Bond Set For Man Involved In Monday Night Manhunt Near Walnut Hill

February 24, 2009

(Updated 2:00 p.m.) An Escambia County Circuit Court Judge set bond this afternoon in the case of a Walnut Hill man involved in a manhunt Monday night.

The incident began just before 7 p.m. Monday at a home in 3000 block of Sandy Hollow Road with a domestic dispute that sent a female to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

berry.jpgEverette Berry, 55, of Walnut Hill was arrested after Escambia County deputies spent over an hour searching for him.

Berry fled the residence on foot, according to reports. Deputies called for a K-9 unit from the Century Correctional Institute and the Sheriff’s Department helicopter to assist in the search.

Berry was located and taken into custody near the residence at 8:20 p.m. without incident.

Berry was charged with two counts felony counts battery and one felony count of aggravated battery in connection with the domestic dispute. Tuesday afternoon, Circuit Judge Linda Nobles set bond for Berry at $30,000. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday afternoon.

Sandy Hollow Road is about one mile east of Highway 97. It runs between Highway 4 and Gobbler Road.

The manhunt might be the last with a helicopter in North Escambia. Sheriff David Morgan will ground the department’s helicopter program as of March 1. Morgan has said that closing the department’s air unit will save his department about $800,000 per year. That includes salaries and costs like maintenance and fuel.

Comments

10 Responses to “Bond Set For Man Involved In Monday Night Manhunt Near Walnut Hill”

  1. A Concerned Citizen in Century on February 24th, 2009 9:39 pm

    Lady’s and Gentlemen,

    It does not cost the Sheriff’s Office $800.000 to operate the helicopter , this figure is seriously inflated. The actually figure is somewhere around $450,000. I can only hope that this discussion will not make things hard for our deputies and put us in danger. I have personally see the helicopter at work with the deputies, and I say what a valuable tool, KEEP IT!

  2. LULU on February 24th, 2009 4:39 pm

    bmb..you also are correct, that money seems to have become the more important thing these days. We should all be more concerned with the heatlh, mental health included, and well being of our community. I pray that this woman will be okay and that she will get the help she needs to escape this abusive relationship. I pray she will reach out to God.

  3. My opinion on February 24th, 2009 2:24 pm

    So he beats a woman up and then runs away like a low-life coward because he knows what he did was wrong. SHAME on him. I hope he is locked up and the key is thrown away. I doubt that will happen though. I hope the woman involved is smart enough to ban him from her life.

  4. bmb on February 24th, 2009 1:10 pm

    My apology, Lulu you are correct. I was praying not seriously hurt, like gunshot or worse, maybe I should have said thankful no one was fatally wounded in whatever happened. It is just sad that money has become the more important worry and not the health and well-being of our communities. I will do a better job proofing myself next time, my apology again.

  5. LULU on February 24th, 2009 9:02 am

    bmb…someone DID get hurt, reread the article…”a domestic dispute that sent a female to the hospital”.

  6. bmb on February 24th, 2009 8:49 am

    Well, what a surprise that all anybody can think about is money. There is a family in crisis and all anyone is worried about is money. The helicopter is a vital role in rural areas for just this type situation. $800,000 will seem like peanuts when a family sues the county after some crack addict escapes jail and kills a deputy because their was nothing in place to prevent it like air patrol. Mr. Morgan is doing what he feels is the lesser of the evils at this point when trying to balance budgets, he will learn like the rest of the world by experience. Let’s at least stop being “arm chair” financial experts and give Mr. Morgan a chance to do his job and if he makes mistakes, lets just hope he is willing to learn from them. On the more important note, SOMEONE’s Mother, daughter, friend was involved in a family dispute that could have escalated into something that no one should wish on anyone. Let’s all be thankful the helicopter was available, no one hurt themselves or anyone else, once again our deputy’s on this end of the county did their job beyond the call of duty. Maybe say a prayer whatever is troubling this family finds solution. Worry about what is important: PEOPLE NOT THINGS!

  7. concerned citizen on February 24th, 2009 7:20 am

    the cost of maintaining one helicopter is staggering. The maintenance is very expensive. Too spool up and spend one hour in the air is very very expensive. The price tag to own and maintain just one of these helicopters is startling. If Mr. Morgan is trying to cut back this would probably be one thing they could do without or very much limit the use of the helicopter. It is not a money maker it isa money user.

  8. Shaun on February 23rd, 2009 10:17 pm

    Yeah I kind of figured that was the case. Just hoping he had a change of mindset. I understand the need to save money but I do not think completely doing away with the capability of air support is a bright idea. I personally would like to see where the 800,000 dollar tag comes in as well.. I mean honetly 1 pilot, 1 flight maintenance person I assume.. the rest could be normal patrol deputies taking turns. I just think that tha past admin has wasted lots of money by overstaffing it, and going to other counties, and states may I add.. that do not pump one penny in it. I wish Mr. Morgan would reconsider, or even the Commisioners.

  9. William on February 23rd, 2009 9:58 pm

    Shaun–I updated the story. Sheriff Morgan still plans to ground the helicopters after Saturday.

  10. Shaun on February 23rd, 2009 9:56 pm

    So I take it the New Sherriff wisened up and decided to keep a Chopper? IMO this is the wisest move he could make. This county needs one.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News