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McDavid Man Among Two Inmates Killed In Jail Blast
May 2, 2014
A McDavid man was one of two inmates that were killed when an explosion rocked the Escambia County late Wednesday night.
Robert Earl Simmons, age 54 of Railroad Street in McDavid, was arrested on multiple felony animal cruelty charges on January 14. He was being held without bond due to an alleged probation violation in a 2012 grand theft and trespassing case. He was due in court for probation violation hearing today, May 2, to determine his possible bond eligibility.
David Paul Weinstein, age 45, was arrested February 28 for fraud providing false owner information a pawned item, dealing in stolen property and grand theft. His bond was set at $12,500, but he was placed under a “hold” by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office where he had an outstanding warrant on an unknown charge. His trial in Escambia County was set for mid-July.
Both men were found dead surrounded by debris in the same part of the jail.
About 600 inmates were inside when the explosion believed to have been caused by a natural gas leak ripped through the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Facility on West Leonard street.
People as far away as Molino and Gulf Breeze reported feeling or hearing the blast.
The explosion appeared to have originated in or near a basement laundry area. In a written statement, Pensacola Energy said in a written statement Thursday that they verified the gas main leading to the building was operating in a safe and effective manner. Pensacola Energy indicated that explosion appeared to have originated inside the basement of the facility.
County officials said Thursday night that 184 people, including inmates and corrections officers, were transported to area medical centers for treatment. All but two inmates and one Escambia County Jail correction officer have been released from the hospital.
Every inmate that was in the facility at the time of the blast has been accounted for, according to Escambia County officials.
Two hundred female inmates were transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail in Milton, while the remaining prisoners were scattered among other unnamed detention facility in Escambia County. For roster of inmates in the jail at the time of the explosion, click here.
The Escambia County Jail, including Central Booking and Detention Facility, are operated under the direction of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, not the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff David Morgan relinquished control of the jail to the BOCC last October.
The Florida State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) are investigating the cause of the explosion.
Comments
15 Responses to “McDavid Man Among Two Inmates Killed In Jail Blast”
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayer they are much needed at this time… Thanks again From Robert Simmons Daughter
Paul,
I can only assume you don’t understand methane is the main component of natural gas.
David for effective education
david,mathane gas is not the culpit here…it is NOT being pumped into the jail.
mathane canbe found in septic tanks,sewer system,landfills… and also behind cows.
natural gas is found deep below the surface and the smell in natural a nd propane is a perfume…
David Weinstein’s “hold” for Hillsborough County was for child support……
http://www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/PublicInquiry/Warrants/Inquiry/ViewActiveWarrant?id=22105094++++++&k1=8d1359453e2df16&k2=LTQ5ODM1NzUwOA%3d%3d
Robert Simmons was a dear friend to my family. His daughter lost her mother six months ago and now her father. He would have more than likely been released the morning after the explosion, but we know things did not go that way. These two men were housed in the same dorm area. I do not know the other man, but my most sincere heartfelt sympathies go to his family and friends.
FYI, the jail uses natural gas. Not propane. The laundry equipment was “new” and was having “leaks” since installation, hence doors being propped open with fans, inmates and staff complaining how eyes were burning, etc. Some say going back to 4/2 there were complaints, and some even saying further back. The basement area flooded yet again…. Something has GOT to change!
I hope SOME sort of accountability comes from the investigation. This is tragic and completely senseless.
Henry,
You see a tank and assume it is propane
You assume that propane goes to the jail
You assume it is the only gas which explodes
Restated, you assume methane — which IS piped into the building — can not explode and could not be the cause despite printed literature and experience to the contrary.
People appear to have died because they assumed they wouldn’t.
old,
Discussing how people may have died is not ignoring the fact they died, but how to avoid killing others. Yes, our neighbor was killed. Other neighbors who work there could have been killed. I have kin who just happened to be between incarcerations somehow. They might have been killed too. People simply driving by might have been killed. Please show them some respect.
David for proper plumbing
and non-lethal work-places
the article is about the two inmates that were killed not about the type of gas just because these two people were inmates does not make them less human they were someones son maybe a father or brother SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR THE LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE
Good feedback, but nothing really definitive.
@Jason, there are 4 Propane tanks sitting just to the north of the part of the jail that exploded, seated on the east side of a smaller building in a small fenced in area. Btw, I was not referring to the idea of an actual “tank” exploding. I was simply suggesting that the gas fuel type might be propane because of the Propane Tanks location in proximity to the building and because the volatile characteristics of Propane vs those of Natural Gas.
Pryor to the blast, I kind of doubt anyone would know definitively what kind of gas it was being used except for the person who pays the bills and the people that do the maintenance and I suspect the comments in the media about the type of gas being Natural Gas is a speculative assumption.
As far as a tank farm being insufficient to service the jails needs, I’d suggest it depends on the size of the tanks in the tank farm, which I can’t judge the size of the tanks from looking at Google Maps.
Henry,
The explosive limits for natural gas by volume are about 4.5% to 17% natural gas in air.
Above or below that concentration it won’t even burn but within that range it will explose if given a flame or spark.
McCurdy’s Dairy Bar in Century exploded by natural gas.
Coal mine explosions are usually due to natural gas buildup rather than coal dust.
Even though methane IS lighter than air, it still mixes with air and without ventilation it will build up in an enclosed space.
That’s why a leak under US 29 isn’t all that big a hazard but gas in a building can be.
By the way, if the methane released in a septic tank gets back into a house, THAT can blow up a house.
David for natural gas — in the right place
Henry Coe….your opinion is wrong. The tanks you identified are at the main jail and serve a secondary purpose. If you noticed these tank are all out in the open and away from the main structure. The facility where the blast occurred did not have any propane tanks.
Henry Coe, read the article again… “Pensacola Energy said in a written statement Thursday that they verified the gas main leading to the building was operating in a safe and effective manner”.
IE – It is serviced by natural gas. If it was supplying the laundry facility (gas dryers maybe?) using a tank farm would be inneficient.
Naural gas, in a confined area (a basement) would in fact cause an explosion under the right conditions (recent events in NYC confirm this). But, what do I know (14+ yrs in FD/EMS). How about we let the investigators do there job before we start throwing speculations out there.
Sitting on property just North of the jail are 4 large Propane Tanks. Also sitting on the west side of the Sheriff’s Dept property across L Street are 5 Large Propane tanks.
People keep talking about Natural gas, which is lighter than air and only explodes under pressure and high heat.
IMO, with the characteristics of the explosion and with the existence of Propane Tanks on the property, I think it is more likely that the gas was Propane and not Natural Gas.
Propane is heavier than air and more likely to accumulate in a basement.
Praying for the families
So sorry for your loss!
So sorry to hear this! God be with his precious sweet mother & siblings.