Deputies Seek Suspect In Murder Off Hwy. 29 In Ensley
December 10, 2010
Deputies are looking for a man in connection with a murder Thursday night off Highway 29 in the Ensley area.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Kangaroo Convenience Store, located at 7950 Pensacola Blvd. for a reported shooting victim about 11:30 p.m.. They identified the victim as Martel Caron Miley, 28, of Pensacola.
According to a witness, Miley was shot while in the area of Tower Terrace and Tower Road, not far from the convenience store. After being shot he was driven to the convenience store by the witness, according to Chris Welborn, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.
Escambia County EMS responded to the scene and transported Miley to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Sheriff’s investigators have developed several leads and are looking for a person of interest in this case, identified as Jerome Devin Ruffins, 22, of Pensacola. Anyone with information about the whereabout of Ruffis (pictured) should call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Authorities Investigating Escambia, Alabama Murder
December 10, 2010
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office is investigating a murder that occurred Thursday night in the Damascus community outside Brewton.
At about 9 p.m., deputies responded to 805 McGowin Hill Road where they found the body of 46-year old Angela Susan Fleming. Her son, John Brian Fleming, was taken into custody and charged with an open count of her murder.
John Bryan Fleming is being held in the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton without bond.
The investigation into the homicide is continuing, and authorities have not released further details.
No Injuries In School Bus Crash; Second Crash For Same Bus In A Month
December 10, 2010
There were no injuries in an accident involving an Escambia County School bus with 15 students on board Friday morning in Century – the second accident in about month for bus 28-06.
The Florida Highway Patrol a SUV driven by Marlena J. Dunsford of Century pulled out of private driveway onto Glover Road into the path of the bus driven by Stephanie Morgan, 36, of Century. The bus was transporting students to Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High schools.
Dunsford and her four-year old passenger were not injured. Dunsford, the driver of the SUV, was charged with driving while license suspended, violation of right of way and no proof of insurance. The bus driver, Morgan, was not charged.
Bus 28-06 was involved in another crash that injured one student last month in Bratt. Morgan, the bus driver, was charged with careless driving in connection with that accident. For more on that accident, click here.
NorthEscambia photos, click to enlarge.
Father And Son Charged With Shooting Into Family’s Home
December 10, 2010
A father and son were arrested Thursday night for firing into house occupied by a family in Pollard, Alabama.
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call at 8:04 p.m. at 2600 Old Highway 31. Deputies responded to find the homeowner, Melvin McBride, Jr, and his family members unharmed, but they stated that Johnnie Mark Brittingham and another unknown subject came to their residence and fired shots into the occupied residence.
Deputies located the suspects’ vehicle pulling back into Brittingham’s residence on Pineview Cemetary Road in the Pineview community. Johnnie Mark Brittingham, 42, and his father, Cecil Rufus Brittingham, 70, were taken into custody and charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling, a felony.
Both subjects remain at the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton awaiting a bond hearing.
Pollard, Alabama, is located just east of Flomaton and about two miles north of the Florida state line.
Escambia County School District Considers Random Student Drug Testing
December 10, 2010
The Escambia County School District is considering random student drug testing for the next school year.
Under the proposed policy presented to the school board Thursday, students that participate in athletics, extracurricular activities or park on campus would be subject to the random urine tests. A signed parental consent form would be valid during the entire school year, not just for the duration of the athletic season or extracurricular activity period.
Students whose parents do not consent to the tests would not be allowed to participate in the activities — including any practice, tryout, rehearsal or even sit with the team, club or organization at a game or pep rally.
The drug tests will be conducted by the school health nurse or technician under the plan. If there is a positive result, the student would be required to take a follow-up drug test at a District-approved licensed laboratory within 24 hours. Failure to take the follow-up test would be considered a positive result, according to the proposed plan.
If a student refuses to participate in a random drug test, it will be considered a positive result.
A positive result would result in the student being removed from all extracurricular and athletic activities, including practices, for at least 30 days and would be suspended from driving on the school campus. The student would be referred to a District-approved drug assessment and rehabilitation program.
A student with a positive drug test result would be required to pass a second drug test before participation in future activities at the expense of their parents. They would be subject to additional random drug tests, and they would remain on probation for the rest of their school years in the Escambia County School District. The student would not be allowed to return to any leadership position — such as captain of a squad, club officer or class officer — for the remainder of the school year.
A second positive result would prohibit a student from participation in all athletics and extracurricular activities and from driving on campus for one full calendar year.
Before the random drug testing plan is implemented for the 2011-2012 school year, it must first be approved by the Escambia County School Board.
Man Busted For Meth Lab Week After Fire Destroys His Mobile Home
December 10, 2010
About a week after a possible meth lab accident caused a Cottage Hill man’s mobile home to burn to the ground, he was arrested on multiple drug charges when deputies discovered an alleged meth lab in his motel room.
Deputies went to the Extended Stay Lodge on Pensacola Boulevard to question Raymond Eugene Love, 29, about a “previous possible methamphetamine manufacturing accident that resulted in a fire in his residence”, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. Inside the motel room, deputies found the alleged meth lab items, a bag of methamphetamine, a bag of marijuana and a “glass smoking device”.
