U.S. Marshals Arrest Seven Fugitives In Area
February 26, 2011
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force in Pensacola was busy this week rounding up fugitives in the area.
Friday morning, the Task Force assisted the Escambia County Gang Unit and a K-9 officer to apprehend two men wanted by Escambia County in a Pensacola motel. Darius Louis Hunter, 23, is wanted for armed robbery and Deangelo Deon Bender, 21, wanted for violation of probation and failure to appear on cocaine charges.
Thursday, the FRFTF teamed up with the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force from Mobile to arrest 39 year old Dennis Ray Burkhart in the parking lot of the Bass Pro Shop in Spanish Fort, Ala. Burkhart was wanted in Escambia County, Fla. for failing to register as a sex offender and by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office for dangerous drugs and a probation violation.
Also arrested by the FRFTF Thursday was Daniel Lamar Sanders, 27, wanted in Okaloosa County for cruelty toward a child/abuse causing great godily garm when he allegedly burned a small child with cigarette and held it to the child’s skin. Sanders was captured by the Task Force after trying to flee out of a window at home on the 7800 block of Red Barrow road in the Blackmon Community in north Okaloosa County.
Wednesday evening in south Okaloosa County the Task Force arrested 25 year old Tristan Richey in an apartment located at 28 8th Street in Shalimar. Task Force Officers had to make a forced entry after Richey slammed the door on them. Richey is wanted by Okaloosa County for a probation violation on a vehicular manslaughter charge from 2005. Also arrested in Okaloosa County was Kenneth Wayne White wanted in Walton County on a burglary and theft warrant. White, 49, was arrested without incident in Ft. Walton Beach at a home on the 100 block of Windham Avenue.
Earlier in the week the Task Force captured Henry Dewayne Watson wanted by the U.S. Marshals in Pensacola on a federal warrant for failure to appear on a convicted felon in possession of a firearm charge. Watson, 32, who also has Santa Rosa County warrants for aggravated stalking was found hiding in a trunk of a car.
The Task Force was assisted by Task Force Officers from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Washington County Sheriff offices, as well as from FDLE, Defuniak Springs and Chipley police departments and the State Attorney’s Office.
Florida Weekly Government Roundup: Scott’s Train Ride
February 26, 2011
When they started talking about high speed rail, proponents said it was a futuristic concept. And it will continue to be an idea for the future, maybe one that will never happen at all.
The train buffs were rebuffed this week by a governor who said the train won’t be leaving the station on his watch, because it will probably be a failure that will end up costing the state money.
Supporters of the idea railed that Gov. Rick Scott was being unreasonable. A bipartisan group of train backers – from U.S. Rep. John Mica and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in Washington to mayors in central Florida to 25 members of the state Senate – thought this week they might be able to persuade the governor to let them work on building the train. They came up with a proposal that would have the state insulated from any future financial obligation.
It would have sent the $2.4 billion already awarded to the state by the federal government to an independent authority that would work with locals and private vendors to get the train going with only minimal state involvement and no financial obligation for state taxpayers.
But Scott wasn’t convinced, and backers by Thursday were saying they wouldn’t be able to go forward without the governor’s approval. There was some talk of a possible lawsuit against the governor, and while it appeared to be mostly just talk, Space Coast area Sen. Thad Altman called the disconnect between rail-backing lawmakers and the new state chief executive a “constitutional crisis.”
If there was a theme this week at the Capitol, beyond the immediate fight over the high speed train, it was another chapter in a developing storyline that has pervaded Scott’s short term in office thus far.
The title of that chapter would likely be “Power Struggle,” but that sort of cheapens it by making it sound overly political. In many ways it’s a fundamental struggle between the new governor and lawmakers over the basic question of who has the authority to do what in this state government.
Scott may not have read the books that talk about Florida as a state with a “weak governor” design.
In addition to manifesting itself in the fight over the authority to spend federal money on a rail project, the theme flowed through other high profile fights between the Capitol first floor and the fourth floor this week – one over state airplanes, and the other over a planned database meant to track prescription drug abusers.
The plane fight was also largely between the governor and the Senate, with veteran Sen. JD Alexander initiating a week long question and answer session with the governor’s office on whether Scott had the legal authority to sell the state airplanes. The Legislature put the costs for operating the state planes, including an air pool staff to fly and maintain them, in the budget and enacted that budget. The law, Alexander notes, doesn’t allow the governor to simply not spend money that’s appropriated by the Legislature.
