Two Century Residents Jailed On Drug Charges After Atmore Shoplifting Report
July 30, 2022
A shoplifting call at the Atmore Walmart ended with a man and woman from Century facing drug charges.
The Atmore Police Department responded to a report of two women shoplifting at the store. As officers were enroute, they learned the women ran to a vehicle at a nearby pizza restaurant, jumped into a blue vehicle with a Florida tag that fled southbound on North Main Street.
Walmart loss prevention advised Atmore Police that one of the women was 38-year old Shana Oneida Killam of Century who they had been previously trespass warned from the store after a prior theft.
A few minutes later, officers spotted the vehicle at the Diamond Station of Highway 31 and noticed a female slumped over in the back seat in an apparent attempt to hide from officers.
After receiving consent to search the vehicle, officers reported finding a syringe containing methamphetamine, several clear plastic bags of methamphetamine, several Suboxone pills, a small amount of marijuana and a glass pipe with residue.
Killam was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Haden Brock Howard, 27, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both remained in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.
A third person, a 37-year old woman from Flomaton, was issued a trespass warning to stay away from the Walmart. She was not charged.
14-Time Convicted Felon That Escaped From Work Release Gets 20 Years For Burglary
July 30, 2022
A man with a long criminal history that recently escaped from an Escambia County work detail is headed to prison for two decades for a burglary last year.
Circuit Court Judge Amy Broderson sentenced Matthew David Shelters to 20 year on state prison as a habitual felony offender for burglary of an unoccupied dwelling. He has a 15-years minimum mandatory as a prison releasee reoffender. He was previously released from prison on October 5, 2020.
On December 7, 2021, the victims found Shelters in their home rummaging through their belongings.
Shelters was previously convicted on 14 felony and 18 misdemeanor charges, according to Assistant State Attorney Elisibeth Davenport.
“Mr. Shelters has repeatedly shown that he is a danger to the community,” Davenport said.
Shelters has additional charges pending related to an escape from the Escambia County Work Camp on July 12. He will be arraigned on those charges on August 5.
Third Escambia Triple Shooting Suspect Is Now In Jail
July 30, 2022
A third suspect in an Escambia County triple shooting is now jailed.
Traekese Devon Calhoun., 19, is charged with three counts of attempted homicide in connection with a shooting May 4 on Besma Drive. His bond was set at $300,000.
Two other people were previously charged in the shooting.
Jayshawn Jackson, 18, was charged in May with three counts of attempted homicide, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, carrying a concealed firearm and other charges. Adrianna Jackson, 19, was charged in early July with three counts of principal to attempted homicide.
Wahoos Fall 3-2 To Mississippi
July 30, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell 3-2 to the Mississippi Braves Friday night in a game that saw 19 hits, all of them singles.
It was a seventh-inning RBI single from Justyn-Henry Malloy that proved to be the difference, giving the Braves their third and final run of the evening. Darius Vines (W, 6-4) outdueled Zach McCambley (L, 5-6) in a battle of two dominant starters.
Pensacola struck first in the third inning, loading the bases with three singles and bringing home a run on a Victor Victor Mesa sacrifice fly. They couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity any further, and the Braves countered in the fifth with a bases-loaded walk and Vaughn Grissom RBI single to take a 2-1 lead. Grissom finished 4-for-5 on the night, raising his batting average to .418 in his first month at Double-A.
Malloy’s RBI single in the seventh against rehabbing major leaguer Anthony Bender extended the Mississippi lead to 3-1. Bender faced four men without recording an out, but Eli Villalobos picked up the slack with 3.0 scoreless innings of relief to keep the game within reach.
A José Devers RBI single in the seventh drew the Blue Wahoos within a run at 3-2, but Justin Yeager (S, 2) worked a perfect ninth to help Mississippi even the series at two games apiece.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the M-Braves on Saturday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Man Being Charged With Sexual Assault In Case Of Missing 11-Year Old Walnut Hill Girl
July 29, 2022
The former Walnut Hill farm worker that was first named as a suspect in an Amber Alert on Thursday is being charged with sexual assault on a victim under the age of 12.
Brijido Manriquez-Ortiz, 43, is currently detained in Laredo, Texas, and will be extradited back to Escambia County to face charges. Sheriff Chip Simmons said he was an undocumented farm worker.
Thursday, an 11-year old girl was discovered missing from a home in Walnut Hill. Simmons said she was first believed to be in the company of Manriquez-Ortiz based on a note that was left behind and his relationship with her.
Simmons said the girl and Brijido-Ortez were working on a farm in Walnut Hill where her father, Carlos Fernandez, discovered a “building or grooming” relationship between the 11-year old and the 42-year old. Two weeks ago, “the father was concerned because he saw them in a kissing situation, and he immediately thought that’ s inappropriate, and he was right, and he fired him, and he actually drove him to Atlanta,” Simmons said.
Thursday morning, the father found a screen cut on their Walnut Hill home, and the girl was missing. She left a note behind indicating that she would be with Brijido-Ortez.
An Amber Alert was issued, fearing the 11-year-old was in danger.
Later in the day, the 11-year-old was safely located in Foley, Alabama, in a vehicle stolen from a Walnut Hill farm. Authorities do not believe that Ortiz was physically present for her disappearance.
“Manriquez-Ortiz is charged with having a wildly inappropriate and illegal relationship with the 11-year-old,” the ECSO said Friday.
