Highway Patrol has won the American Association of State Troopers (AAST) “Best Looking Cruiser” competition.
This year’s photo was taken in front of Tampa’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge during a typical Florida afternoon thunderstorm, and to commemorate America’s 250th birthday, the bridge was illuminated in red, white, and blue.
The featured cruiser, an iconic black‑and‑tan 2023 Mustang 5.0 GT, is assigned to the 2025 Trooper of the Year, Trooper David Kitchen. Trooper Kitchen received this recognition following a multi‑county pursuit of a reckless driver traveling southbound on Interstate 75 on July 14, 2024. The pursuit concluded after the suspect struck multiple vehicles, resisted arrest, and gained control of a firearm from inside his vehicle, prompting Trooper Kitchen to use deadly force to stop the threat. Immediately afterward, Trooper Kitchen rendered aid to the injured suspect, ensuring the safety of the public and the victims involved.
Click image to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With Attempted Homicide In Connection With Stabbing
July 14, 2026
An Escambia County man is facing an attempted homicide charge following a stabbing last week.
On Tuesday, July 7, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Krystal on Fairfield Drive, where deputies located a 66-year-old male suffering from two stab wounds, including one to the chest.
Investigators determined that 30-year-old Thomas Cortijo attacked the victim near the Waterfront Mission on L Street. Cortijo was taken into custody on Sunday, July 12, and booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond. He is also charged with drug possession.
The victim’s current condition has not been released.
Rescheduled Century Town Council Meeting Is Tonight
July 14, 2026
The regular Century Town Council meeting that was originally scheduled for July 7 will be held tonight, Tuesday, July 14.
The town council normally meets at 6:15 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month. This month, the second meeting will be on Tuesday, July 21.
All meetings are held at the Century Town Hall, 7995 North Century Boulevard.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.