Century Man Arrested For Skipping Court On Indecent Exposure Charges
October 8, 2009
A Century man who failed to show up in court on charges that he showed private body parts to three people — including two underage juveniles — is back in the Escambia County Jail after being located in Century Wednesday.
Ronald Berlan Newton, 48, of Blackmon Street, Century, was due to appear before Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford on one charge of indecent exposure and two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior by a person over 18 on a victim under 16 years old. He was released on $21,000 bond.
When he failed to appear, the judge issued a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested by Escambia County deputies early Wednesday afternoon, two days after a story about his warrant and photo appeared on NorthEscambia.com. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Newton was first arrested September 2 after allegedly exposing himself to an adult female and two female juveniles. Newton, according to the arrest report, approached the woman and asked for change for a $20 bill. As the woman went to get the change, according to the report, Newton, who was dressed in a white robe, exposed himself. When questioned by deputies, Newton denied the accusations against him.
More Details On 2001 Cold Case That Prompted Tuesday Manhunt
October 7, 2009
We now know more information about Bruce Edward Day, 42, the murder suspect that was the subject of a massive manhunt in Pensacola Tuesday afternoon.
The murder warrant that U.S. Marshals attempted to serve Tuesday afternoon was issued Monday, according to Escambia County (Ala.) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert. in connection to the death of Woodrow “Token” Allen (pictured left), officially reported missing from Nokomis in 2001.
“They felt like there was enough evidence to obtain the warrant at this time and get a conviction,” Lambert told NorthEscambia.com. He was not disclose what new evidence or information prompted prosecutors to seek the warrant eight years after Allen went missing.
“We can’t disclose any of that right now,” Lambert said. “But there is now enough evidence to convict him.”
Click here for information about Tuesday’s manhunt.
Allens body has not been located, the chief deputy said. “He is considered a murder victim and missing at this time,” he said.
Day was arrested on attempted murder charged in January 2002 for shooting three times into a vehicle on James Road in Nokomis on October 28, 2001. The vehicle was occupied at the time by Allen, 25, and his juvenile niece.
Allen’s mother reported him missing on December 17, 2001, claiming that she has last seen her son on December 13, 2001.
Allen was last seen walking away from the residence of his friend, Donald David Clemmons on Nathan Road in Nokomis. When Day was arrested by Escambia County (Ala.) deputies in January 2002, he was in a vehicle on Highway 31 in Nokomis with Clemmons, according to reports. Methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle with the two men, deputies said.
Day was charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle, two counts of attempted murder, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Authorities said Allen was scheduled to testify against Day over the shooting. Day was found not guilty on the attempted murder charges, and he was sentenced to a year in jail for reckless endangerment.
Lambert said no warrants have been issued for Clemmons. “He is not a suspect in this case,” he told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday.
Authorities tried for weeks to locate Allen, who lived on Ammons Road on the Baldwin-Escambia county line.
Tim Hawsey, who was sheriff at the time of the Allen’s disappearance, said Tuesday that he remembers the hours spent searching the area for Allen, including a horseback ride through a wooded area.
“I remember we searched a lot, but we were just not able to find him,” Hawsey said.
Authorities even searched Dyas Lake in Baldwin County for Allen’s body after a tipster indicated that he was thrown into the Lake. A diving team was unable to locate any sign of his body.
Click here for information about Tuesday’s manhunt.
Photo courtesy WEAR.
Already A Competitor For Bay Minette’s New Auto Plant?
October 7, 2009
Just two weeks after Benjamin Yeung announced his HK Motors would bring a hybrid automotive plant and 5,000 jobs to Bay Minette, his former business partner has announced a similar $1 billion plant in north Mississippi.
Charles Wang, CEO of GreenTech Automotive, Inc., unveiled four prototype hybrids in Tunica the company hopes to build as soon as they secure $1 billion in funding.
Wang and Yeung are former business partners that, according to court documents, had planned to build the Tunica plant together. After a disagreement, Yeung announced plans for Bay Minette and Wang stayed in Tunica.
Yeung’s Alabama plans — which locates a massive plant just on 3,000 acres just a few miles from North Escambia — calls for initial production of all model lines to begin in 2013, with a Phase 1 capacity of 300,000 vehicles, while creating more than 5,000 direct jobs.
Want’s Mississippi plan a $1 billion facility on 1,500 acres with an 1,500 jobs and an initial production of 150,000 vehicles annually.
That’s not where the similarities end — both men say their companies need the $1 billion in funding to get cars rolling of their assembly lines. Both have said they are confident they will secure funding, but neither has provided many details. GreenTech has said that they play to pursue a fast track government immigration program that provides citizenship to foreigners investing in U.S. businesses.
“We are excited to be bringing the latest in automotive innovation to Americans, made by Americans, and we look forward to the very significant impact that our project will have on the local and regional economic landscape,”" Wang said Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Baldwin County Commission and HK Motors signed a letter of intent Tuesday on the 3,000 acre parcel near Bay Minette, allowing HK Motors to move forward towards securing funding.
Pictured above: An artist rendering of one of the GreenTech vehicles announced Tuesday in Mississippi. Submitted for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Works Continues On Molino Road Resurfacing Project
October 7, 2009
Work is continuing to resurface Molino Road from Highway 29 to Highway 99.
The $858,713.05 bid for the project was awarded back in July to Roads Inc. of NWF to resurface and reconstruct portions of the road. The project also includes other work such as stormwater pollution control, mulch, shoulder work and pavement striping.