The constitution also may be in play – because it says only the Legislature may appropriate money. But Scott essentially determined how some state money would be spent when he took the proceeds of the sale of one of the planes and earmarked it to pay off the lease of the other. That’s essentially appropriating money, Alexander said in a terse letter to Scott.
The governor dismissed Alexander’s first letter, saying basically no worries, he hadn’t broken the law. He may not have counted on Alexander coming back and asking him why not? To which Scott’s lawyer responded this week asking Alexander to remind him again what it is he thinks the governor did wrong.
Alexander has wanted the planes sold for years. But the question of who is allowed by law and the constitution to do what is a question that appears to be taken seriously by lawmakers now facing a governor who has never been one of them, and hasn’t gone out of his way to acknowledge their role in the process.
The prescription drug database was created by legislators last year as part of an effort to fight what some have called an epidemic of easy access to pain pills that has other states complaining Florida is feeding their addicts all manner of dangerous drugs they can’t get in their own states.
But Scott – and many others – thinks a database would invade the privacy of those legitimately taking prescription medication and wants lawmakers to kill it. There’s no constitutional or legal question here. The governor isn’t trying to kill the database unilaterally, in fact in this one he’s merely suggesting that lawmakers should scrap the law calling for the database.
Still, it fits into the theme of the week because it points out another place, like the fight over trains and planes, where the governor is at odds with some legislators from his own Republican Party, and portends, possibly, a session that won’t be totally harmonious between the two branches.
To be fair, this story isn’t completely new. Lawmakers sued Gov. Charlie Crist over his efforts to expand gambling without their consent and Crist was pretty much persona non grata in the Legislature during his last several months in office as he left the GOP and vetoed the top priorities of legislative Republicans.
Even Gov. Jeb Bush – who was a hero to many Republicans in the Legislature also had run-ins with GOP lawmakers. The Senate successfully sued Bush after he vetoed part of a budget item for a longer school year pilot project. The thrust of the lawsuit was entirely over whom has the power to do what, and senators said partial vetoes simply weren’t allowed.
But Scott comes to Tallahassee with no government experience – and seemingly little patience for things that don’t help him achieve his campaign promise of creating jobs quickly.
AN EYE ON MADISON
While the aim here is to round up the week’s events in Florida state government, it would be imprudent not to at least mention what was going on in Wisconsin. The similarities have been noted between that state’s Republican governor named Scott and this one’s, but Rick Scott parted company a bit this week with his northern counterpart Scott Walker.
Early in the week Florida’s Scott said during a radio interview, almost in passing, that “collective bargaining is fine” with him. That’s the opposite from the position taken by Walker and several other new Republican governors in other states who think collective bargaining by public employees is certainly not fine.
Whether Florida’s Scott intended to send a signal that he isn’t interested in attacking state employees’ rights to be in a union or not isn’t clear. But that’s definitely the signal he sent and the story quickly gained national traction because it set him a bit apart from a trend in his party.
CIVIL RIGHTS
Attorney General Pam Bondi also took a bold position this week, saying she intends to propose that Florida reverse its move to make it easier for ex-felons to get their civil rights restored.
Bondi made no effort to slide the idea into policy quietly, but forthrightly announced her intention, even leaving fellow Cabinet members and the public time to weigh in on the idea, which won’t come up for a couple weeks before the Cabinet.
Bondi said she simply didn’t agree with the ease with which former felons now can start the process for getting their civil rights back after serving their time. Crist moved to make it easier four years ago after years of complaints, particularly from the African American community, which Florida made it particularly difficult for former convicts to reintegrate into society after doing their time.
Rather than having that process of restoration of civil rights start automatically when felons have served their sentence, Bondi, a Republican, wants to require inmates to start the application process themselves, and only after a waiting period. The issue will likely be before the Cabinet next month.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Rick Scott continues to fight with lawmakers over who has the authority to do what. He appeared to be the winner of this week’s battle, killing off a proposed bullet train.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I believe that he exceeded his executive authority and in a very strong sense we have a constitutional crisis on our hands.” – Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, quoted in the St. Petersburg Times on Gov. Rick Scott’s rejection of a high speed rail compromise proposal that ends, at least for now, the effort to build a central Florida high speed train.
