Pensacola Woman Set On Fire; Deputies Seek Attacker
March 25, 2010
Authorities are looking for clues after someone set fire to a Pensacola woman Wednesday night.
The 19-year old female suffered extensive second and third-degree burns over a large area of her body, according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. She was transferred to the burn unit at the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile where she is listed in critical condition.
The Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Lepley Road in the Ensley community for a domestic disturbance. They found that the 19-year old had been set on fire and severely burned.
She “was able to provide information that the burns to her were done intentionally and an accelerant was used. Investigators are still actively working the case and are not releasing any suspect information at this time,” according to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9630.
No Injuries When Driver Hits Pole On Highway 95A
March 25, 2010
There were no injuries in a car versus pole accident on Highway 95A just north of Quintette Road about 1:10 this afternoon. The Ensley and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call. Submitted photo by Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
We Sure Miss Her: A Father Speaks About His Daughter’s Murder
March 25, 2010
Danny Cain of Cantonment put new flowers on his daughter’s grave Wednesday morning.
“It wasn’t suppose to be this way,” Cain told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday afternoon. She was a rodeo star, a proud Tate graduate, and doing what she loved — working with animals at the office of a Pensacola veterinarian.
That all changed one year ago when the body of Cheryl Renee Cain, 29, of Cantonment, was found in a dumpster at an abandoned gas station at the corner of Burgess Road and Highway 29 on March 25, 2009 — one year ago today.
“It was a senseless deed,” Cain said. “There’s no way to explain it.”
Scott Joseph Thompson, 30, of Pensacola, has been charged with second degree murder for the strangulation death. He remains in the Escambia County Jail awaiting trial.
“I think about it every day; something always reminds me of her” Cain said. “There’s no way to explain it. He took her life.”
“His family can visit him in jail; we weren’t given that option to see our daughter. My tax dollars are paying for him to sit in jail. It’s pretty disgusting when you think about it for a while.”
Cain admits sometimes he thinks that he would like to sit down face to face with Thompson. “I wish I could talk to him and understand why.”
The support of friends, family and church have been important for the Cain family. A memorial in front of the gas station where Cheryl’s body was discovered has also provide a bit of solace. Hundreds of stuffed animals and handwritten notes have been left behind by the community. But nothing, Cain said, replaces the empty void created by the murder.
“We sure miss her. I wish we could have her back.”
Thompson has been held without bond since his arrest on June 9. When he was arrested on the second degree murder charges, he was already in the Escambia County Jail for violating probation on 2007 narcotics charges, according to court records, waiting for a bed to become available in a drug treatment facility.
DNA evidence from the dumpster and in Cain’s car were used to charge Thompson with second degree murder, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. Thompson’s DNA was reportedly found in Cain’s vehicle, which was located after the murder at a Pensacola motel.
Cain’s wallet was found under Thompson’s bed, authorities said.
Thompson’s jury trial has been tentatively scheduled to begin May 10.
Pictured top: Cheryl Cain and her dog Bandit. Pictured bottom inset: Cain’s body was discovered in this Pensacola dumpster. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bottom photo courtesy WEAR.
Senate Passes Bill To Link Teacher Salaries To Student Peformance
March 25, 2010
A controversial bill that would link teachers’ salaries to student performance has passed the Florida Senate.
The legislation would base salary increases on student performance and put all teachers on annual contract. New teachers in the state would remain on probation for five years.
It would align the state’s standards to its Race to the Top application, for a piece of the $4.35 billion competitive grant the U.S. Department of Education is offering to states. Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, offered a late filed amendment that would allow school boards to consider advanced degrees as one part of a teacher’s ability to receive a pay raise. Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who initially did not want to include recognition of advanced degrees, supported the measure.
Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton argued on behalf of the bill. “Why do we tolerate incompetent people taking the most precious thing we’ve got, the most valuable thing we’ve got, and allow them in the classroom?” he asked. Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, an opponent of the measure, said the bill was taking a “sledge hammer to the teaching profession.”
