Sheriff’s Office Increases Number Of Deputies In North Escambia
March 18, 2010
New deputies are now on the streets of North Escambia thanks to a federal economic stimulus program grant.
The five new patrol officers were added with the assistance of a $3.3 million, three-year grant that will fund 20 new Community Oriented Policing (COPS) positions in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
“As promised to the citizens, the first officers under this program were sent to the north end,” Sheriff David Morgan said Wednesday.
The COPS grant federal funding ends in three years, but the Escambia County Commission committed last year to fund the positions for a fourth year at a cost to the county of $1.1 million.
“Out intention is to have the officers up there permanently,” Morgan said. “Sometimes based upon crime stats we will temporarily reassign officers to other areas, but our intent is always to send them back.”
In addition to regular patrols, officers in the new grant-funded positions will engage in community oriented policing activities. The officers will participate in problem oriented policing in conjunction with the Community Oriented Policing Unit, and investigating underlying issues in the community that could lead to criminal activity.
“One of the best law enforcement activities is having your officers integrated in the community,” Morgan said.
Deputies Jon Moore, Melissa Sterling, Mike Dekort, Mike Coburn and David Bashore will be the five new COPS officers in North Escambia. Morgan said area residents will recognize some of the officer names because they have worked in the area for some period of time, but they have been reassigned to the COPS positions. The patrol positions that they vacated have or will be filled to bring the Cantonment/Molino and Century precincts up to their full staffing level.
The overall law enforcement in presence in the Cantonment/Molino precinct will increase to a total of 20 deputies, and the total in the Century/Walnut Hill precinct will increase to 19.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced $1 billion in funding across the nation including $3,344,620 for the ECSO for 20 deputies in late July. The program includes $1 billion in grants to create or maintain 4,699 sworn officers nationwide under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Only four agencies in Florida — the Miami PD, Jacksonville PD, Polk County SO and Pasco County SO — received funding for more officers than Escambia County.
But the other area agencies that applied — the Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department, Poarch Creek Tribal Police Department and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department – received nothing. The Atmore Police Department did not apply for funds under the program.
Pictured: Deputy David Bashore makes an arrest in this file photo. Bashore is one of five COPS grant officers announced for North Escambia. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Attempting To Strangle Ex-wife
March 18, 2010
A North Escambia man is jailed after he allegedly attempted to strangle his ex-wife, with whom he was residing with in violation of a 12-year old restraining order.
Harvey Lamar Brown, 52, of Highway 4A, Century, is charged with felony domestic battery by strangulation and contempt of court for willfully violating a restraining order.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, the victim said her ex-husband apparently became jealous because she talked to a young man at a yard sale outside her home. When she went inside, a confrontation erupted, and Brown “strangled her to the point of almost passing out”, Deputy Jeff Gardner wrote in his report. When the victim attempted to call for help, Brown allegedly threw her on the floor and tried to break her neck, the report states.
The victim escaped and ran to a neighbor’s house to call for help. She refused medical treatment.
Brown acknowledged to deputies that an argument had occurred and said that the victim had bitten him on the arm. He admitted to the deputy that they “got into a fight (and) tussled around”.
According to the arrest report, a permanent domestic violence injunction was issued against Brown in December, 1997. Deputy Gardner wrote in his report that Brown thought the injunction had been recalled and that “she mislead him into living with her”. The report states Brown had become the caregiver for the victim, who is suffering from a medical condition.
Brown remains in the Escambia County Jail on $100,000 bond. He is due to appear in court again on April 8.
School Prayer Bill Clears First Hurdle (With Document)
March 18, 2010
A controversial school prayer bill cleared its first hurdle in the House, paving the way for teacher participation in student-sponsored prayer.
The House Pre-K-12 Policy committee voted 10-3 to forward HB 31, which would prohibit school districts from forcing teachers to enter an agreement that says they cannot participate in any religious activities initiated by students, a situation that occurred in Santa Rosa County.
Santa Rosa school officials said that under a consent decree, they have to leave a room or offer a disclaimer that they are not participating if their students bow their head in prayer or engage in some other religious-based activity.
Mickey Lindsey, the football coach at Pace High School in Santa Rosa County, said if his players decide to pray before a game, he must turn his back. If a player gets injured during a game and the parents say a prayer, he can’t pray with them.
Because of the decree, he said, it looks like he is not being supportive of the boys he coaches.
“I completely agree that we shouldn’t force religion on anyone, but we do have rights of our own,” Lindsey told the committee.
Lawmakers have sponsored school prayer bills in the past, but failed to pass them. This week, the House committee offered up new language to the bill that changed the focus from the students to the teachers. However, it does still contain language that prohibits teachers from discouraging students from initiating the delivery of an “inspirational message” at a school event.
Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, who is a co-sponsor of the current legislation and has sponsored the bill in the past, said he believes the bill does have a better chance at making it through the legislative process than in past years because of the revamped language.
“It’s not telling anyone that they have to [pray],” he said. “It’s not telling anyone they can’t.”
But some lawmakers and interest groups say there are constitutional issues with the measure. The Anti-Defamation League and American Civil Liberties Union are lined up against the proposal.
An amendment was approved to remove the word “prayer” when describing the inspirational message, but some lawmakers still said they saw problems with the bill.
Rep. Marty Kiar, D-Davie, said the legislation was “blatantly unconstitutional” under the establishment clause, which states that the government cannot establish or prefer one religion. The bill, he said, could be unfair to Jewish or Muslim students who attend school with mostly Christian students who could initiate a prayer or religious message in opposition to those students’ faiths.
Rep. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, one of the other “no” votes, added that the legislation could also create a scenario where a student could openly attack students who are gay or of a different race, and teachers would be unable to stop that.
“If you know students you understand this, you don’t know what could come out of their mouths unchecked,” Bullard said.
The legislation still has three more committee stops before it could go before the full House. The Senate has not yet taken up its version of the measure, which still includes the original language rather than the teacher-focused language.
Rezoning Approved So Molino Man Can Put Mobile Home On Family Land
March 18, 2010
The Escambia County Commission has approved rezoning a piece of property on Highway 97 so that a Molino man can move in a mobile home for his son.
The 36.5 acres at 51 Highway 97 were rezoned from V-2, which allowed two dwelling units per acre, to VR-2, which will allow one dwelling unit — including a mobile home — per .75 acre. The commission approved the rezoning 5-0.
In January, Bennie Hassebrock told commissioners that he has tried for four years to get approval for a mobile home on the property, which he said had been in his family for over 60 years. The property’s zoning does not allow a mobile home.
“Everywhere I go, they tell me I can’t do this,” Hassebrock said in January. “I’m against trailers myself, but I’m trying to live within our means, and our means can’t build him a house right now.”
“He got caught up when the zoning map was thrown down,” District 5 Commissioner Kevin White said. “It’s one of those where you’ve got a trailer across the street and its OK, but his zone does not allow it.” White said the county’s rezoning fees would be hardship for Hassebrock.
The 36.5 acres are located on Highway 97 south of Highway 29.
Pictured: Bennie Hassebrock addresses the Escambia County Commission in January.
CFO Announces More Charges For Cantonment Man Accused Of Fabricating Shooting Story
March 18, 2010
Florida’s Chief Financial Officer has announced that insurance fraud charges have been filed against the Cantonment man arrested for fabricating a shooting story.
John Horace Bryant, 34, was charged with staging an accident with intent to file a claim, filing a false insurance claim with the Department of Insurance, grant theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
His arrest was part of a statewide sweep of staged accident scammers last week that resulted in the arrest of 19 suspects by Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s department.
“Staged accidents put every Floridian at risk, both physically and financially,” said Sink. “I am taking aggressive action every day to get these scammers off our streets and behind bars where they belong.”
Bryant was arrested in February on two child cruelty charges for shooting a teenager in the leg as part of what deputies say was a fabricated story designed to frame his ex-wife. The charges stem from an incident where a 17-year old juvenile was shot with birdshot in the left leg during the early morning hours of January 4 on Sundance Lane in Cantonment. He was also charged with aggravated stalking and obstruction of justice for making up the shooting stories in an attempt to frame his ex-wife.
“Subsequent investigations revealed that Bryant had directed a 16-year old to shoot the other juvenile with a shotgun taken from Bryant’s house,” Sgt. Ted Roy, sheriff’s office spokesperson, said after the arrest. “The actual shooting victim believed he had been shot by Jennifer Bryant due to the statements made to him by John Braynt.” Jennifer Bryant is John Bryant’s ex-wife.
Bond in the insurance fraud case has been set at $35,000 for Bryant. He is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail on earlier charges.
Councilman Votes Against $900 For $1.1 Million Grant; Votes For $550 Ad
March 18, 2010
At their last meeting, the Town of Century voted 3-1 to spend $900 so a $1.1 million grant project could move forward and voted 4-0 to spend $550 for a newspaper ad.
The town is in the middle of a Federal Emergency Management Agency review to receive $1.1 million to improve drainage off Highway 29 in the north part of town. The project includes purchasing all or part of five parcels of property. In order to receive the grant, the town must provide FEMA with a fair estimate of the cost to purchase the property.