When the relationship was first discovered, Fernandez “beat up” Manriquez-Ortiz, ECSO has now revealed.
“When we first found that he was trying to mess with her, we fired him,” Fernandez told NorthEscambia.com. “He don’t have no way to go nowhere. Our boss, he take him to Atlanta to a cousin’s place.”
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are continuing their investigation.
“We were very concerned about her well-being yesterday morning. We are glad she is safe. This suspect is a danger to the victim and a danger to the community. He will return and face judgment for his pathetic and criminal actions,” Simmons said.
Escambia School Board Advances Tax Increase On 3-2 Vote
July 29, 2022
The Escambia County School District voted 3-2 Thursday evening to advance a property tax increase on a recommendation from Superintendent Tim Smith.
On a motion by District 5 member Bill Slayton, the board voted 3-2 to adopt a tentative millage rate that exceeds the rolled-back rate by 7.33%. Kevin Adams and Paul Fetsko cast the dissenting votes.
A lower rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. The rolled-back rate was calculated at 4.914 mills. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase and must be advertised as such.
The board approved a total tentative millage rate of 5.274. It’s a rate lower than the current year rate of 5.657 mills, but due to rising home values, it will generally cost many taxpayers more.
No member of the public spoke for, or against, the millage rate at Thursday’s meeting.
The board also voted 5-0 to adopt a $810,300,864.75 budget for fiscal year 2022-2023, which begins October 1.
ECSO Seeks Missing, Endangered Man
July 29, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing and endangered man.
Brendon Moon was last seen July 26 in the area of Highway 29. he was wearing a white shirt, work boots and shorts that were gray, black and neon green in color. Authorities said he may be in need of medical attention.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Editor’s note: The Sheriff’s Office said this was the only photo provided.
ECUA Recycling Center Reopening Delayed As They Await Repair Parts
July 29, 2022
The ECUA Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) will remain closed a bit longer than expected following the failure of an essential piece of equipment in June.
ECUA received an update this week from the supplier providing the two conveyor belts needed to return the processing lines to service.The revised shipping date is August 22, approximately two weeks later than originally scheduled. Allowing for shipping from the west coast and installation time, ECUA now expects to restart the recycling facility on September 9.
ECUA is continuing to use the downtime for important maintenance that generally requires a facility shutdown on other equipment.
The second of two aging conveyor belts was slated for replacement in this fiscal year. The ECUA Board approved the $82,000 purchase of two new replacement belts at its February 2022 meeting.
ECUA is continuing normal recycling collections in the meantime.
“We urge our customers to keep in a positive recycling habit during this interruption in the recycling program,” Public Information Office Nathalie Bowers said.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Man Sentenced For Threatening To Kill Rep. Matt Gaetz
July 29, 2022
A California man has been sentenced for a threat to kill Congressman Matt Gaetz.
Eugene Huelsman, 59, of Thousand Oaks, California, was sentenced to six months home confinement on one count of transmission of a threat in interstate commerce.
Huelsman was sentenced for phone threats he made on January 9, 2021, when he called Gaetz’s congressional district office in Pensacola. When no one answered the call, Huelsman left a profanity-laced voicemail threatening to kill Congressman Gaetz. This included threatening to “put a bullet in” Gaetz and members of his family. Huelsman also threatened that he was “coming for” the Congressman, and that he hoped Gaetz would “die in a shallow grave.”
“The free exercise of speech is central to our democracy,” stated U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody. “However, the communication of threats of physical violence, in this case by an individual who had previously made and been investigated for similar threats of violence, is clearly unlawful. With our law enforcement partners, we are committed to protecting public safety for all citizens. Today’s sentence acknowledges the defendant’s repeated threats of violence and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would threaten violence against others rather than engage in lawful debate.”
“Words matter,” said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division, “and this sentencing should serve as a warning. Everyone has the right to express their opinion, but when you harass, intimidate, and threaten violence against others, it’s a federal crime that will not be tolerated. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will work to hold you accountable.”
Huelsman’s home confinement will be followed by five years’ probation, and a $10,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the United States Capitol Police and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
Pictured: Rep Matt Gaetz during a campaign kickoff event last week in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Fall 8-5 To M-Braves On Jay High Night
July 29, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn’t dig themselves out of an early deficit on Thursday night, falling 8-5 to the Mississippi Braves.
It was Jay High night at the ballpark as the Wahoos honored the state champion Royals softball team.
The Braves roughed up Pensacola starter Zach King (L, 0-3) to the tune of seven runs in 4.0 innings, and got started right away with an RBI double from Vaughn Grissom in the first inning. Drew Lugbauer highlighted a three-run third with a two-run homer, and Justin Dean went deep for a two-run blast of his own in a three-run fourth.
J.D. Orr had the only two Pensacola hits through the first six innings, and turned a pair of stolen bases into the first Blue Wahoos run thanks to a Ray-Patrick Didder sacrifice fly in the first inning. Allan Winans worked 4.0 innings in his first M-Braves start, and was followed by 2.0 scoreless innings of relief from Hayden Deal (W, 3-2).
Trailing 8-1 in the seventh, the Blue Wahoos chipped away with a bases-loaded hit from Devin Hairston that scored three runs thanks to a throwing error from Cody Milligan. Hairston doubled and scored in the ninth on a Victor Victor Mesa sacrifice fly, but it was not enough as the Blue Wahoos dropped their first game of the series.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the M-Braves on Friday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