After lengthy debate, the Senate passed the bill 21-17. Four Republicans crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats in opposition to the measure.
The bill would force the Department of Education to implement some method to gauge whether students made learning gains over the school year.
“This legislation, I believe, over the years will allow our students to receive the best education,” Thrasher said. While the bill would require the
Jennifer Barnhill, a teacher at Pace Secondary School in Tallahassee, told a Senate committee last week that she feared the measure would jeopardize the salaries of teachers like her — whose classrooms include children with special needs. She said she has students who have Asperger syndrome, two who are rival gang members and three who are fathers. One student, she said, is now parenting his younger brother, because their father is in jail.
“He has no parent. He is the parent and I am his parent. No test can ever measure that,” she said.
Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith, a proponent of the so-called merit pay plan, said that “America is going in this direction” on merit pay for teachers.
“For the first time we’re actually talking about connecting issues of student achievement to evaluation,” he said.
Smith acknowledged that the department still really didn’t know how all teachers would be evaluated. He said staff has been consulting with leading researchers on the issue, but there is no template because Florida would be the first state to initiate this type of system.
Before the bill could become law, it must be passed by the Florida House.
Man Sentenced For DUI Wreck That Left 300 Without Power
March 25, 2010
A Cantonment man has been found guilty on DUI charges, and he’ll have to pay thousands to Gulf Power following an October wreck that left about 300 homes and business in Cantonment in the dark.
Joseph Paul Mathis, 28, was sentenced to 12 months probation, 50 hours of community service and his driver’s license will be suspended for a year.
He was also ordered to pay $10,774.53 to Gulf Power Company for damage to power company property in the 3:38 a.m. accident on October 21, 2009.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Mathis was westbound on McKenzie Road when he accelerated rapidly, lost control and fishtailed, leaving over 300 feet of acceleration and skid marks. He then hit about 90 feet of chain link fence at a home in the 2100 block of Eastman Lane while his 1997 Ford Crown Victoria was rotating clockwise. His car then struck and broke a utility pole, and continued another 45 feet across Eastman Lane were he hit the railroad crossing signal on the east side of the railroad tracks. After the Crown Vic came to a stop, it caught fire.
Mathis and his passenger, John W. Casey, 29, of Cantonment, exited the vehicle with only minor injuries, according to the FHP.
The power outage caused by the downed pole left 289 Gulf Power customers without power, some as long as eight hours.
In addition to the restitution to Gulf Power, the court may rule at a later date to order additional amounts be paid to CSX Railroad, Casey and private property owners that suffered damage in the wreck.
The End Of Saturday Mail Delivery
March 25, 2010
On Wednesday, the U.S. Postal Service took the first step toward eliminating Saturday mail delivery.
U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors approved management’s request to move forward with its five-day delivery proposal and to file a request for an advisory opinion with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on March 30.
Revenue from First-Class Mail – the Postal Service’s longtime bread-and-butter product — continues to decline as the use of electronic message delivery increases, according to the postal service. The Postal Service has identified the elimination of Saturday delivery as a primary method of cutting costs.
Email and other electronic media, along with the recession, are significant contributors to a continuing decline in mail volume, which in fiscal year 2009 plummeted by 25.6 billion pieces — nearly 13 percent of total volume — resulting in a Postal Service revenue drop of nearly $7 billion. The trends underlying these declines will only continue.
Current global economic conditions have put the largest users of the mail under severe financial stress. In the past, they spent millions of dollars on mailings and now many have drastically cut back on their use of mail.
Saturday is the lowest mail volume day in the country, with more than a third of U.S. businesses closed.
Students Headed To Washington On EREC Youth Tour
March 25, 2010
Allie Bryan from Northview High School and Leely Trevino from Jay High School have been named winners in the Escambia River Electric Cooperative 2010 Youth Tour to Washington contest.
