Sheriff’s Office Issues Warning About Warrant, Bond, And Ticket Scams
December 14, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is once again warning residents about ongoing phone scams from individuals pretending to be ECSO employees, deputies, or supervisors.
These scams are expected increase during the holiday season, and scammers may claim people owe money for a bond, ticket, or active warrant and will attempt to collect payment over the phone.
ECOS said:
- The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will never ask for or accept any payment over the phone.
- It does not collect money to remove a warrant, pay a fine, or secure a bond.
- Any call requesting payment in gift cards, cash apps, or wire transfers is 100% fraudulent.
Anyone that receives such a call is advised to hang up immediately.
The identity of any ECSO employee can be verified call calling (850) 436-9630.
30,000 Wreaths Placed At Barrancas Cemetery During Wreaths Across America Program
December 14, 2025
Hundreds of volunteers laid about 30,000 wreaths on headstones at Barrancas National Cemetery onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola Dec on Saturday, part of the national “Wreaths Across of America” event. U.S. Navy photos by Ensign Manolis Tsavaris and submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Quintette Community Center Holds Annual Senior Citizens Christmas Luncheon
December 14, 2025
The Quintette Community Center and Park held its annual Christmas Luncheon for senor citizens on Saturday. The seniors enjoyed lunch and sang Christmas carols. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Convicted Of 2022 Murder
December 14, 2025
An Escambia County man has been convicted of a 2022 murder.
Kopelyn Gerard Gildon was convicted of second degree murder with a Firearm by an Escambia County Jury.
On the afternoon of August 7, 2022, Gildon shot and killed Roosevelt Broadnax, Jr., in Broadnax’s home in Escambia County. Gildon was accompanied by Raven Morgan who initially distracted Broadnax before Gildon came into the bedroom and shot Broadnax as he lay on the bed. Broadnax was discovered several hours later, and the homicide was reported.
In the days following the murder, investigators seized a cellular telephone from Gildon as he was trying to pass it off to Morgan during their interaction with law enforcement. Photographs of the deceased Broadnax were located on the phone. Morgan later confessed to her involvement in the case and explained the homicide was a murder for hire transacted by Gildon with another local drug dealer.
Morgan entered a plea to second degree murder with a firearm and giving false information to law enforcement in a murder investigation. Gildon and Morgan are both set to be sentenced on December 17. Gildon has an extensive criminal history which includes several violent crimes. He is currently serving a state prison sentence for possession of a firearm by convicted felon.
Photo Gallery: Santa Claus Visits Bellview Library; More Library Stops Upcoming
December 13, 2025
Santa Claus visited the Bellview Library twice his week.
For a photo gallery, click here.
There are four more chanced to see Santa at the library, including another visit to Molino.
- Dec. 16, 3:00 p.m. — Tryon
- Dec. 17, 4:30 p.m. — Southwest
- Dec. 18, 4:30 p.m. — Molino
- Dec. 20, 10:30 p.m. — Pensacola
For photos from Santa’s recent visit to the Century Library, click here.
For photos from Santa’s recent visit to the Molino Library Story Time, click here.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Man Gets Life For Murder In Dispute Over Missing Package
December 13, 2025
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for shooting and killing a man after a dispute over a package.
A jury previously found Shybri Bashiabeon Omar Steverson guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm.
On November 1, 2023, Shybri Steverson shot Victim Guy Dixon, Jr. after a brief conversation about a missing package.
Prosecutors said their case was supported by eyewitness testimony.
Northview NJROTC Presented Pensacola Navy Days 4K Run Trophy
December 12, 2025
Pensacola Navy Days, an annual multi-day event celebrating the deep connection between the local community and the U.S. Navy, is once again fostering support for service members and veterans. The 2025 festivities, held earlier this year, was a major highlight for a local school team.
On Thursday, Northview High School’s NJROTC athletic team was presented with the prestigious Traveling Trophy for their first-place finish in the 2025 Inaugural Navy Days 4K run.
The Navy Days 4K, one of the signature community events aimed at highlighting Pensacola as a premier military-friendly city, saw robust participation. The new Traveling Trophy will be awarded annually to the top high school team participating in the 4K, with a plaque updated each year to honor the most recent winner. Northview’s unit is the first name to be etched into the award’s history, setting a high bar for future competitors.
In addition to the athletic team’s dominant performance, the Northview High School’s NJROTC and the Tribal Beat Band participated in the Navy Day Parade.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Christmas Parade Is Saturday
December 12, 2025
This year’s Molino Christmas Parade will be held this Saturday, December 13 at 11 a.m.
The parade will travel Crabtree Church Road from Molino Road to the Don Sutton Ballpark. Family fun activities, inflatables, food trucks and pictures with Santa at noon in the ballpark, following the parade.
All proceeds from the parade, which is coordinated by Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Molino, will go to families in need in the North Escambia area.
The parade was rescheduled from December 6 due to weather.
Line up will be in a field at 4325 Crabtree Church Road at 10 a.m. Vehicles are $50, UTVs are $30, and horses are $20 each. No dirt bikes or ATVs are allowed. For more information, contact Kimberly King at Marcus Pointe, (850) 479-8337 ext. 136. To register online, click here.
Pictured: The 2024 Molino Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man SentencedFor Cyberstalking, Sending Obscene Material To Young Girls
December 12, 2025
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to federal prison for cyberstalking and sending obscene materials to minor females.
Charles M. Schmaltz, 29, was sentenced to five years.
Court documents reflect that the defendant communicated with multiple minor females between 2022 and 2024 by utilizing 10 or more social media accounts to contact them. The minor females, and later their parents, repeatedly requested that the Schmaltz strop communicating with them.
Instead, the Schmaltz sent sexually explicit content to the minor females, including extremely graphic communications. The minor females in this case ranged in age from nine to 15 years old. Schmaltz was eventually caught through the work of a multi-agency investigation in North Florida and South Alabama, where some of the victims were located.
Upon his release, Schmaltz will be supervised for five years by a United States Probation Officer and have to comply with sexual offender treatment. He faces additional state charges in Alabama.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office and the Dothan Police Department in South Alabama. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
Photos: Santa Visits Molino Library Story Time
December 12, 2025
Santa Claus visited the Molino Library this week for Story Time.
He read stories, sang songs, and introduced all of his reindeer.
For a photo gallery, click here.
There are five more chanced to see Santa at the library, including another visit to Molino.
- Dec. 11, 4:30 p.m. — Westside
- Dec. 16, 3:00 p.m. — Tryon
- Dec. 17, 4:30 p.m. — Southwest
- Dec. 18, 4:30 p.m. — Molino
- Dec. 20, 10:30 p.m. — Pensacola
For photos from Santa’s recent visit to the Century Library, click here.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
