Escambia Deputy Runs Red Light, Hits Two Vehicles
June 5, 2012
Nine people received minor injuries in a three vehicle crash involving an Escambia County deputy Monday evening at the intersection of Cervantes and W streets.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Deputy Mark Eddins failed to stop for a red traffic signal. His marked cruiser was struck by a 2012 Dodge pickup. Eddins’ cruiser continued until it hit the front left fender of a 2001 Pontiac with six passengers.
All nine of the people involved in the accident received minor injuries and were transported to area hospitals. Total damage to all three vehicles was estimated at $25,000.
The FHP report on the accident did not indicate if Eddins was responding to a call or had the cruiser’s lights or siren activated. Charges are pending the completion of the Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation, the report states.
14-Year Old Driver Hits Pickup Pushed By Seven People
June 5, 2012
A 14-year old driver with no license is facing charges after hitting a pickup being pushed by seven people, including a Molino resident.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the seven people were pushing a 2000 Toyota in a yard in Santa Rosa County in an attempt to move it to another side of a residence in the dark. They pushed the pickup into an unlighted area of the roadway. With no lights on the vehicle, it could not be seen by approaching traffic, according to the FHP.
The pickup was struck by a 2007 Kia driven by 14-year old Lane Holland of Navarre.
Three of the seven people pushing the pickup — 20-year old Ryan Barton of Navarre, 20 year old Mazel Sievers of Hurlburt Field and 19-year old James Romero of Navarre — were injured. The four others pushing the pickup — 18-year old Troy Fletcher of Molino, 20-year old Robert Charles of Navarre, 19-year old Christopher Fraser of Hurlbert Field and 19-year old Vincent Simpson of Hurlbert Field — were not injured.
Simpson, who was outside the pickup but turning the steering wheel as it was pushed, was listed by the FHP as the driver. He was cited for obstructing the roadway.
The 14-year old, Lane Holland, was charged with no driver’s license. Holland’s passenger, 18-year old Jackqueline Holland, was charged with allowing an unauthorized person to drive.
Wahoos Walk Off With 3-2 Extra Inning Win
June 5, 2012
Pensacola first baseman Joel Guzman singled into center field to score shortstop Didi Gregorius from third in the 11th inning, while right fielder Josh Fellhauer recorded four hits, as the Blue Wahoos walked off with a 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Jacksonville Suns on Monday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The win snaps the Fish’s four-game losing streak and improves their record to 26-32 this year, while the Suns now own a 27-31 mark with the defeat. Despite the loss, Jacksonville still owns a 2-1 series lead over the Blue Wahoos.
Gregorius began the 11th with a single and advanced to second on Fellhauer’s base knock, his fourth of the contest, before both moved an extra base on a wild pitch to set the stage of Guzman. The 27-year-old subsequently bounced the 1-1 pitch up the middle into center field to send in Gregorius and start the celebration.
The Blue Wahoos also scored the game’s first runs of the contest with two tallies in the first frame. CF Ryan LaMarre led off with a double and went to third on Gregorius’ single, before both scored on a throwing error from Suns CF Donnie Webb to take the early advantage.
The Suns however drew the margin even in the fourth with the longball. 2B Paul Gran was hit by a pitch to start the frame, while 1B German Duran lifted the very next pitch over the left field wall for his third roundtripper of the year. Both teams then were held silent until Pensacola’s score in the 11th.
Neither starting pitcher, Suns RHP Bryan Evans and Blue Wahoos RHP Kyle Lotzkar received decisions despite solid outings from each. Lotzkar (7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 10 SO) fanned a season-high ten batters and gave up just two runs on seven hits in seven frames, while Evans (6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 SO) gave up two unearned runs on six hits in six frames.
Pensacola relief pitchers Curtis Partch (3.0 IP, 1 H, 5 SO) and Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 1 SO) combined to yield just one hit in the final four innings support of Lotzkar, with Freeman earning the win while Jacksonville reliever Corey Madden (2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss. Blue Wahoos hurlers combined for a season-high 16 punchouts in the contest.
Fellhauer’s (4-5) four hits matched a single-game career-high, with his last such contest coming on April 9, 2011, when he was with High-A Bakersfield. Gregorius (3-5, 2 R) was the only other Blue Wahoos batter with a multi-hit effort, while Suns SS Jeff Dominguez (2-5, 1 3B) collected two base knocks for his club.
Before and during the contest, the 4-A state champion Pensacola Catholic high school baseball team was honored on the field and on the dugout for their accomplishment. They received a standing ovation from the large crowd on hand.
Pensacola and Jacksonville are scheduled to square off again Tuesday evening for their fourth game of the series, with first pitch set for 7:00 pm. The Blue Wahoos are slated to give the ball to RHP Daniel Corcino, while LHP Graham Taylor is expected to get the nod for the Suns.
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: Joel Guzman’s walk off single in the 11th gave the Fish a 3-2 win Monday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With 65 Counts Of Child Porn
June 5, 2012
An Escambia County man arrested in March on child pornography charges has been arrested again.
Alan Lynsdale Hamilton, 48, was charged with one count of video voyeurism and 65 additional counts of child pornography.
During a followup investigation, several videos were discovered of various females in the restroom of his Sandy Creek Drive home and in what appears to be a motel restroom. Deputies said 65 images and videos were recovered in a forensic investigation of Hamilton’s computer which led to the child pornography charges.
