Tuesday Night Homicide Victim Named
October 9, 2013
Another shooting death is under investigation in Escambia County.
About 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call at the Forest Creek Apartments on Patton Drive. Deputies discovered 21-year old William Lawrence George deceased in yard across the street from the apartment complex.
He may have been shot somewhere other than the yard. There were no known suspects as of Wednesday afternoon in the shooting death of George.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Lane Closed On Highway 29 In Century Today
October 9, 2013
Drivers can expect delays today on North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) today in Century.
The southbound outside lane of North Century Boulevard will be closed between Jackson Street and Hilltop Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as crews make repairs to storm drains.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to pay attention to the speed limit when traveling through the construction area, and to use caution, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Cantonment Insurance Agent Pleads Not Guilty To Selling Fraudulent Policies
October 9, 2013
A Cantonment insurance agent says he is not guilty of selling hundreds of fraudulent life insurance policies through a fake employment company.
Randall Petersen, 47, was charged in April with racketeering, insurance fraud, money laundering, grand theft and criminal use of personal identification. Investigators contended that Petersen created a fictitious employment company to lure individuals into applying for fraudulent life insurance policies earning him more than $330,000 in bonuses and commissions, according to Florida Department of Financial Services and CFO Jeff Atwater.
Prosecutors have since dropped 285 counts of insurance fraud filed against Peterson, and he pleaded not guilty to the four remaining charges. Peterson’s jury trial is set for February.
Petersen placed an estimated 285 fictitious life insurance policies with American National Insurance Company, which paid him bonuses and commissions of more than $330,000. American National informed the department of the suspected fraud once the policies started canceling for nonpayment, according to Atwater.
Petersen remains free on a $30,000 bond as he awaits trial.
Ernest Ward Middle Names September Students Of The Month
October 9, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School has named their September Students of the Month. They are: (L-R) Henry Wiggins, sixth grade; Madelyn Plant, seventh grade; and Triston Long, eighth grade. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Senior Night: Northview Sweeps Pensacola Christian (With Gallery)
October 9, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs honored their seniors Tuesday night during their last home volleyball matches of the season, as the Chiefs beat Pensacola Christian in varsity and junior varsity action.
The JV Chiefs beat Pensacola Christian 26-24, 24-26, 18-16. Brittany Ward had four aces and nine assists for Northview, while Laurie Purdy contributed six aces, one kill and an assist.
In varsity action, Northview beat Pensacola Christian in three straight, 25-16, 25-23, 25-12. Danielle Steadham had nine kills, four blocks and four digs. Lily Townson added two aces, one kill, 17 assists and five digs for the Chiefs, and Shelby Nielson had six aces, one kill and a dig.
The junior varsity Chiefs will travel to Pensacola on Thursday to play Catholic High School at 5 p.m. The JV and varsity teams will round out their season with games against Baldwin County High School on October 15 and Central on October 17.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The Northview Lady Chiefs honored their seniors Tuesday night: (L-R) Lily Townson, Rebecca Grim, Lana Clayton, Shelby Nielson, Tiffani Pritchett, Danielle Steadham and Mallory Wiggins. Pictured inset and below: Northview beat Pensacola Christian. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Justices Weigh Cell Phone Tracking By Cops
October 9, 2013
Grappling with privacy rights amid fast-changing technology, the Florida Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments in a challenge to police using “real-time” cell-phone information to track a suspect in a drug case.
Justices pointed to courts across the country trying to sort out how far police can go in using technology that adds to old-school techniques such as wiretaps.
“Everyone’s struggling — including us,” Justice Barbara Pariente said during an exchange with one of the attorneys in Monday’s case. “Everyone’s struggling.”
The case stems from the 2007 arrest in Broward County of Shawn Tracey, who was later found guilty on cocaine-possession and other charges, including fleeing and eluding police. In lower courts, Tracey’s attorneys argued unsuccessfully that evidence should be suppressed because of law officers using cell-phone technology to track his movements across the state.
Broward County detectives received a warrant to obtain information about Tracey’s cell-phone usage, including “historical cell site” information that would help show the locations of his calls. But a key question in the case is whether that allowed police to conduct what is described as “real time” tracking of Tracey in a red GMC Envoy — eventually leading to a search that discovered a kilogram brick of cocaine underneath a spare tire, according to a brief filed in the case.
Tracey, 30, is imprisoned at the Wakulla Correctional Institution Annex, south of Tallahassee.