Roads, Inc. is allowed under their contract to close just one lane at a time during the project only during working hours.
The Molino Road project is being funding by Local Option Sales Tax funds.
Other bidders on the project were Panhandle Grading and Paving, Inc. for $906,933.12, APAC Southeast, Inc. for $1,287,682.35, and Gulf Atlantic Constructors, Inc. for $1,427,555.12.
Pictured above: Work continued Tuesday afternoon to resurface Molino Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Graduations To Remain At Civic Center, Except For Northview
October 7, 2009
Six Escambia County High Schools — not including Northview — will use the Pensacola Civic Center for graduation exercises in 2010.
The Escambia County School Board has approved the $26,630.88 rental fee for the Escambia County owned facility for June 2 and 3, 2010, for graduations for Washington, Pensacola, Escambia, Tate, West Florida and Pine Forest high schools.
Northview High School will not use the Pensacola Civic Center for its 2010 graduation; the school traditionally uses the gym with an overflow crowd watching the event on a video feed in the school theater.
The rental fee includes the use of the building and items like security, medical and event staff.
Ernest Ward Beats Blacksher 30-14
October 7, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles beat J.U. Blacksher 30-14 Tuesday night in Walnut Hill.
Blacksher managed a touchdown with less than a minute on the clock, but it was not near enough to beat Ernest Ward, Esambia County, Florida’s only middle school football team.
Ernest Ward has one football game remaining — Thursday, October 15 at 6 p.m. at home in Walnut Hill.
Pictured above: Hunter Hendrix (#29) and Daulton Tullis (#10) were among the Eagles defenders attempting to stop J.U. Blacksher’s final touchdown of the night. Pictured left: Ali Martin cheers for EWMS Eagles. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Little Local Interest In Government Consolidation Committee Meeting
October 7, 2009
Only a handful of people turned out for the meeting of the full Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission Tuesday night in Century.
The commission continued with their ongoing task of drafting a plan for consolidating Century, Pensacola and Escambia County under a single government. In addition to Century Mayor Freddie McCall, some of the town’s council and very few private citizens from North Escambia attended the meeting.
“We are able to control our destiny where we are at,” McCall told the commission about Century’s current governmental structure as a town. We haven’t had a lot of cooperation over the years…we are known as the forgotten end of the county.”
The study commission was formed when the Florida Legislature passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Greg Evers. The commission is tasked with studying various forms of consolidated government, and they are expected to issue their recommendations by the end of the year. If the commission recommends a consolidated government, the question would be presented to voters in 2010.
Pictured above: Century Mayor Freddie McCall addresses the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission Tuesday night in Century. Pictured below: Only a small number of people, most of them not from North Escambia, turned out to hear the commission in action. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Highway 29 Crash
October 6, 2009
No one was injured in a two vehicle crash this morning on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
The accident was reported about 10:30 at the intersection of Highway 29 and Neal Road. The driver of a Mazda RX-8 apparently collided with a utility trailer being pulled by a the driver of Chevrolet pickup.
No one involved in the crash was transported to the hospital.
Northbound traffic was reduced to one lane about an hour by the crash.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Engine 1819 from the Molino Station and Escambia County EMS also responded to the call.
Pictured above: No one was injured in this two vehicle accident at Highway 29 and Neal Road in Cantonment Tuesday morning.
Driver Flips On Highway 29
October 6, 2009
One person escaped serious injury in a single vehicle accident south of McDavid this morning.
The accident happened about 8 a.m. on Highway 29 near Cotton Creek Road when the driver of a Ford Focus lost control, ran off the road and flipped over into a muddy ditch. The Focus came to rest upside down in the ditch.
The driver, who initially refused treatment, was transported by ambulance to the hospital with minor injuries.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the call.
Pictured above and below: The driver of this Ford Focus sustained only minor injuries in a Tuesday morning accident on Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bond Revoked For Man Accused Of Shooting Into Elderly Woman’s Home Over Fake Crack
October 6, 2009
A Molino man that allegedly fired a rifle into an elderly woman’s house in April after he became upset that he purchased $40 of fake cocaine is now back in jail after a judge revoked his $100,000 bond.
Robert Grant Piehl, 41, of Wilder Road, Molino, was arrested Monday after Judge Terry Terrell revoked his current bond.
Piehl bond conditions stated that he have no contact with the victims and that he stay away from Barth Lane where the incident occurred. He is charged with five felonies — aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, two counts firing into the dwelling, criminal mischief and robbery with a firearm. A charge of using a firearm during a felony was dropped by prosecutors.
He was booked back into the Escambia Count Jail Monday afternoon, where he remains on $90,000 bond. Piehl is scheduled to be back in court on October 13.
Piehl reportedly bought what he thought was crack cocaine for $40 on April 15 on Barth Lane, according to his original arrest report. But he discovered the crack was fake and returned to confront the alleged dealer with a .22 caliber rifle Wednesday evening, according to deputies. Piehl pointed the rifle at several people and fired into two houses, according to police reports.
Piehl approached and 88-year old woman and asked about the alleged drug dealer, according to the sheriff’s department. The elderly woman denied knowing the man, prompting Piehl to fire the rifle through the woman’s door, according to deputies. There were no injuries.
Deputies responding to the 911 call about the incident found Piehl and another man as they were leaving, stopped their vehicle and arrested them on Highway 29. The rifle allegedly used in the incident was still in the truck, according to deputies. Charges against the second man have since been dropped.