By David Royse
The News Service Of Florida
Escambia County High Out Of State Tourney By Two
February 26, 2011
The Escambia County High School Blue Devils’ state title dreams came to an end Friday afternoon with a loss to Andalusia.
The Andalusia Bulldogs defeated Escambia County High School of Atmore, 59-57, in the South Region semifinals at the USA Mitchell Center in Mobile.
The Bulldogs managed to stop a Blue Devil rally in the final period. The Blue Devils were down by just one — 56-55 — with 18 seconds to go in the game. But a foul sets up Andalusia to make two free throws and expand their lead to 58-55. Atmore closed the gap to 58-57 with just 2.3 seconds left on the clock. The Andy Bulldogs hit one of two from the line for the 59-57 final.
ECHS was led by Cedric Pierce with 16 points, while Dalvin Craft added 11.
The Blue Devils finished their season at 23-8.
Bessie Lou Taylor Middleton
February 26, 2011
Mrs. Bessie Lou Taylor Middleton, 93, of Shoffner Street in East Brewton, AL, passed away Saturday morning February 26, 2011, at a local nursing facility after a brief illness.
Mrs. Middleton was a native of Lyeffion, AL, and a former resident of Monroeville before moving to Escambia County over 60 years ago. She was a homemaker and attended the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
She is survived by a son, Julius (Marolyn) Middleton of Jay; three daughters – Emmie (Jack) Smith of Castleberry, AL; Ernestine (Dennis) Snell of Dothan, AL; Brenda (Larry) Harrison of Jay; two sisters – Jeanette (Frank) Stoshak of Brewton; Peggy Mitz of Wilmington, NC; nine grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie Middleton.
Visitation will be Monday February 28, 2011, from noon until a 1 p.m. service time at Craver’s Funeral Home Inc,.
Funeral services for Mrs. Bessie Lou Taylor Middlteon are scheduled for Monday February 28, 2011, at 1 p.m. at Craver’s Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Ed Adams officiating. Interment will follow in Fort Crawford Cemetery in East Brewton, with Craver’s Funeral Home of Brewton directing.
Couple Robbed By Masked Men At Escambia Motel
February 25, 2011
Deputies are investigating an early Friday morning robbery at an Escambia County motel.
At approximately 4:30 a.m., deputies responded to the Home Stay Lodge on North Davis Highway after it was reported that a man and woman had just been victims of an armed robbery.
The male victim, 48-year-old Jaime Gonzalez, was transported to West Florida Hospital in with non-life threatening injuries.
Gonzalez told deputies he and his girlfriend, 45-year-old Diahn Peterson, were confronted by two men outside their residence at the Home Stay Lodge.
Gonzalez stated that the two men were dressed in all black and wearing ski masks, but he was able to see skin and identified one of the suspects as a white male and the other as a black male. He also advised deputies that they were armed with a shotgun and stun gun.
According to Gonzalez, the two suspects demanded money and forced them back into the room in which they were living to retrieve it. Once inside the room the suspects took an unspecified amount of cash before striking Gonzalez over the head with the stun gun, and stunned Peterson approximately 12 times. The two suspects then fled the area.
If anyone has any information regarding this case, they are encouraged to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
One More Chance For $2.4 Billion Bullet Train
February 25, 2011
Despite Gov. Rick Scott’s assertion that high speed rail will not leave the station in Florida, U.S. Department of Transportation Ray LaHood on Friday said the trains may still run.
In a statement, LaHood said after talking with Scott earlier in the day that he is giving Florida officials another week to determine if they can drum up local support to continue with a high speed rail project for which the federal government is offering to pay $2.4 billion.
“This morning I met with Gov. Rick Scott to discuss the high speed rail project that will create jobs and economic development for the entire state of Florida. He asked me for additional information about the state’s role in this project, the responsibilities of the Florida Department of Transportation, as well as how the state would be protected from liability,” LaHood said in the statement.
“I have decided to give Gov. Scott additional time to review the agreement crafted by local officials from Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland and Miami, and to consult with his staff at the state Department of Transportation. He has committed to making a final decision by the end of next week. I feel we owe it to the people of Florida, who have been working to bring high speed rail to their state for the last 20 years, to go the extra mile.”