Tatjana Ostapoff, an assistant public defender who represented Tracey, said he had a reasonable expectation of privacy and that the warrant didn’t contemplate tracking his movements as they occurred. She contended that the tracking violates the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which bars unreasonable searches and seizures.
“There is no court order that justifies what was done in this case,” Ostapoff said.
But Melynda Melear, an assistant attorney general, said Tracey had voluntarily conveyed information to the cell-phone company, MetroPCS, and that he did not have an expectation of privacy. Also, she said the information met the definition of “historical” because the cell-phone company received the information first before relaying it.
Justices, who typically take months to rule in such cases, asked numerous questions of both attorneys.
At one point, Melear suggested that the Legislature or Congress probably should address the issue involved in the case. That drew a response from Justice Jorge Labarga, who pointed to a new state law that limits when police can use unmanned drones for surveillance, a law that backers said was intended to protect privacy.
“That seems to be where the Legislature is going,” Labarga said.
“But the Legislature hasn’t addressed this particular issue,” Melear responded.
by Jim Sanders, The News Service of Florida
Stacey Road Bridge Closed
October 9, 2013
The Stacey Road Bridge in the Cantonment area was closed Tuesday. The bridge is expected to remain closed for up to 10 days, according to Escambia County. The bridge is located on Stacey Road between West Quintette Road and Coweta Road.
The bridge is being repaired by Gulf Marine Construction.
Sheriff’s Office Aims To Boost Convenience Store Security
October 9, 2013
In an effort to deter crime and provide a more secure environment for convenience store employees and patrons, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan has implemented a program designed to ensure certain safety standards are being met as required by the Convenience Business Security Act.
The focus under this legislation is on stores that are open between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Inspectors make special note of factors which can deter criminals, mitigate losses and aid in the identification of suspects. Inspectors are certified through the Florida Attorney General’s Office with the designation of Florida Crime Prevention Practitioner (FCPP).
Notable problems are reported to the Florida Office of the Attorney General which mandates compliance with the safety and security standards.
Corporate offices of major convenience store chains have been notified and are aware of the Act. Morgan expressed his gratitude for the outstanding cooperation the Sheriff’s Office has received so far from convenience store owners and managers.
“Although the State of Florida mandates minimum safety standards for convenience stores, I believe that the key to convenience store related crime prevention is thorough a concerted effort between the store owners and local law enforcement,” he said. “I am encouraged by the response we have had so far and believe it’s going to be a win-win for everyone, perhaps with the exception of would-be criminals.”
For more information about the program, contact David Craig at (850) 436-9281 or email win@escambiaso.com.
Pictured: This Century convenience store was an armed robbery victim twice in 2012. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Senate Considers Withdrawal From Federal Flood Insurance Plan
October 9, 2013
State legislators continue to consider how they can protect homeowners covered by the National Flood Insurance Program from a planned hike in rates, with a focus now on possibly altering regulations so private insurers can have more flexibility in offering the coverage.
And absent a private solution, the state may need to consider establishing a state agency as a last resort for the roughly 270,000 Florida homeowners who could face unaffordable insurance under the national program, said Senate Banking and Insurance Chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs.
“I don’t think it’s their fault, they bought a home under a national flood insurance program that has now changed the rules on them, in the middle of the game,” Simmons said.
Lawmakers continued to express concern Tuesday about the anticipated end of federal flood-insurance subsidies that Realtors claim could devastate Florida’s economy. State lawmakers have called on Congress to postpone implementation of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, which phases out subsidies on older properties in flood zones.
The 2012 act calls on the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies to make a number of changes to the way the National Flood Insurance Program is run, including raising rates to reflect true flood risk and to make the program more financially stable.
With Florida accounting for about one-third of the policies in the federal program, Simmons said hopefully the threat of Florida’s withdrawal from the program will spur the federal government to take action.
“We can provide leverage to get a solution to this, and if we don’t provide the leverage we’ll have a solution of our own,” Simmons said. “But I don’t think our remedy is to leave these homeowners without some help.”
Senate Committee Approves Minor Stand Your Ground Law Changes
October 9, 2013
Prompted by a national outcry over George Zimmerman’s acquittal this summer in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, a Florida Senate committee gave approval Tuesday to minor changes in the state’s “stand your ground” law.
But whether a Legislature dominated by gun-loving lawmakers will ultimately sign off on a bipartisan compromise remains a long shot, despite a seemingly indifferent National Rifle Association, which helped write Florida’s first-in-the-nation law.
The law’s 2005 sponsor, Sen. David Simmons, defended the current law while conceding it could be better.
