Photos: Santa Rosa Spice, Bath Salt Crackdown
April 4, 2012
Authorities in Santa Rosa County executed two search warrants at businesses that were allegedly selling controlled substances commonly known as “spice” and “bath salts”.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Milton Police Department and the State Attorney’s Office executed the search warrants at Showcase Tobacco and Stackhouse Wholesale DVD’s Etc. on Dogwood Drive.
For a photo gallery of items seized, click here.
Santa Rosa County investigators said that numerous undercover purchases of controlled substances were made from both businesses over the past nine months. The substances were confirmed as being illegal “spice” and “bath salts” by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
No arrests have been made to date, but the Sheriff’s Office said the State Attorney’s Office will soon make a decision regarding any criminal charges.
The following items were seized, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office:
From Stackhouse Wholesale DVD’s, Etc. – 22 one gallon zip lock baggies (between 400 and 500 grams each) containing an herbal compound. The herbal compound, if sprayed with the synthetic cannabinoid compounds, would have a street value in excess of $1,000,000.00. The owner stated that the herbal compound had not yet been sprayed, however it will be sent to FDLE for testing. A small baggie of alleged Spice was also located, along with numerous containers that used to store Spice (still containing residue).
From Showcase Tobacco – When investigators arrived on scene, the owner stated that they no longer had any illegal substances present on the premises. The search revealed hundreds of packages of Spice (numerous brand names) located in a back room, which are known to be controlled substances per Florida statute. Hundreds of drug paraphernalia items were also seized that were for sale in the establishment. The estimated value of the seized property is approximately $50,000.
Baseball, Softball: Tate, Flomaton, Jay, Northview
April 4, 2012
Escambia beat Tate Tuesday night, and the Jay Royals dropped one to the Flomaton Hurricanes.
Escambia 7 — Tate 4
The Tate Aggies were handed just their second loss of the season Tuesday night.
With a 7-4 loss in Pensacola to the Escambia Gators, the Tate Aggies fell to 15-2 overall, 8-1 in district play.
The Aggies have two more district games this week — Thursday at Pine Forest and Friday at Pace. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
Flomaton 6 — Jay 3
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat the Jay Royals 6-3 Tuesday night as the Canes 17-game winning streak continues.
Joseph Parker started for the Canes but got a no decision. Hunter Bonds earned the win for the Hurricanes, and Todd Laney took the loss for the Royals. Zack Watson came in during the last innings and got a save. Flomaton is now 18-3 on the season.
Scenic Hwy Closed By Crash; Hundreds Lose Power
April 4, 2012
A portion of Scenic Highway was closed for hours Wednesday morning after a utility pole was snapped in an early morning wreck.
About 3:16 a.m., 21-year old Blake Busbee was eastbound on Scenic Highway in the area of Pelican Lane when he fell asleep and struck the pole, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Busbee was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
He was cited with careless driving by the FHP.
Gulf Power says 811 customers were left without power by the crash. Gulf crews worked throughout the morning to replace the pole.
Pictured: Hundreds were left without power and Scenic Highway was closed for hours after this wreck early Wednesday morning. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain Likely For Today
April 3, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Thursday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. West wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southeast. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Convenience Store Robbed At Gunpoint
April 3, 2012
A North Century Boulevard convenience store was robbed at gunpoint Monday night.
The armed bandit entered the Southern Pit Stop just south of the Alabama state line in Century about 9 p.m. The store clerk told deputies that the robber displayed a small caliber silver-colored handgun during the holdup. He fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one inside the store was injured.
The suspect was described as a heavyset black male about 6-foot 2-inches tall. He was reportedly dressed in almost all black — a black shirt, black pants, a black mask and brown gloves.
A K-9 team from Century Correctional Institution tracked the suspect toward Academy Street behind the store. Authorities believe the suspect fled in an unknown type vehicle.
The robbery remains under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information on the holdup is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: The Southern Pit Stop convenience store in Century was robbed at gunpoint Monday night. Pictured inset: Tracking dogs from Century Correctional Institution begin their search for the suspect. Pictured below: The K-9 unit prepares to search shortly after Monday night’s robbery. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman Charged With DUI After Two Wrecks
April 3, 2012
A Molino woman was charged with DUI following two wrecks Saturday afternoon on Crabtree Church Road.
Frieda McCrory Allen, 55, was charged by the Florida Highway Patrol with DUI property damage and altering a controlled substance prescription.
Allen was first involved in an accident on Crabtree Church Road at the Molino Ballpark. The other driver involved in the crash was cited for being at fault and pulling out in front of Allen. At that time, a FHP trooper said Allen appeared “normal” with no impairments.
