Robbins Guilty of 2012 Murder
January 26, 2013
An Escambia County Grand Jury has found Bennie Louis Robbins III guilty of felony first degree murder for the death of Matthew Cox. He was also convicted of cocaine possession, grand theft auto and resisting an officer without violence.
On the night of July 27, 2012, Cox, 19, was shot to death during the commission of a robbery at his home in Montclair. Investigators were able to link forensic evidence at the scene to Robbins.
Robbins faces up to life in prison when he sentenced by Judge Terry Terrell on March 24.
Former Local HS Coach Named Auburn Tight End, Special Teams Coach
January 26, 2013
Friday, former local high school coach Scott Fountain was named tight ends and special teams coach for the Auburn Tigers. He had previously served as Auburn’s player personnel director for the past four years.
“Scott is someone I tried to hire as an assistant coach a year ago at Arkansas State. He is a great coach with a tremendous work ethic, and his strong ties in the state of Alabama will be an asset to our program,” said head coach Gus Malzahn.
Fountain, a native of East Brewton, has spent 14 years coaching in the college ranks, including stops at Florida State, Georgia Southern, MTSU, Central Florida and Iowa State. He served as an assistant coach at Flomaton High School in 1988 and at his high school alma mater, W.S. Neal, in 1989 before being named head coach at Frisco City High School in 1990. After a three-year stint at Frisco City, he was head coach at Monroe County for a year.
Body Found Behind Highway 29 Business
January 25, 2013
The body of a female was found in a field behind a business on Pensacola Boulevard about 1:50 Friday afternoon. The body was discovered behind Alternative Powersports, near Kenmore Boulevard.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of death; foul play is suspected. Investigators said the body appears to have been at the scene for at least a couple of days.
Further details have not been released.
Wild Police Pursuit Through Santa Rosa County
January 25, 2013
A Navarre man was arrested early this morning after a wild police pursuit traveled for miles through Santa Rosa County, ending outside Jay with wrecked patrol cars, injured deputies, a suspect subdued by a K-9, and the suspect charged with attempted murder.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office first responded to a domestic disturbance in Navarre about 9 p.m. Suspect Dominic Turner was sitting in his Lexus in his driveway when deputies arrived. Ignoring orders to exit the Lexus, he fled the scene and deputies were unable to locate him.
At 11:43 p.m., a patrol deputy spotted Turner at Highway 90 and Watkins Street in Pace. The deputy attend to conduct a traffic stop, but Turner refused to yield and led the deputy on a lengthy pursuit through Pace and Milton.
Numerous times during the pursuit, Turner drove against the flow of traffic in the opposite lane. Turner also swerved at patrol vehicles in an attempt to strike them. “spike strips” were deployed at numerous locations throughout the pursuit, but Turner was able to avoid them. During one deployment of the “spike strips”, Turner saw the deputy deploying the strips and sharply turned and left the roadway into the grass, maliciously aiming his vehicle at the deputy, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
As Turner drove his vehicle off the roadway into the grass, the deputy ran in an attempt to avoid being struck, but was still hit and thrown though the air. Turner’s vehicle went approximately 30 feet off the roadway at Highway 90 and Pond Creek, striking the deputy and a large tree. Despite significant damage to his Lexus, Turner was able to flee from deputies once again. Turner also hit another deputy’s vehicle during the chase.
The pursuit continued north of Highway 87 and came to an end near Pleasant Grove Road after the Lexus was unable to continue. Turner refused to comply with deputies trying to take him into custody and actively fought with officers.
A K-9 was then deployed, which was able to overtake the suspect. Turner continued to fight and resist arrest. Turner was then taken into custody and transported to Santa Rosa Hospital. He was treated for lacerations from the K-9 apprehension, then released and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail.
The deputy that was struck by Turner was also taken to Santa Rosa Hospital where it was determined that he sprained his knee and had numerous cuts and bruises. He was treated and
released. During the struggle with Turner, another deputy suffered multiple fractures to his finger.
Turner charged with attempted felony murder for striking a deputy with his vehicle. He was also charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, and fleeing/eluding a law enforcement officer with injuries and/or damage. Turner was also charged with the original domestic violence charges from the incident in Navarre. He was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
Century Welcome Signs Dedicated, Almost $1 Million Free Inmate Labor Marked
January 25, 2013
New welcome signs were dedicated along Highway 29 in Century Thursday, as Century Correctional Institution marked nearly one million dollars worth of free labor provided to area towns and schools.
The “Welcome to Century” signs were designed by Lt. Tony Nolan of CCI and built with inmate labor. Two signs celebrating the town’s sawmill heritage, were place alongside Highway 29 at the Alabama state line and at the southern town limits near Salter’s Lake Road.
In 2012, Century Correctional provided a total of $958,000 worth of free inmate labor to the Town of Century, Town of Jay, Gulf Breeze, Northview High, Bratt Elementary, Byrneville Elementary and Oakcrest Elementary.