“It is an excellent common-sense law, but it is not perfect. That’s coming from a person who was the main drafter of the ’stand your ground’ law back in 2005,” Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Simmons struck a deal with Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, whose attempts to modify the law earlier this year went nowhere. Florida’s current NRA-backed law, which became a model for the rest of the country, allows individuals to use deadly force when they feel their lives are in danger and provides immunity from prosecution or civil lawsuits. The law, an expansion of the centuries-old “Castle Doctrine” that gives people the right to defend themselves with deadly force in their own homes, also removed the duty to retreat.
Tuesday’s compromise (SB 130) would require law enforcement agencies to establish standards for neighborhood watch teams and require that police and sheriffs fully investigate cases in which “stand your ground” is a factor, something Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley insists they already do.
The proposal also strengthens current language in the law barring individuals who are aggressors from using “stand your ground” as a defense.
“All we do is add an ‘I really mean it’ phrase,” Simmons, a lawyer, explained before the committee’s 7-2 vote on the bill.
And the bill would also do away with civil immunity in “stand your ground” cases in which innocent bystanders are injured or killed, a contentious point that prompted one “no” vote from Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, chairman of the powerful Rules Committee. Simmons said later that he would be willing to remove that portion to ensure passage.
NRA Florida lobbyist Marion Hammer said the bill will do little to clear up concerns or confusion about the law. She said the NRA is neutral right now on the measure.
“If we think we’re going to accomplish a lot by putting clarification in a bill now, I suggest that it’s probably not going to work because it will be misinterpreted down the line and we’ll be back again,” Hammer, a former national president of the organization, said. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with trying to clear the air and clarify and fix some things. I wish I could tell you that we thought this bill would fix a lot of problems, but we don’t. Will it do harm? It could, but we doubt it. We just don’t think we’re there yet.”
The measure faces an even fiercer battle in the House, where Criminal Justice Subcommittee Chairman Matt Gaetz plans to hold a hearing next month on “stand your ground” at the behest of House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
“It was very elegant window-dressing,” Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, said of Tuesday’s Senate meeting.
Simmons said his changes were part of the recommendations of a task force ordered by Gov. Rick Scott to look into the law in the aftermath of the shooting of Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old. Zimmerman was not charged with a crime for more than six weeks after the Feb. 26 shooting last year. Scott appointed a special prosecutor who eventually charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder after the failure of police to arrest Zimmerman prompted marches nationwide.
And Gaetz, a lawyer, said he does not feel compelled to take up Scott’s task force’s recommendations.
“I was not enamored by the work of the task force,” he said.
Gaetz said he plans to take up a measure proposed by Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, that would repeal the law as well as the Castle Doctrine.
“At least his proposal frames up a real debate on the underlying issues,” Gaetz said.
But Simmons and Smith said they hoped Tuesday’s actions would “send a message” to the House that Democrats and Republicans can work together.
Florida’s “stand your ground” law has become a flashpoint for minority groups like the NAACP, especially in the aftermath of Zimmerman’s acquittal.
Zimmerman claimed he shot Martin in self-defense but did not use “stand your ground” to avoid being prosecuted. But the law spawned changes to jury instructions that at least one Zimmerman juror said resulted in the not-guilty verdict.
NAACP general counsel Kim Keenan traveled from Washington and had dinner with Simmons and Smith, who is black, the night before the meeting.
Keenan praised the two senators for working together to reach a compromise in contrast to the gridlock in Congress that has shut down the government.
The NAACP supports the Simmons/Smith bill but favors repealing the law, Keenan said.
“We think it’s a step in the right direction,” she said. “This is about creating a world that is not the wild, wild west.”
Several members of the “Dream Defenders,” a group that held a 30-day sit-in outside Scott’s Capitol office after the Zimmerman verdict spoke against the measure, citing studies that showed minorities are more likely to be charged with a crime when the victim is white.
“Rather than make our communities safer, this law forced us to meet force with force,” Elijah Armstrong, a member of the organization and a Florida A&M University graduate student, said. ” ‘Stand your ground’ laws make it more dangerous for a black person to walk down the street.”
Although Smith intends to try to amend the measure to further define who the aggressor is in “stand your ground” situations, he called Tuesday’s debate itself a victory.
“Today was significant that we got something done, that we moved a comma,” Smith said, referring to Gaetz’s earlier contention that “not one damn comma” in the law needs to be changed.
“Having the discussion, having it so that people from the public from Dream Defenders to NRA were able to speak on the record in a Senate committee about this issue, that’s something we haven’t been able to get in the past,” he said.
by Dara Kim, The News Service of Florida