Man Just Arrested On Drug Charges Found Smoking Pot In His Jail Cell
January 19, 2012
A Cantonment man just arrested on drug charges was allegedly found smoking marijuana in his jail cell a short time later.
David Lee Mason, age 32 of Quarters Road, was charged with resisting an officer without violence, possession of cocaine with the intent to sell or distribute, possession of cocaine without intent, possession of drug paraphernalia, introducing contraband into a detention facility, possession of marijuana and destruction of evidence.
Tuesday, deputies responded to an address on Doris Avenue in Ensley to arrest Mason on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear. That’s where they say they found Davis sitting in a white Cadillac in the driveway of a residence.
As deputies attempted to handcuff him, Mason allegedly pushed one of them and fled into the backyard of the residence where he was apprehended. According to an arrest report, deputies found 11.4 grams of powder cocaine and 10.5 grams of crack cocaine in the Cadillac. At the jail, detention deputies reported finding marijuana hidden in Mason’s sock.
A short time later, Mason was found by jail personnel in his jail cell smoking marijuana, according to an arrest report, that he had allegedly hidden inside a body cavity.
Mason remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond early Thursday morning.
U.S. Marshals Task Force Apprehends Sexual Predator
January 19, 2012
Wednesday in Escambia County, the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested a convicted sexual predator who has been dodging law enforcement for months.
Timothy Lee Rentas, 31, was captured around 1:30 p.m. by the Task Force with the assistance of Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies from the Sexual Offender Unit and Warrants Division. Rentas was arrested without incident.
Task Force members had set up surveillance on a house on the 300 Block of Frisco Drive when Rentas left the home on foot and walked to Highway 98 where he was arrested.
In 1997 Rentas was convicted of sexual battery on a child under 12 years old. According to police reports, Rentas was babysitting a toddler when he performed the acts.
Although Rentas was 17 at the time he was tried as an adult. Rentas is wanted for failing to register as a sexual predator in Escambia County. Rentas was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Local Students Winners In ‘Masks!’ Exhibit
January 19, 2012
Several North Escambia students were winners in the fifth annual “Masks!” exhibit at Artel Gallery in Pensacola. The exhibit features masks created by students and teachers from across the school district. About 70 students from 15 schools took part in this year’s exhibit.
Winners were:
- Best of Show: Jennifer Sublett, PATS Center.
- Edgiest: Kiani Okahashi, Northview High School.
- High school: Taylor Dukes and Elizabeth Wright, Northview, first place; Kelli Brock, West Florida, second; Luna Zepp, Washington, third; Ashley McDowell, Escambia, honorable mention.
- Elementary school: Ariel Perry, McArthur, first; Abby Briese, Hellen Caro, second; Emma Parrish, N.B. Cook, third; and Cassidy Stevens, Jim Allen, and Makayla Thompson, Lipscomb, honorable mention.
Judge Changes Affiliation To Republican Party
January 19, 2012
An Escambia County (Ala.) judge has switched his affiliation to the Republican party. Judge David Jordan made the announcement Wednesday.
“I have reached this decision after months of thought and prayerful consideration. I do not take it lightly. I have made what I feel is the best decision at this time,” Jordan said.
“Judge Jordan is an outstanding public servant and we are excited that he has decided to join the GOP. His decision is just another sign that the liberal agenda being pursued by the Democrat Party is out of touch with the conservative values of Escambia County voters,” Jeff Peacock, chairman of the Escambia County (Ala.) Republican Party, said. “2012 will be a great election year for Republicans at every level of government from president to school board and we are happy that Judge Jordan is a valuable member of our team.”
Jordan has served as District Judge for Escambia County (Ala.) since January 2003. He was successfully elected in 2004 and subsequently re-elected to his current six-year term in 2010.
Warming Weather
January 19, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Thursday: Sunny. High of 69. East winds around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening becoming mostly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Low of 53. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of showers 20 percent.
- Friday: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers. Highs about 75. South winds 5 to 10 mph becoming 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of showers 20 percent.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Detzner Named Florida’s New Secretary Of State
January 19, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott named Ken Detzner as the new secretary of state, replacing Kurt Browning, who is stepping down.
Detzner has filled in before as the secretary of state during the agency’s transition from an independent agency under an elected secretary to an agency that answers to the governor. Detzner has also served as chief of staff in the agency when Jim Smith was secretary from 2002-2003. He also worked for six years as director of legislative and policy affairs in the attorney general’s office.
By The News Service of Florida
Tate To Hold Curriculum Fair
January 19, 2012
Tate High School will hold a Curriculum Fair on Tuesday, February 7 at 6 p.m.
Parents and students are invited to learn more about the electives, academies and core curriculum courses that will be offered next year. Various sports and clubs will also be represented at the event.
Parents of current eighth grade students are encourage to attend the Curriculum Fair.
Cold Tonight, Becoming Warmer For Weekend
January 18, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 34. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Deputies Seek Teen For Shooting His Father
January 18, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a 17-year old who allegedly shot his father over the weekend.
Curtis Jerome Atwood III is wanted on outstanding warrants for aggravated battery, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, shooting into a dwelling and criminal mischief.
Investigators believe Atwood III and his father got into an argument early Saturday morning in the 3800 block of Winona Drive. The father left the residence and went to another address on 61st Avenue. The son arrived a short time later and called his father to come outside. As the father walked outside, the son began shooting at his father, striking him twice in the upper thigh and groin area. The father was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Atwood III and fled the area, according to deputies.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Atwood III is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Precautionary Boil Water Notice For Clear Creek Subdivision
January 18, 2012
A Precautionary Boil Water Notice has been issued for Clear Creek Drive. and includes ECUA customers residing on Tecumseh Trail, Tecumseh Place and Tecumseh Court.
Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use sox drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water for water to be used for drinking of cooking purposes. Bacteriological sampling is underway and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible.
ECUA crews have repaired the main, and are flushing out the lines. Residents are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes.
If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance, or see precautionary boil water notice guidelines on the ECUA website at www.ecua.fl.gov.