Love was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana under 20 grams and with tampering with a fire alarm in connection with the motel room incident. He remained in the Escambia County Jail early Friday morning on $36,500 bond.
Love’s mobile home on Eastman Lane near McKenzie Road burned to the ground the night of November 30. The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office said Thursday that the official cause of that blaze is still under investigation and no charges have been filed in connection with the fire.
Murder Suspect Found By NorthEscambia.com Get 20 Years
December 10, 2010
A man arrested for murder after NorthEscambia.com spotted his getaway van returning to the scene of the crime pleaded guilty to manslaughter Thursday in Escambia County (Ala.) Circuit Court.
Clarence Luker, 38, will spend the next 20 years behind bars under a plea agreement reached with prosecutors for the murder of Kenneth Porter, 32, in September 2009. Lorraine Gray is also charged with murder in the case; her trial is scheduled to begin Monday.
Porter was shot after a dispute at a trailer park on Nathan Road in Nokomis, Ala. He died about two hours later at a Mobile hospital. Luker and Gray fled the scene in a late model in a late 1980’s two-tone Ford Econoline van. Law enforcement agencies from Alabama and Florida were on the lookout for the van.
When NorthEscambia.com arrived at the murder scene about to take a picture of the trailers were the incident occurred, all law enforcement personnel had been gone from the scene just a short period of time. After our photos were taken, NorthEscambia.com spotted the alleged getaway vehicle around the corner from the murder location, headed toward the murder scene.
When deputies arrived back on Nathan Road about 10 minutes later, they found Gray, the female suspect, in the van parked at the murder scenes. Deputies said she exited the van with her hands up and said “I’m the one you are looking for”.
She was taken into custody just before 11 p.m. and placed in the back of a patrol car. NorthEscambia.com was there as she made a complete confession to Sheriff Grover Smith, telling him that she shot Porter.
“I shot him,” she said. “I’m the one that did it….I took the gun and I shot him.”
Tracking dogs from Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore and the Century Correctional Institution were called to the scene to search for Luker. As the dogs began their search of the area, Luker was taken into custody about midnight near the intersection of Nathan and James Roads. His clothes were splattered with blood. Luker also admitted to deputies that he was the shooter.
For more exclusive photos from the scene, click here. For our September 25, 2009, story about the murder, click here.
Pictured top: NorthEscambia.com found the suspect’s getaway van returning to the scene of the crime Pictured top inset: Murder suspect Clarence Luker was taken into custody Pictured middle inset: Escambia County (Ala.) Chief Deputy Mike Lambeth as the deputies searched for murder suspect Clarance Luker. Pictured bottom inset: Murder suspect Lorraine Gray speaks to Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith about the shooting of Kenneth Porter. NorthEscambia.com exclusive file photos, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Weightlifting Team Places In West Fla. Meet
December 10, 2010
Several members of the Northview High School girls weightlifting team placed during their first meet of the season at West Florida High School.
The Northview girls competed in bench press and clean and jerk. West Florida High School placed first overall, followed by Northview in second and Washington High in third.
The following Northview girls placed in their weight class:
- Georgia Geotter, sophomore -4th
- Kasie Braun, freshman -3rd
- Laneicia Gomez, senior -1st
- Mallory Bell, senior -4th
- Sarah Killam, senior -1st
- Audra Martin, freshman -4th
- Brittany Peebles, senior -1st
- Naomi Cooler, senior -2nd
- Te’Andreia Knight, sophomore -3rd
For more photos from the meet, click here.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com
Saturday Fun: Chumuckla Redneck Parade, BonfireJam
December 10, 2010
The Chumuckla Athletic Association will host it’s annual Chumuckla Redneck Parade on Saturday at 2:00, to be followed by BonfireJam with country stars Rodney Atkins and Little Big Town.
The day will begin at 9:00 with a car and tractor show, rock climbing and jumpers, crafts, and lots of food.
Ticket prices for the BonfireJam are $20 for general admission, $35 for preferred seating and $25 at the gate, while they last. The box office will open at 10 a.m. on the day of the show.
Children under the age of ten are free with purchase of an adult ticket for the general admission section only. General admission will be festival seating, so be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket and arrive early, the gate opens at 3 p.m. and the concert starts at 5 p.m. Seating will be provided for preferred seating ticket holders.
To purchase tickets and for more information, visit www.bonfirejam.com. (Tickets are not needed for the free parade.)
Starting Saturday’s musical entertainment will be the Sawmill Band, which is the house band of the Famers Opry House in Chumuckla followed by Little Big Town at 6:30 and Atkins at 8 p.m.
The event funds Rednecks Caring at Christmas program that provides Christmas to the needy kids in the area.
Wins For NHS Girls, JV Boys Against Baker
December 10, 2010
The Northview Chiefs split games with the Baker Gators Thursday evening, with wins for the Chiefs’ varsity girls, and junior varsity girls.
Varsity Boys
Baker 47, Northview 45
The Northview varsity Chiefs and the Baker Gators were tied 45-45 headed into the final minutes of their game Thursday night in Bratt. But with a couple of free throws, the Gators pulled out a 47-45 victor.
Varsity Girls
Northview 43, Baker 37
JV Boys
Northview 29, Baker 23
JV Girls
Baker 30, Northview 13