Kidnapping, Sexual Assault Suspect Named

March 19, 2019

UPDATE: A man that allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman overnight is behind bars.

Joshua James Edwards, age 37 of Pensacola, was charged with multiple crimes including two counts of carjacking, sexual battery, armed kidnapping, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.. According to the State Attorney’s Office, he faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Edwards has an extensive criminal history and was released from prison late last year after serving about 3.5 years for grand theft, burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, theft, and trafficking in stolen property on a Santa Rosa County conviction, according to Florida Department of Corrections records. He was identified by Sheriff David Morgan as a member of the Aryan Brotherhood gang.

Edwards was taken into custody in a wooded area behind a Verizon store on Sorrento Road, near the Walmart on Blue Angel Parkway. As deputies chased Edwards out of the woods, he was taken into custody by Escambia County Chief Deputy Chip Simmons and Maj. Andrew Hobbs, according to Morgan.

The ECSO dive team was called into search a body of water in the woods where a weapon may have been tossed.

Edwards was reportedly spotted at the Walmart on Blue Angel Parkway earlier Tuesday morning, after releasing the woman.

The woman was abducted and her car was stolen about 11 p.m. Monday at Circle K at the intersection of New Warrington Road and Jackson Street. Edwards was armed with a handgun, according to Simmons.

Simmons said the woman  was released just before 8 a.m. Tuesday at Bill Dickson Park off Gulf Beach Highway. A man matching the suspect’s description was dropped off at Walmart on Blue Angel Parkway just after 8 a.m. Deputies arrived and searched the store. During the investigation, they learned the man was seen on video leaving the store at 8:37 a.m.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.

Pictured above and below: An alleged kidnapping and sexual assault suspect at the Blue Angel Parkway Walmart Tuesday morning. Pictured bottom: Escambia County Chief Deputy Chip Simmons holds a press conference outside the store.

Comments

18 Responses to “Kidnapping, Sexual Assault Suspect Named”

  1. Charles Belser on April 19th, 2019 5:49 pm

    ” Needs jail time”???? It’s too bad we are not in the 1800s. He would never make it there .

  2. Marion Sims, Jr. on March 22nd, 2019 6:23 pm

    This fool released his victim. It’s obvious he planned his capture running into two senior officers. This jerk couldn’t make it on the outside so he committed a crime that would give him life in prison. What a loser. May God be with the victim.

  3. joe on March 22nd, 2019 7:50 am

    Otto, and your comment,

    By your logic, Innocent people continue to pay through the noses to house dangerous criminals that rape, kill, steal and endanger their lives. How many innocent lives might be saved if we went along with Mr. Nobody’s logic vs. your’s?

  4. Sniper on March 22nd, 2019 1:46 am

    Chip Simmons for Sherriff!!!!

  5. lone chief on March 21st, 2019 10:44 pm

    what would prove interesting is to do a genealogical DNA test on ANY of these hate groups mokes. I bet over half would be surprised who the relations really were.

  6. neck tatt on March 20th, 2019 11:49 am

    I have several neck tattoos… and never even had my name on the board – loser

  7. Austin Epps on March 20th, 2019 9:32 am

    Needs a scooter at Walmart’s but kidnapped someone ?? He needs to spend a lot of time in jail for his despicable crime ..

  8. 429SCJ on March 20th, 2019 9:14 am

    The Aryan Brotherhood is not something to take lightly. They use members on the outside to go after judicial officials and officers, not to mention their families.

    They shook the late John Gotti down, when he was incarcerated. I would not want to end up on their to-do list.

  9. Bewildered on March 20th, 2019 8:35 am

    If he was “dropped off” at Walmart a little after 8 am then there has to be a second person who was involved. Is the search still going on?

  10. just sayin on March 20th, 2019 8:23 am

    What is it with neck tattoos and bad behavior? The two always seem to go together.

  11. Otto on March 20th, 2019 7:31 am

    Dear Mr. Nobody and your comment:

    “Life in prison. That will cost the taxpayers a lot of money. He’s already done prison time and did not learn a lesson. Why do we as a community insist on life in prison instead of execution? If we executed all inmates serving life sentences the prison system would not cost the tax payers nowhere near as much money.”

    Read about Richard Coley:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Coley

    By your logic, if you execute 100 people and on only one was innocent that is 99% and you still get an A…Fail!

  12. paul on March 20th, 2019 7:18 am

    he should be dead already…

  13. Huh? on March 19th, 2019 9:08 pm

    He looks much bigger on the scooter photos, but if it’s the same man & there is adequate evidence I hope he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law!!

  14. CW on March 19th, 2019 8:02 pm

    He’s physically able to rape and carjack someone yet he needs a scooter to get around Walmart?

  15. Mr. Nobody on March 19th, 2019 5:55 pm

    Life in prison. That will cost the taxpayers a lot of money. He’s already done prison time and did not learn a lesson. Why do we as a community insist on life in prison instead of execution? If we executed all inmates serving life sentences the prison system would not cost the tax payers nowhere near as much money.

  16. Anne on March 19th, 2019 5:00 pm

    Have heard stories that the tattoos carry some meaning or relationship with a gang or a mark for having earned a “Cred”.
    Wondering how the ECSO would “Read” this guy’s tattoo book story?

    Thank You to Chief Deputy Simmons and appreciate your being able to make the arrest to put this thug behind bars.

    Hopefully the judge’s “Play Book” won’t have to allow him a way to get out of jail, EVER.

  17. brett on March 19th, 2019 4:02 pm

    “Allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted” if this is him – put him away and keep him in prison – he’s a career criminal and predator

  18. TJ on March 19th, 2019 3:36 pm

    What we have here is a real winner. I just hope he wins a life sentence.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News