Students from the EREC service area interviewed with a panel of judges in this competition for a chance to win the opportunity to visit Washington.
Judges from PowerSouth Energy Cooperative in Andalusia, Alabama, and Southern Pine Electric Cooperative in Brewton, Alabama, scored contestants in their interviews based on their knowledge of Escambia River Electric Cooperative and the history of rural electrification. Personal attributes of each candidate such as character, academic ability, personality and leadership abilities were also considered.
Bryan and Trevino were chosen to represent EREC on the Washington Youth Tour. While in Washington, the teens will have the opportunity to see the sights, learn about our nation’s capitol, rural electrification and make new friends from across the country.
“EREC is very proud to have these two outstanding students represent them on the Washington Youth Tour this year. Congratulations to each of them on achieving this honor,” said Sabrina Owens, EREC spokesperson.
Pictured top: Allie Bryan (left) from Northview High School and Leely Trevino from Jay High School will represent EREC on the Washington Youth Tour. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Northview Softball Players Sign With Bishop State
March 25, 2010
Two Northview High School seniors signed softball letters of intent Wednesday afternoon with Bishop State Community College in Mobile.
Amber McMillan and Aimee Clarke will play next year for the Bishop State Wildcats.
Clarke is batting .306 this year with 22 run scored so far. She will play second base for the Wildcats. McMillan has a .346 batting average, and has scored 15 runs this year for the Chiefs. She will play first base for Bishop State. Both will receive Bishop State scholarships.
“We are excited to get these young ladies,” Bishop State Head Coach Angelo Archible said. “They will be instrumental is help the team succeed as we work toward our goal of a championship.”
Pictured above: Amber McMillan (left) and Aimee Clarke sign letters of intent with Bishop State Community College in Mobile Wednesday afternoon at Northview High School. Also pictured are (standing L-R) Northview Softball Coach Sammy Day, Donna McMillan, Kimberly Clarke and Bishop State Coach Angelo Archible. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Clouds Clear Tonight, Sunny For Friday and Saturday
March 25, 2010
There is still a chance of some rain tonight, but we will see sunshine for Friday and Saturday
Here’s your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 7pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 45. South wind around 10 mph becoming northwest. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 72. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. North wind around 10 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 77.
Century Man, Escambia’s Most Wanted, Busted After Pensacola Manhunt
March 24, 2010
Early this morning, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department busted a Century man that had been named one of Escambia County’s most wanted.
Shawn Demarcus Simmons, 30, was booked into the Escambia County Jail at 4:30 a.m. following a manhunt involving officers from both departments and a K-9 unit. Officers began their search for Simmons after he reportedly attacked a female on Lee Street in Pensacola.
At 10:34 Tuesday night, deputies were dispatched to 1200 West Lee Street in Pensacola for a disturbance. When deputies arrived, two victims advised that Simmons had ran from the residence toward Baptist Hospital.
While deputies were searching for him, Simmons reportedly called the victim from Baptist Hospital and “told her that he knows what’s going down and he’s not going back to jail,” according to the arrest report. Again, deputies were unable to located Simmons.
Early Wednesday morning, Sheriff’s Office dispatchers were advised that Simmons was at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola trying to get a ride back to Century and had been observed by hospital security personnel.
Deputies were unable to locate Simmons when they arrived at Sacred Heart Hospital. A Pensacola Police Department K-9 was called to the hospital, and they were able to locate and arrested him.
Once arrested, “Simmons was bragging about how he eluded police when he fled from the residence,” according to the arrest report.
During the Lee Street incident Tuesday night, Simmons had reportedly told the female victim that he was going to kill her, her child and then kill himself. The victim, a Century resident, was staying with her aunt in Pensacola to avoid Simmons, according to deputies. When Simmons managed to find her at the Lee Street address in Pensacola, he violently attacked her, kicking her in the face and stomping on her stomach and chest. She was transported by ambulance to Baptist Hospital for treatment.
