Woman Rear-Ends ECAT Bus
October 2, 2013
There were no serious injuries when a Pensacola woman rear-ended an ECAT bus Wednesday.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 40-year old Angie B. Coleman hit the back of the transit bus on West Fairfield Drive near Hollywood Avenue. The FHP said Coleman “failed to maintain awareness” of traffic when she hit the bus.
There were 17 passengers on the bus. Six complained of minor injuries, with three of those transported to area hospitals.
Coleman was cited with careless driving.
SUV Barely Misses Church After Traffic Crash, Two Injured
October 2, 2013
Two people were injured in accident at Old Palafox and 10 Mile Road late Wednesday morning in which one vehicle barely missed hitting a church building.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not yet released exactly how the crash happened, but one SUV came to rest on the highway, while another traveled between buildings at the Pinehaven Baptist Church before hitting an outdoor air conditioning unit.
Firefighters were forced to use the Jaws of Life to free the passengers of the SUV that nearly hit the building in the crash just before noon.
The Cantonment and Ensley stations of of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the accident.
Further details have not yet been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Family Looks For Answers After Dog Shot And Killed
October 2, 2013
A Cantonment family has spent over a month looking for answers as to why someone would shoot and kill their dog in their neighborhood.
“On the morning of August 22, my wife and I were notified by Escambia County Animal Control of a horrendous and cruel crime that had been committed against our beloved dog, Maxx,” Ken Williams of the 1500 block of Muscogee Road said. “Maxx was shot five times in his back. He did not die instantly. He suffered as he bled to death.”
According to an Escambia County Animal Control report, it appeared that Maxx had been shot and killed on a porch belonging to Williams’ neighbor. Photos show the dog dead on the porch in pool of blood, but the photos are too graphic for this story.
The wife of the person that reported the dead dog to Animal Control told officers that she did not know anything about the shooting, and officers were unable to locate any witnesses to the shooting.
Maxx, an American bulldog/lab mix, was shot five times in the back, according to the Animal Control report. He had been contained in the Williams’ yard, but had apparently escaped during the night.
Anyone with information on the dog’s shooting death is asked to call Escambia County Animal Control Officer Nowlin at (850) 554-0964 or the Escambia County Animal Control office at (850) 595-0097.
” Maxx was a sweet, gentle dog that wouldn’t hurt a fly. Please help us bring justice for Maxx,” Williams said.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Authorities Searching For Shooting Suspect
October 2, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshal’s are looking for an Escambia County man in connection with a shooting September 17 in the 4400 block of Chantilly Way.
Emanuel Gracia, 34, is wanted for aggravated battery with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon for the shooting of 34-year old Christopher Bryant Dortch. Dortch was injured in the 1:15 p.m. incident but survived.
Anyone with information on Gracia’s whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
House Rejects Partial U.S. Government Restart
October 2, 2013
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected three separate measures that would have funded parts of the federal government shut down since midnight Monday.
The Republican-proposed bills to reopen national parks and museums, fund veterans’ services and the city of Washington, DC failed to get the required two-thirds support.
Even if they had passed, the White House said it would veto any partial government reopening, with spokesman Jay Carney saying attempts to fund some operations while leaving others closed shows an utter lack of seriousness.
House Democrats criticized Republicans for worrying about parks instead of programs feeding children. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi likened it to kidnappers freeing just one hostage at a time.
The government started closing down all but essential services at midnight Monday. The Democratic-controlled Senate rejected spending bills by the Republican-led House that would have delayed or killed President Barack Obama’s signature health care program, the Affordable Care Act.
Obama said Republicans are on an “ideological crusade” to kill the measure, known as Obamacare, and criticized their “reckless demands” to deny affordable health insurance to millions of Americans.
He said that closing down the government accomplished nothing because Obamacare is the law of the land, passed by Congress, supported by voters and upheld by the Supreme Court.
Republican opponents of Obamacare say it forces people, including small businesses, to buy expensive insurance policies against their will, hurting the economy.
About 800,000 federal workers are now on furlough. Other federal workers are staying on the job with no guarantee when they will be paid. The U.S. military will remain on duty, and ongoing military operations like those in Afghanistan will continue.
Experts say a shutdown of more than two weeks is likely to slow the U.S. economy because of reduced tourism and furloughed federal workers cutting back on their spending.