Hamilton was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $162,500 on the child pornography charges and no bond on the video voyeurism charge.
Anyone having further information in this investigation is asked contact Investigator Zack Ward at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9609.
Scott Defends Effort To Purge Voter Rolls
June 5, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott on Monday defended the state’s effort to remove potentially ineligible voters from the rolls.
“When you go out to vote you want to make sure that the other individuals that are voting have a right to vote. That’s what I care about,” Scott said during a stop for a business roundtable Monday morning in Quincy.
“If you’re a candidate, you want to make sure that the people who vote in your election are the people that have a right to vote. So my focus is in making sure that our state has fair elections, people that have a right to vote, vote, because I don’t want to disenfranchise anybody in their voting rights.”
Scott said the timing – just months before the election – was due to the state trying to get information from the federal Homeland Security agency that would make the list of potentially ineligible voters more complete. So far, the state has been unable to get access to that database.
“There’s no perfect time to do any of these things,” Scott said.
By The News Service of Florida
Flomaton Lions Club Being Reorganized, Meeting Tonight
June 5, 2012
The Atmore Lions Club is help to reorganize the Flomaton Lions Club. The club first met in 1934 but has not been active for about three years.
The Flomaton Lions Club will meet from 6:00 until 7:00 tonight at the Flomaton Community Center. Anyone interested in learning more about the Lions Club is invited to attend.
“Flomaton needs a civic organization like Lions. Please come and see if you are willing to better your community. Lions help with eye exam, glasses, diabetics, help provide scholarships to students. Lions do a lot for a community,” said Patty Helton Davis of the Atmore Lions Club.
Wendy’s Burglar Takes Just $1, Lands In Jail
June 4, 2012
An 18-year that burglarized a Wendy’s restaurant ended up taking just $1 from a charity collection before ending up behind bars.
Just after 2:00 a.m. Monday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary at the Wendy’s restaurant at 2200 South Highway 29 in reference to a burglary. Witnesses reported seeing a white male running from the side of the building toward Kingsfield Road. Deputies surrounded the area, and a K-9 led them a residence in the 1600 block of Kingsfield Road.
As deputies approached the residence, a white male identified as Tyler James Speer, walked outside and told deputies that he was the person they wanted. Witnesses later positively identified Speer.
Speer spontaneously told deputies that the dollar bill in his pocket was from Wendy’s and he would give it back to them.
Investigators determined that Speer used the drive-thru window to enter the business and removed $1 from a charity collection box for the Dave Thomas Foundation. Speer told deputies that he took the dollar bill because he was thirsty.
Speer remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday afternoon with bond set at $1,250.
Two Dozen Vehicles Burglarized In Nine Mile Road Area
June 4, 2012
About two dozen vehicle burglaries were reported Monday morning in the East Nine Mile Road area.
According to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, a few of the vehicles were unlocked, but many had windows broken out.
He said it appeared that suspect or suspects were looking for anything of value that they could find. A few of the vehicles were rummaged through but nothing taken because the owners not left anything of value behind. Items taken from other vehicles included purses, electronics and at least one weapon.
As of late Monday morning, there had been no arrests in the case and little information about a suspect. Roy said that a white Ford F150 had been reported leaving the area by some residents.
“If you are going to leave anything valuable in vehicle, lock the doors and leave the item out of site,” Roy said. “But it’s better not to leave valuables in your vehicle.”
Anyone with information about the vehicle burglaries is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP (7867) or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
The vehicle burglaries were reported between 4:00 and 10:30 a.m. on streets that included Greystone Lane, Hummingbird Boulevard, Ridge Road, Motley Court, Stillbridge Lane, Beatrice Drive and Bobwhite Drive.
Northview Chief’s Neiko Robinson Commits To Penn State Nittany Lions
June 4, 2012
Northview High Schools’ Neiko Robinson has committed to the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Robinson, a 5-11, 170-pound safety, made the unexpected verbal commitment on the phone late Sunday night with Penn State coach Bill O’Brien after receiving the offer on Friday.
The rising senior is listed as the 18th best safety in Florida, according to Rivals.com.
Northview Coach Ty Wise says Penn State, Alabama, Florida State, the University of South Alabama, North Texas and Louisiana Tech were among the schools that visited Robinson or watched him practice at Northview. The first offer Robinson received was from Penn State.
Robinson is a transfer from nearby Flomaton High School, where he help lead the Hurricanes to an 11-2 season last year.
Pictured top: Northview High School’s Neiko Robinson has verbally committed to Penn State. Pictured inset: Robinson transferred from Flomaton High School. Pictured inset: Robinson (#11) chases down a West Florida Jaguar during Northview’s Spring Game. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Set To Repeal Certain Septic Tank Inspection Requirements
June 4, 2012
Escambia County is set to repeal a portion of the county’s rules concerning the inspection of septic tanks.
The current ordinances require the inspection of septic tank when a property is sold with the inspections carried out by the Health Department.
However, the Gov. Rick Scott signed a House bill that prohibits counties from requiring septic tank and onsite sewage treatment system inspections at the time of a real estate sale.
The new state law also will force the county to repeal a current ordinance that requires those use aerobic treatment units to obtain an annual operating permit from the Florida Department of Health.
At this week’s Escambia County Commission meeting, a public hearing on repealing the ordinances is expected to be set for June 28 at 5:33 p.m.