Armed Standoff Ends With One Arrest In Century
March 20, 2013
A man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after an armed standoff with deputies in Century.
Deputies said 28-year Isaac Levon Mitchell has allegedly stalked an employee at the Century Town Hall since at least February. When he made contact with the employee at the town hall a little after 7 a.m., deputies were called. They chased Mitchell toward Alger Road, but lost sight of him. Deputies determined that Mitchell was wanted on an outstanding failure to appear warrant in a concealed weapon and resisting an officer case.
Later in the morning, deputies observed Mitchell again near the town hall and observed him run and enter a mobile home on Alger Road. Mitchell was reportedly in communication with a deputy through the back door of the mobile home as additional deputies entered the front door.
Mitchell allegedly pointed a shotgun at deputies in a hallway before he barricaded himself inside a bedroom in the mobile home, still armed with a shotgun.
As deputies tried to negotiate with Mitchell, he jumped out of a window with the shotgun and ran toward North Century Boulevard, dumping the shotgun, shotgun shells and .22 caliber ammunition in a nearby yard.
He then ran across the highway and into the Century Food Mart and got on the floor behind the counter. Deputies said Mitchell was known to the clerk. The clerk, with a Sheriff’s dispatcher on the phone, talked Mitchell into surrendering peacefully to the deputies outside the store.
Mitchell is expected to be charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, one count of improper exhibition of a firearm and failure to appear.
Pictured top: Isaac Levon Mitchell was taken into custody by Escambia County deputies following a standoff that ended with his surrender. Pictured inset: After pointing a shotgun at deputies, Mitchell allegedly jumped out of this mobile home window. Pictured below: Deputies and crime scene investigators looks for clues at the Century Food Mart. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rep. Clay Ford Passes Away
March 20, 2013
Described by friends as humble and a “tender conscience,” state Rep. Clay Ford, R-Gulf Breeze, has died of cancer at age 74.
Ford, who was chairman of the House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee but had been absent from this year’s legislative session because of the illness, died Monday night, according to a statement issued by House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
“The consummate gentleman of the House, Clay Ford was a friend, a mentor and a tender conscience to all those who served with him,” Weatherford said.
Weatherford and Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, pointed to Ford’s humble nature, with the speaker saying that Ford had requested that “we not mourn him with ceremony and fanfare” and allow his family to mourn privately.
“Rep. Clay Ford had a long battle with cancer,” said Patronis, who along with Rep. Eddy Gonzalez, paid tribute to Ford during an afternoon subcommittee meeting. “Today is a day that Clay would be very upset if we were grieving, just because there’s never been a picture of humility more in this process I’ve ever crossed than Rep. Ford.”
Ford, an attorney, took office after a February 2007 special election and was re-elected three times, mostly recently when he won a Republican primary in August 2012. An Arkansas native, Ford was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1975 and 1976 and went on to become a member of the Gulf Breeze City Council from 1990 to 2007.
“Ann and I were sad to hear the news of the passing of Representative Clay Ford. Our sincere condolences go to his family and to all of those in the Legislature that served with him. Clay cared deeply for his constituents and it showed during his work in Tallahassee,” Gov. Rick Scott said.
“While some legislators mark their successes by the numbers of bill they pass, Clay Ford defined his performance by the lives he touched and made better,” Senator Don Gaetz said. “He carried out his final struggle against cancer with grace and an abiding concern for others. Vicky and I feel a deep sense of loss and we pray for Carol and the Ford family during this most difficult time.”
Gonzalez, a former member of the Hialeah City Council, said he first met Ford in 1998 through the Florida League of Cities. Ford served as president of the League of Cities in 2004 and 2005.
Ford had three children and nine grandchildren, according to a House bio. Gonzalez and Patronis described Ford as being devoted to his family and wife of more than 50 years, Carol.
“She would drive with him everywhere they went in their meetings in the state,” Patronis said. “( Ford was) an incredibly private individual who would never ask for any assistance in accomplishing what was his job that he felt like he should be able to do himself.”
Gulf Power Lends A Helpful Hand After Alabama Storms
March 20, 2013
A Gulf Power storm team is working in the Birmingham area to help Alabama Power Company restore power to more than 220,000 customers left without power following powerful storms on Monday.
The 62 workers left early Tuesday and worked in the Trussville, AL, area Tuesday afternoon.
“They’ve had some devastating storms,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power Corporate Communications manager. “Our crews are headed that way now — to help but also to add to their experience restoring power after these storms. That’s a great value for our customers.”
Gulf Power sent storm teams to assist other utilities six times during 2012.
Woman Sentenced For Embezzling Thousands From Doctor
March 20, 2013
A Beulah woman was sentenced to prison Tuesday for embezzling thousands of dollars from a local physician.
Ellen Renee Garrett, 56, was sentenced by Judge Ross Goodman to 24 months in state prison followed by eight years probation. She will also be required to pay restitution to her former employer, Gulf Coast Podiatry on North Nine Avenue.
Garrett had previously pleaded no contest to grand theft from the physician for embezzling money from his medical practice over the course of more than four years while she was employed as an office manager.