[VOA]
PCA Tops In Northview Cross Country Meet (With Photo Gallery)
October 2, 2013
Pensacola Christian took the top spots for both and girls Tuesday at a cross country meet at Northview High School.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Team results were as follows:
GIRLS
1. Pensacola Christian
2. Jay High
3. T.R. Miller
4. Pensacola High
5. Tate
6. Northview
7. Flomaton
8. Ernest Ward Middle
BOYS
1. Pensacola Christian
2. T.R. Miller
3. Pensacola High
4. Jay
5. Tate
6. Northview
7. Flomaton
8. Ernest Ward
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
Editor’s note: Individual names and time results are as provided by each school’s coach.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
U.S. Marshals Florida Task Force Apprehends Alabama Sexual Assault Suspect
October 2, 2013
The U.S. Marshal’s Florida Regional Task Force captured a wanted Escambia County, AL, man Tuesday that was living at his girlfriend’s house in Escambia County, FL.
On August 2, 2012, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama issued a warrant for Quavardis Lavarica Russell charging him with sexual abuse first degree and attempted rape first degree. Investigators believed that 21 year-old Russell had originally fled to Flomaton then made his way to Pensacola where he supposedly had family.
The Task Force began searching for Russell early Tuesday morning when they discovered that he may be staying with his pregnant girlfriend in a trailer park located off of Glass Avenue.
While Task Force members from the Marshals, Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office and Walton Sheriff’s Office, along with FBI were attempting to locate Russell in an apartment complex off of “W” Street; others were conducting surveillance at the trailer park.
At around 9:30 Tuesday morning Russell and the woman believed to be his girlfriend left the trailer park on foot and went into a convenient store that sits at the corner of Glass and Michigan Avenues. The Task Force arrested Russell inside the store without incident.
Russell was transported to the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola. Although his warrant has a $250,000 bond, he will be held as a fugitive from justice pending his extradition back to Alabama.
Editor’s note: Due to the takeover of the Escambia County Jail this week from the Sheriff’s Office, some mugshots like Russell’s are temporarily unavailable.
Grand Jury To Review ECSO Shootings Of Roy Middleton, James McGlothin
October 2, 2013
The State Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that it has complete its review of the FDLE’s investigative reports into the shooting death of James McGlothlin and the shooting of Roy Middleton. Both were shot in recent months by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The shootings will be presented to an Escambia County Grand Jury beginning the week of October 7.
Roy Middleton
In July, an unarmed Roy Middleton was searching for a cigarette in his mother’s car when he was shot by deputies that had responded to a theft in progress call. Escambia County Sheriff’s David Morgan was Middleton was not compliant with his officers’ orders to get out of the car and put his hands up. Instead, the sheriff said, Middleton exited the car quickly with a lunging motion with one hand raised with something in it. Deputies then fired 15 rounds at Middleton. Morgan attributed the number of shots to “officer anxiety”.
Middleton and his family told a different story. Middleton said he at first thought the flashlights were those of his neighbors playing a trick on him. He said he followed the orders given by deputies and raised his hands, holding his car keys with metal flashlight. When he turned to face the deputies, they opened fire.
The incident has received national media attention.
James Wyman McGlothin
James Wyman McGlothin was shot and killed by an Escambia County Deputy in early July at the Lago Vista Apartments in the 400 block of South 72nd Avenue.
McGlothlin was reportedly driving a small red Honda vehicle when he ran off the road and became stuck in a flooded ditch off 72nd Avenue. He then ran into the apartment complex where a K-9 tracked him to a shed. Area residents reported hearing dozens of gunshots as deputies entered the shed.
According to a list released by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, McGlothlin was responsible for a long list of crimes in the area between June 21 and his death on July 5 including grand theft, vehicle theft, aggravated battery and the robbery of at least two businesses.
Baker Sweeps Northview (With Photo Gallery)
October 2, 2013
The Baker Gators defeated the Northview Chiefs in straight sets Tuesday at Northview High School in Bratt.
In junior varsity action, Baker defeated Northview 25-10, 25-7. And in varsity play, the Gators defeated the Chiefs 25-14, 25-21, 25-20.
Northview will play Chipley in a varsity-only matchup at 4 p.m. Thursday at Northview.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from Tuesday’s varsity action, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bill Would Block Electronic Cigarettes For Minors
October 2, 2013
Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, filed a bill this week that would ban the sales of electronic cigarettes to minors.
The electronic devices, which deliver nicotine and simulate cigarette smoking, would be added to part of state law that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to people under age 18. The bill (SB 224), which was filed Monday, also would make it illegal for minors to possess electronic cigarettes.
The proposal is filed for the 2014 legislative session.