The value of the inmate labor is calculated at $17.24 per hour — a figure set by the state.
About 200 inmates a day –less than 15 percent of the total inmate population — work on multiple prison works crews from Century Correctional’s Main Unit on Tedder Road and the Berrydale Forestry Camp near Jay.
Pictured: New “Welcome to Century” signs constructed with inmate labor from Century Correctional Institution were dedicated Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Deputies: Man Robbed Four Hwy 29 Businesses To Pay Girlfriend’s Court Costs
January 25, 2013
An Escambia County man was busted Thursday for a string of robberies on Highway 29, allegedly committed so that he could pay his girlfriend’s court costs.
Marquis Baldwin, 22, was charged with four counts of robbery with a firearm, six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with a total bond of $80,000.00
Deputies said he used a pump-action BB gun during the robbery four businesses on Highway 29 — November 30 at the the Kangaroo gas station at 7950 Pensacola Boulevard, December 6, 2012 at the Waffle House at 7999 Pensacola Boulevard, January 3 and January 9 at the Waffle House at 6913 Pensacola Boulevard.
Baldwin told investigators that he committed the robberies in order to pay off his girlfriend’s probation costs, which deputies said were paid in full after the January robbery.
Country Music Video Filmed Thursday In Bluff Springs
January 25, 2013
North Escambia was setting for part of a country music video filmed Thursday night.
The video for the upcoming single “Chuggin’ Along” by Dusty Sanderson was filmed in Bluff Springs, including a bonfire scene that featured a lot of friends around a bonfire enjoying the song. Additional scenes were filmed earlier in the day at Chan’s on Nine Mile Road.
Sanderson, a Molino native, signed with Lamon Records Nashville late last year and recorded several original songs for his EP release. The single release for radio play, the CD and the video are expected to be released in about a month.
Pictured: A video for the upcoming Dusty Sanderson release “Chuggin’ Along” was filed Thursday in Bluff Springs. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Seeks Applicants To Serve On Library Board Of Governance
January 25, 2013
Escambia County is seeking residents who are interested in serving on the newly formed Public Library Board of Governance for the West Florida Public Library System. Interested applicants should have a passion for libraries and the services they provide the community, as well as the ability to effectively advocate for the West Florida Public Library System.
Appointees chosen to serve on the Board of Governance will do so in a strictly voluntary capacity, with selected applicants beginning their service at 2 p.m. on March 4. After that, it is expected that the Board will meet at 2 p.m. on the first Monday of each month. Additional meetings may be required during the transitional period.
Individuals interested in serving on Escambia County’s behalf should send or email a resume, as well as the completed questionnaire, on or before close of business on February 11. Please forward all information to:
Attn: Library Board of Governance Member Search
Escambia County Human Resources Department
221 Palafox Place, Suite 200
Pensacola, FL 32502
Email: TGTurner@myescambia.com
Mildred Louise (Davis) Ward
January 25, 2013
Mildred Louise (Davis) Ward, 88, passed peacefully into God’s keeping on Sunday, January 20, 2013, with her son and daughter-in-law at her side.
Mildred was born on October 22, 1924 in Atmore, to the union of Nathaniel Edward Davis and Vera Hall. She graduated from Atmore High School in 1943 and upon his return from WWII she married her devoted husband, Cary Carlson Ward, Sr. on November 24, 1944, in Pensacola. She followed her husband’s military career until his retirement in 1976 after 35 years. She was a dedicated and loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother her entire life.
She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Aubrey and son, SSGT Cary C. Ward, Jr., US Special Forces.
She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 68 years; her son, Daniel Marcus Ward (Debbie); sister, Virginia Comer; grandson, Zachary Carlson Ward (Melissa); granddaughter, Angela Kathryn Ward Bell (Glynn) and four beautiful great-granddaughters.
She was the center of our family and will be greatly missed by all who loved her.
Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, 2013, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel.
Graveside service for family and close friends will be held 11:45 a.m. Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Barrancas National Cemetery.
State Ed Boss: More Guns In Schools Not Answer
January 25, 2013
More guns in schools aren’t necessarily the answer to school safety issues, the new state education boss said.
Education Commissioner Tony Bennett says instead that creating a culture where kids and adults in talk openly and trust each other – and where adults communicate about potential problems – is a big part of the solution to school violence.
In a radio interview aired Thursday night, Bennett said when he was in Indiana the schools focused on being proactive in identifying potential problems, “as opposed to reactively, which is the discussion about putting more guns in our schools. I have to tell you, I don’t believe that’s the solution,” Bennett says. “I believe the solution is where we develop a school system where every child feels safe, every child has a significant adult they can go to and where we have a seamless line of communications where all of the leaders who affect a child’s education have the ability to share information so we don’t have that situation like we had in Columbine, where every community agency, they were dealing with those kids, and they didn’t talk to each other.”
By The News Service of Florida