Just a few minutes after leaving the first wreck scene, Allen drove a short distance where she struck a culvert at the intersection of Crabbtree Church Road and Sunshine Hill Road. According to the trooper, Allen began to exhibit signs of impairment, including slurred speech and droopy eyelids.
According to an arrest report, she began to ramble things at the trooper that made no sense.
“I can see uh… add uhh… if he uhh.. is in the right. Whatever on the fine. Uhh… You know what I mean… uhh .. that uhh. on the next pm uhh,” is the response Allen gave the trooper when asked about a wrecker for her vehicle, the FHP report states.
Allen then failed several field sobriety tests. A blood alcohol breath test indicated that Allen had no alcohol in her system, but she was “extremely impaired” due to some type of medication, the report states. The FHP is awaiting the results of a urine test.
The trooper located several different medications in Allen’s vehicle, including Lortab. One of the pill bottled “had been altered from the original state that had been prescribed to her”, according to troopers, leading to the drug charge.
Lady Chiefs Beat Freeport (With Photo Gallery)
April 3, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat the Freeport Bulldogs 9-5 Monday afternoon in Bratt.
The Lady Chiefs will be in action against Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Pensacola against Catholic High School.
Pictured top: Madison Arrington bunts for the Chiefs Monday afternoon against Freeport. Pictured below: Action as Northview hosted Freeport Monday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Varsity Downs Northview; Junior Varsity Teams Tie
April 3, 2012
The Northview Chiefs traveled to Hurricane Park Monday afternoon to take on Flomaton High School.
In junior varsity action, Northview and Flomaton tied 3-3, while in varsity action the Hurricanes defeated Northview 5-4.
The varsity Northview Chiefs will travel to Chipley on Thursday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Action as Northview traveled to Flomaton Monday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos by Taylor Rigby, click to enlarge.
Part 2: Inside Century Correctional Institution
April 3, 2012
Today, we continue our exclusive look inside the Century Correctional Institution with look inside the chapel and medical facility. Our series will continue tomorrow as we look at how 1,400 inmates are fed and take a look at the one room inmates hope will mean an early release.
The chapel is as nondescript as the other buildings in the compound. Unlike most churches when viewed from the outside, there’s nothing ornate and no religious symbols. Just a simple “Chapel” over the door and the number “10617032″ in one corner — the state’s building number.
The inside of the chapel appears a lot like any small country church — wooden pews, a mural of a river flowing from down from the hills. But still no religious symbols — no crosses, no Star of David, no Menorah. That’s because the State of Florida recognizes over 100 different religions, any one of which can be practiced in the chapel. Christian, Jewish and Islamic services are common in the non-denominational chapel.
There’s a small room for a fellowship hall or meetings with a small kitchen. It’s used by faith based groups that may serve coffee or light food, or for the preparation of foods called for in specific religious practices.
The nearby medical facility is a doctor’s office, dentist and urgent care clinic rolled into one. Inmates line benches in the waiting room, facing windows away from the front desk. They sit quietly, no television and no magazines. There’s a dentist on staff. There’s always at least an LPN or RN present, allowing CCI to operate an infirmary. Inmates that are transported to a hospital for services not provided are able to return to the infirmary for recovery.
Heading to the clinic is not an easy out from a prisoner’s cell — there’s a copay from their prison accounts unless it’s a medical emergency. Century CI houses and cares for inmates up to medical grade 3 and psych grade 2. That means no wheelchairs and no inmates on continuous psychiatric drugs (those inmates are transferred to the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution).
For Part 1 of this series from Monday, click here.
Our series “Inside Century Correctional Institution” continues tomorrow on NorthEscambia.com.
Picture top two photos: Outside and inside the non-denominational chapel at Century Correctional Institution. Picture bottom inset: An exam room in the prison’s clinic. Pictured below: The medical facility that services up to 1,400 inmates at Century CI. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Police: School Kidnapping Attempt Was A Lie
April 3, 2012
The attempted kidnapping of a child on her way to an Escambia County elementary school last week never happened.
An elementary school student admitted to Pensacola Police Department detectives Monday that she fabricated an attempted kidnapping report last week.
“We have consulted with the State Attorney’s Office and agreed that no criminal charges will be filed on the student,” said Chief Chip W. Simmons, adding that the matter will be handled by the Escambia County School District.
The 10-year-old Scenic Heights Elementary School student told a teacher she was walking to school Friday when a man in a green minivan tried to abduct her by talking with her
and offering her candy and toys.