Police said it was Garrett’s responsibility to post payments to patient accounts. However, an investigation determined she didn’t post payments as she should, nor did she deposit cash into business accounts. Garrett would cover up her activity by fraudulently posting a transaction to reduce balance on patient accounts by the amount of money a patient had paid, Lyster said.
Garrett embezzled $43,739.34 over four years period, police said.
Florida Prison Health Plan To Go Before Appeals Court
March 20, 2013
The 1st District Court of Appeal has scheduled arguments May 14 in a long-running legal battle about privatizing prison health services in much of the state. A Leon County circuit judge in December ruled that lawmakers did not properly approve a plan that would have led to Corizon, Inc., receiving a contract to provide prison health services in central and north Florida.
The decision did not affect a Department of Corrections plan to contract with another firm in the southern part of the state.
Weightlifting: Four Chiefs Advance To Sectional Meet
March 20, 2013
Four Northview Chiefs qualified Tuesday to advance toward the state weightlifting finals.
La’Mikal Kyles (183-pound class), Arkelle Elliott (199), Luke McDaniel (238) and Laderious Franklin (238) all placed Tuesday at the District 1 qualifier weightlifting meet at Baker. All four advance to sectional meet on April 1st at Panama City Arnold.
Kyles placed first in his class with a 515 pound total; Elliott was second in his class with a 565 total. McDaniel was second with a 525 total, and Franklin finished third with a 485 pound total.
Justin Kite finished fourth in the 219 pound class with a 450 total and is an alternate for the sectionals.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs complete in the District 1 qualifier weightlifting meet at Baker on Tuesday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park 4-H Students Advance To District Event
March 20, 2013
Three members of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club placed with blue ribbons at recent county competitions.
Izzy Kent, junior divison; Dillon Conti, intermediate division; and Jessica Conti, junior division, will present their Animal Science Demonstrations/Illustrated Talks at the 4-H District event this Saturday at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church at 1394 East Nine Mile Road between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
For more information on the Barrineau Park 4-H Club, call Tena Gindl at (850) 698-3441.
Pictured top: Izzy Kent, Jessica Conti and Dillon Conti advanced to 4-H District events. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Beat Holmes County; JV Jags Over NHS
March 20, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs picked up varsity and JV wins Tuesday over Holmes County, while the WFHS JV Jags defeated the JV Chiefs in baseball.
SOFTBALL
Northview 5, Holmes County 3
The Northview Lady Chiefs varsity softball team continued their undefeated season with another win Tuesday night in Bratt. The Lady Chiefs defeated Holmes County 5-3 in seven innings. With the win, Northview’s varsity softball team is now 9-0.
The varsity Chiefs will be in action again on Friday as they host Chipley at 5:00.
Northview 11, Holmes County 1 (JV)
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs softball team beast Holmes County 11-1 Tuesday afternoon in Bratt. The JV Chiefs softball team will be off until after Spring Break, with their next game April 1 in Flomaton.
BASEBALL
West Florida 10, Northview 7
The JV West Florida High School Jaguars beat the Northview Chiefs Tuesday evening at Northview.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Aggie Classic Day Two
March 20, 2013
Here’s a look at Aggie Classic scores from Tuesday followed by Wednesday’s schedule in the 22-team tournament.
Cardinal Pool
Edmond North (OK) 3, Navarre 1
Hueytown (AL) 8, Jay (OK) 1
Tahlequah (OK) 9, Overton 6
Tate 9, Washington (OK) 6
Escambia 13, Hume-Fogg (TN) 2
Washington 5, Grove (OK) 1
Grey Pool
McAdory (Ala.) 6, Claremore (OK) 1
Jacksonville Arlington Country Day 10, Westmoore (OK) 2
Pryor (OK) 8, West Florida 5
Goodpasture (TN) 6, Milton 1
Norman North (OK) 8, Greenwood (AR) 1
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Tate High
• Greenwood vs. Pryor, 4 p.m.
• Tate vs. Grove, 7 p.m.
At Escambia High
• Good Pasture vs. Westmoore, 4 p.m.
• Escambia vs. Tahlequah, 7 p.m.
At Washington High
• Jay vs. Washington, 4 p.m.
• Edmond North vs. Hueytown, 7 p.m.
At West Florida High
• Overton vs. Washington (OK), 4 p.m.
• McAdory vs. West Florida, 7 p.m.
At Pensacola State
• Norman North vs. Milton, 4 p.m.
• Arlington Co. Day vs. Claremore, 7 p.m.
At Woodham Middle
• Hume-Fogg vs. Navarre, 7 p.m.
Armed And Dangerous Robbery Suspect Surrenders
March 20, 2013
A man the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office called armed and dangerous is off the streets.
Donald Donita McBride turned himself in Tuesday morning. He was wanted in connection with an armed robbery which occurred shortly before 1 p.m. Monday on Teakwood Circle in West Pensacola. McBride allegedly held a gun to the victim’s head and demanded that he had over prescription narcotics.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the media’s coverage was essential on locating McBride.