A friend of the victim had tried to set her up on a date with Simmons, but she declined because she already had a boyfriend, the sheriff’s report says. Since that time, Simmons had stalked the victim, the report states, even trying to kick in the door of her apartment in Century. She had fled Century and had been with her aunt in Pensacola for two days.
Simmons is being held on $126,000 bond on charges of burglary, robbery, two counts of aggravated battery, stalking, possession of weapon by a convicted felon, criminal mischief and stalking. He is due to make his first court appearance on April 15.
Simmons was wanted for the February 25 robbery of Devante Aaaron Knight, 18, of Hecker Road, Century. Simmons is wanted for aggravated battery, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and robbery with a firearm. He is also the prime suspect in the March 4 armed robbery of Moyes State Line Food Mart.
Simmons had been the subject of numerous searches and manhunts in Century and Brewton, Alabama. Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers recently named Simmons as one of Escambia County’s most wanted fugitives.
More details on this morning’s arrest will be posted as information becomes available.
February 25 Robbery
About midnight on February 25, a black male later identified as Devante Aaaron Knight (pictured) snatched a pocketbook from the purse of a 79-year old female in the parking lot of the Wind Creek Casino and Hotel. The pocketbook contained over $1,400 in cash, according to Doyle Lee, head investigator for the Poarch Creek Police Department.
Later that day, Knight told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that he was in the yard of a home in the 100 block of Zion Street on February 25 talking to Simmons. That’s when Simmons asked to borrow a dollar from Knight, and Knight agreed. Simmons then reportedly walked into a trailer, returned outside and told Knight “give it up”. Simmons escaped the scene with the cash.
Knight said that he remembered being hit in the head with the gun and hearing gunfire, but he did not think he had been shot. The victim then walked to the nearby Dollar General store on nearby North Century Boulevard. That’s where Knight located his aunt. The aunt transported Knight to his home in the 200 block of East Hecker Road and called 911. Knight was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment of a head injury. He was not shot, according to deputies.
Knight was arrested in Escambia County, Florida, and subsequently extradited back to Alabama to face charges of first degree theft of property.
Simmons was charged with aggravated battery, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and robbery with a firearm in connection the incident.
March 4 Century Armed Robbery
Simmons has been named as the suspect in the March 4 armed robbery of Moyes State Line Food Mart in Century.
The store clerk told deputies that a black male entered the front door of the store, came up to the side of the counter, pointed a handgun at her and a customer, and demanded that she empty the register. The suspect also took money and lottery tickets from the customer, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
K-9 units from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Century Correctional Institution joined Escambia County deputies and Flomaton Police Department officers in a lengthy manhunt for Simmons. The manhunt was centered in an area bounded by Highway 29, Old Flomaton Road, Highway 4 and the Alabama state line.
A short time later, a resident just south of the convenience store called 911 to report that a black male wearing a dark colored hoodie jacket was standing at her door, covered in mud. The resident also described the man as having lips that were light in color and appeared to be burned.
“‘Don’t you know me? Don’t you remember me? The police are after me’,” the suspect, believed to be Simmons, told the woman, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Simmons reportedly asked the female if he could enter the house, but she refused and called for help. A black jacket was recovered by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician from behind the woman’s residence.
The manhunt was called off with no arrest.
March 11 Brewton Manhunt
A search for Simmons led to a March 11 manhunt in Brewton, Alabama.
A tip led the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office and the Brewton Police Department to look for Simmons in the Martin Luther King Avenue area of Brewton around midday.
Tracking dogs from the Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore were used in the search for Simmons, but he was not apprehended.
Pictured top inset: Tracking dogs are used to search for Simmons following a Century armed robbery. Pictured middle inset: A crime scene technician dusts the door of Moyes State Line Food Mart in Century after a March 4 armed robbery. Pictured below: Shawn Demarcus Simmons is a suspect in the March 4 robbery of Moyes State Line Food Mart in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