Engineer Dale Long recommended to the town council that an appraiser be hired for $900 to determine how much should be offered to each property owner.
“We are doing things without counting our costs,” Councilman Henry Hawkins said before voting against spending the $900. “I’m tired of acting like we’ve got tons of money we don’t have.”
Later in the same meeting, the council — including Hawkins — voted 4-0 to spend $550 to purchase a full page ad in an upcoming “Progress Edition” of the Tri-City Ledger.
North Dakota Jogger Hit By Jeep Was Visiting, Volunteering On Spring Break
March 18, 2010
The young North Dakota college student killed Tuesday night in a vehicle-pedestrian accident on Highway 95A was in Escambia County with about 40 other youth taking part in a college service trip during her spring break.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Sarah D. Martinsen, 21, of Minot, North Dakota, was jogging southbound on the grassy shoulder of 95A with traffic. She entered the paved portion of the road and was struck by a 1995 Jeep driven by Melissa D. Arnold, 40, of Cantonment. Martinsen was pronounced dead at the scene by Escambia County EMS. Arnold and her passenger, 15-year old James D. Arnold, were not injured. No charges have been filed in the accident.
Martinsen was a junior majoring in sociology at North Dakota State University.
A native of Minot, N.D., she was in Escambia County as part of a service trip involving the NDSU chapter of Students Today Leaders Forever. The group, which included 40 members from NDSU and two from Minnesota State University Moorhead, was on a six-city “Pay It Forward Tour.” During the tours, students participate in service and leadership activities, learn about social issues, build relationships and make a commitment to continued action when they return home.
Earlier during the day of the accident, the students were in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where Martinsen worked with children with learning disabilities, cleaned the facility and participated in a dance party. A friend said Martinsen had called the experience the best day of her life.
“Sarah was such a great role model,” Megan Piper, a first-year student majoring in family and consumer sciences education from Casselton, N.D., who met Martinsen on the trip. “I want to live my life the way she lived hers. She inspired me from the very first time I spoke to her to the last time I saw her.
“I’m so happy she was part of my life, and that she got to have the best day of her life the day she left us. I can’t wait to see her again in heaven,” Piper said.
In Martinsen’s honor, the group cleaned a church in Pensacola Wednesday morning. The group also decided to continue on to New Orleans, the last stop of the tour, where they were scheduled to meet six other Pay It Forward Tour buses to participate in a joint service project and celebration.
Martinsen was membership chair of the Phi Eta Sigma national honor society and a member of NDSU Sociology Club. She was the daughter of Wayne Martinsen and Debra DeWitz, Minot, ND.
“Our heart goes out to family and friends of Sarah Martinson, she was a model student and clearly a person who cared about others as evidenced by her participation in this program. Our university has suffered a great loss,” said NDSU university spokeswoman, Najla Amundson.
Pictured: North Dakota State University student Sarah Martinsen who was killed when she was struck by a Jeep Tuesday night on Highway 95A. Below, she is pictured at the campus radio station. Photos courtesy WEAR Pensacola and KXMC TV Minot, ND for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Preschoolers Celebrate 100 Years Of Camp Fire USA
March 18, 2010
The preschoolers at the Camp Fire USA Child Development Center in Century kicked off their celebration of 100th birthday of the Camp Fire program on Wednesday. They formed the number “100″ (pictured above) and celebrated with birthday cupcakes (below). They also learned to count all the way to 100. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Creepy Crawlies Today At The Library
March 18, 2010
There’s a chance for your kids to learn a little more about the creepy crawlies in North Escambia this afternoon at the Century Branch Library.
Beth Bolles, Escambia County Extension Service, will present “Creepy Crawly Bugs” at the Century Branch Library at 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come see and learn about strange local insects. The event is free. For more info, call (850) 256-6217.
Council To Prioritize Road Projects Without Engineer
March 18, 2010
The Century Town Council will not rely on their engineer to prioritize street resurfacing projects. Instead, council members will create their own list — a process the mayor thinks might be too political.
Town Engineer Dale Long presented a $10,200 proposal to survey 21 miles of streets for road condition, width and drainage issues. From the survey, the engineering company would create the list of streets that should be resurfaced first.
“I want to take the politics out of prioritizing these roads,” Mayor Freddie McCall said.
Council member Henry Hawkins said spending over $10,000 to create the priority list made no sense to him when the council could create the list.
“We have our own people riding these roads every day, and they know,” Council member Gary Riley said.
Long said that with the engineer survey, the town could make educated decisions and be ready to apply for any potential future grants.
Council President Ann Brooks said the council would discuss a road resurfacing priority list at their next meeting.