In an interview with Bloomberg Television late this week, LaHood rejected Scott’s assertion that the state’s taxpayers will be on the hook if the train comes up short on riders. “I don’t know of another person in Florida that agrees with that, I don’t know of another economist, another person that’s looked at the plans in Florida,” LaHood said. “A lot of smart people have put these plans together. There would have been no financial liability or responsibility to the taxpayers of Florida – others were going to assume responsibility for the direction of high speed rail. I don’t know of anybody else, except for the governor, who thinks this would be a bad deal.”
Escambia Deputy Arrested On Child Abuse Charges
February 25, 2011
A 40-year-old Escambia County sheriff’s deputy has been arrested for alleged child abuse in an incident involving her son.
Mildred Blanche Goodwin, a patrol deputy, was arrested Thursday afternoon and taken to the Escambia County Jail, where was booked on a charge of cruelty towards child-infliction of physical or mental injury. She was released from jail on $2,000 bond.
According to the arrest report, Goodwin and her 14-year old son were involved in an altercation whereas she was attempting to discipline her son.
Goodwin allegedly tried to strike her son in the leg with her department issued expandable baton. Her son, in an attempt to block the strike, received injuries to his right forearm and wrist.
“Our investigation revealed that Goodwin’s chosen discipline method was outside normal standards and met the statutory requirements for child abuse,” said Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn.
Goodwin’s son did not require medical treatment for his injuries and refused to be transported to a medical facility.
Goodwin, hired as a deputy in November 2009, was placed on administrative leave, relieved of all law enforcement authority and had her department issued weapon, equipment and credentials confiscated.
Former Century Council Member Passes Away
February 25, 2011
Former Century Town Council member Sharon Scott was found dead in her home last night.
Scott’s husband returned to their home about 9:45 Thursday night in the 200 block of West Highway to find his wife deceased. Scott’s death was natural and no foul play was suspected, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Scott did not seek re-election to her District 5 seat on the Century Town Council last year.
“I love Century and everything about Century,” she said when she announced she would not seek re-election, “but it was just not for me to run again.”
“I want to thank everybody for the encouraging words,” Scott said at her final council meeting in December, as she shared a story about her son who is in the military that is quick to tell everyone that he meets that he is from Century, Florida. “It’s Century pride,” she said. “We are not from Pensacola; we are from Century, Florida.”
“I go to sleep at night, so I must have done something right…even Jesus Christ could not please everybody,” she added.
Funeral arrangements for Sharon Scott have not yet been announced.
Another North Escambia Resident Busted On Meth Charges
February 25, 2011
Another North Escambia resident has been arrested on an outstanding meth-related warrant, joining well over a dozen arrested earlier this week due a local, state and federal law enforcement operation.
Joseph Daniel Flowers, 31, of Molino Road, is facing charges of possession of methamphetamines with intent to sell, methamphetamine trafficking, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts possession of listed chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies located an active methamphetamine lab inside a residence at 1115 Muscogee Road during the early morning hours of February 7, 2011. They discovered Matthew Michael Ramsey, 38, of Molino; Robert Edward Raines, 48, of Cantonment; and Flowers inside the residence with the meth lab. Flowers was transported to a Pensacola hospital for an untreated burn on his hand and warrants were issued for his arrest.
Raines and Ramsey were charged with possession of methamphetamines with intent to sell, trafficking in methamphetamine , possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of listed chemicals with the intent to manufacture a control substance. Raines was also charged with possession of marijuana under 20 grams.
Raines and Ramsey were released from jail on bond, but Ramsey was arrested Tuesday as local, state and federal officers rounded up drug suspects in the county. Ramsey is now facing federal charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute pseudoephedrine for use in manufacturing methamphetamine and conspiring to manufacture the methamphetamine.
For more on Tuesday’s drug arrests of numerous North Escambia residents on state charges, click here. For more information on the federal arrests, click here.
Century Care Center Receives High Marks
February 25, 2011
There was cause for a big celebration at Century Care Center Thursday as staff learned the facility received high marks in a major survey.
American Health Care Association (AHCA) completed it’s annual state and federal liscensure and recertification survey on Thursday. For the second time in five years, Century Care Center received a deficiency-free survey.
“You should have heard the screams when we got the report,” said Mae Hildreth, Century Care Center activities director.