Cantonment Armed Robbery Under Investigation; Two Police Cars Crash During Chase

August 8, 2010

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery in Cantonment that eventually led to a chase and a traffic crash involving two police cars.

A black male armed with a knife reportedly robbed the BP gas station in the 200 block of Highway 29, directly across from International Paper. The incident occurred about 9 p.m.  Friday. The store clerk was not injured.

Authorities say the same person may be responsible for an armed robbery at another gas station in the City of Pensacola a short time later before heading to Gulf Breeze.

Gulf Breeze Police Department officers got into a chase with the Pensacola robbery suspect, David Charles George, 21, in Gulf Breeze about 10:20 p.m.. At least three Gulf Breeze Police cars were chasing George when one cruiser was involved in a traffic crash with James Finch, 70, of Gulf Breeze.

Finch, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, yielded for the first two police cars on Fairpoint Drive. But, according to the FHP, he did not see the third police car running with emergency lights and sirens and pulled into its path. The Gulf Breeze officer, Terry J. Godwin, 31, slid 112 feet before striking  Finch’s 2007 Toyota, pushing it into a large tree. Finch and his passenger, Lillian Finch, 66, received minor injuries and were transported to Gulf Breeze Hospital. James Finch was charged with failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Godwin and fellow officer Paul C. Stetfon, 43, received minor injuries but were not transported to the hospital.

As the chase ended, the vehicle driven by robbery suspect George struck another Gulf Breeze police cruiser twice. George was taken into custody and charged with fleeing and eluding police, aggravated battery, vehicle theft and a drug charge. George, who listed his address as homeless, was being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail on $200,000 bond. He has not yet been charged with the robbery in Pensacola or Cantonment.

Comments

4 Responses to “Cantonment Armed Robbery Under Investigation; Two Police Cars Crash During Chase”

  1. David Huie Green on August 11th, 2010 1:17 pm

    According to the article, he went into Gulf Breeze after the event

    “Authorities say the same person may be responsible for an armed robbery at another gas station in the City of Pensacola a short time later before heading to Gulf Breeze.”

  2. T.A. on August 11th, 2010 12:57 pm

    Let’s see… Gulf Breeze Police were in a chase that injured some Gulf Breeze residents and they were taken to Gulf Breeze hospital. I wonder where they might have been?

  3. April on August 10th, 2010 10:34 pm

    Why was GB Police in Cantonment? That’s w~ay outta their jurisdiction!

  4. T.K. aka The DODGE MAN on August 9th, 2010 1:41 pm

    The liberal judges of escambia county will probably slap him on the wrist anyway. They should have just let him go !!!!!!