Ex-Parkland Deputy Peterson Charged After Retreating During School Shooting
June 5, 2019
As the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting was going on last year, former Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson was outside the building. Instead of running into the building, he retreated.
Following an investigation by FDLE, Peterson, 56, was arrested in Broward County Tuesday on seven counts of neglect of a child and three counts of culpable negligence and one count of perjury. The arrest comes after a 15-month investigation into the actions of law enforcement following Parkland shooting.
“The FDLE investigation shows former Deputy Peterson did absolutely nothing to mitigate the MSD shooting that killed 17 children, teachers and staff and injured 17 others,” said FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen. “There can be no excuse for his complete inaction and no question that his inaction cost lives.”
“I was pleased the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office conducted a thorough investigation that yielded the arrest of Scot Peterson. All the facts related to Mr. Peterson’s failure to act during the MSD massacre clearly warranted both termination of employment and criminal charges. It’s never too late for accountability and justice,” Sheriff Gregory Tony said.
Peterson was the school resource officer at MSD High School during the school shooting. The investigation shows Peterson refused to investigate the source of gunshots, retreated during the active shooting while victims were being shot and directed other law enforcement who arrived on scene to remain 500 feet away from the building.
During the investigation, FDLE agents interviewed 184 witnesses, reviewed countless hours of video surveillance, and wrote 212 investigative reports totaling over 800 hours on the case to determine the actions of law enforcement as they responded to the February 14, 2018, school shooting. FDLE agents received the full cooperation and assistance from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Coral Springs Police Department and all other agencies that responded to the school shooting.
Peterson was arrested at the Broward Sheriff’s Office headquarters and booked into the Broward County Main Jail. The Broward State Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case.
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry Prefiles For Another Term
June 5, 2019
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry prefiled Tuesday as a Republican for another term.
“I am excited to seek re-election for Escambia County Commissioner, District 5. I truly understand the faith and confidence that friends, neighbors, and constituents have placed in me. I strive to always be the capable, sincere public servant that District 5 deserves, and I humbly ask them to support my re-election campaign,” he said.
Barry is an independent Certified Financial Planner, and has operated his small business in District 5 for nearly 20 years. He and his wife, Ellen, have a 3-year old daughter, Sloane, and are expecting a son in September.
Banker: Byrneville Elem. Can’t Afford $7 Million Building; Scaled-Back Options To Be Considered
June 5, 2019
Byrneville Elementary has learned they don’t have the enrollment or funds needed for a $7.7 million building project they have been considering for over a year, but that does not mean the school won’t proceed with a scaled-back building.
Last July, the Byrneville Elementary Board of Directors – the group that oversee the operations of the charter school – learned it would be about $7.7 million for a new building with 10 classrooms, a 1,000 square foot multipurpose room and associated spaces, and a new cafetorium with a serving kitchen.
The board is considering financing with United Bank through the USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The bank says the school can afford a loan of just $2.185 million with an enrollment of 205 students, or up to $2.6 million if they increase enrollment by 10 students. At the end of May, Byrneville’s enrollment was 186.
Last week, the board met with United Bank Vice President Chris Walker and architect Mike Marshall of the firm Sam Marshall Architects to discuss how they can move forward.
Marshall said corners could be cut to build a six classroom building by reducing amenities and using a metal building instead of masonry. With 10 classrooms, that building would be about $3.3 million, he added.
Marshall will bring options back to the board, mostly likely by their next meeting in July.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Charles Harold Therrell
June 5, 2019
Mr. Charles Harold Therrell, age 72, passed away on Monday, June 3, 2019 at his home in Century, Florida.
Mr. Therrell was a native of Rahway, NJ and had resided in Century, FL for the past 40 years. He was retired from the Alabama National Guard with 28 years of service, was a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict serving with the U.S. Air Force and was a member of the Century First Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Wanda Brown Therrell and father, Jerome Therrell.
He is survived by his mother, Mary Lou Therrell of Gulf Breeze, FL; one son, Greg (Tina) Therrell of McDavid, FL; two daughters, Traci Lynn Therrell of Century, FL and Stacey Marie (Mike) Johnson of Flomaton, AL; two sisters, Karen Therrell and Lauree Hisler of Gulf Breeze, FL; six grandchildren, Spencer, Hayden, Ashton, Kelsey, Nathan and Caleb and ten great grandchildren, Isaiah, Aleah, Trayton, Ian, Jazlynn, Kaison, Zane, Kamberlynn, Kylyn and Kensley.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 7, 2019 at 10:00 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. David Boyd officiating.
Burial will follow at the Semirah Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 6, 2019 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Randy Sims, Dak Sims, Nathan Therrell, Caleb Therrell, Mike Johnson and Spencer Johnson.
Register Now For Tate Aggies Youth Football Camp
June 5, 2019
The Tate High School Aggies will host their Youth Football Camp June 24-26 from 5-8 p.m. daily.
The cost is $75 for each attendee in grades 2-8. Registration includes the three day camp, event t-shirt and a pizza party on the last day of camp.
Register online at tatehighfootball.com or on the first day of camp.
Julius James Flowers
June 5, 2019
Mr. Julius James Flowers, age 99, passed away on Sunday, June 2, 2019, in Bay Minette, Alabama.
Mr. Flowers was a native of Monroe County, AL, former resident of Goodway, AL and had resided in Spanish Fort, AL for the past 10 years. He was a hard working father, loved to farm, from daylight to dark and was a very minute (impatience) person.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Willie Mae Flowers; son, James Flowers; granddaughter, Samantha Wilkerson; several sisters; one brother; two sons-in-law and his favorite companion, Scooter.
He is survived by his two daughters, Ann Russell of Spanish Fort, AL and Lois Davis of Goodway, AL; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at Serenity Garden Cemetery with Rev. Randy Davis officiating.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Video Shows Atmore Mayor Killing Racoon With Shovel; State Wildlife Officials React
June 4, 2019
Videos showing Atmore Mayor Jim Staff killing a raccoon with a shovel have gone viral on social media with people calling for his arrest, but state wildlife officials say he did nothing wrong.
The video is below. It may be disturbing to some viewers.
In a statement provided to NorthEscambia.com Tuesday, Staff said the raccoon ran at him, and he took defensive action as he and his wife Myrtle were trying to launch their boat at the Canal Park Boat Launch Sunday in Gulf Shores.
“I was going to back the boat into the water and my wife was out of the truck to hold the rope for the boat. Although I didn’t see it, I heard my wife yell and jump back in the truck and say ‘look out for the raccoon.’ A raccoon had run at my wife while she was out of the truck,” Staff said. “I then saw the animal and threw a stick at it to make it go away. Instead of going away, it ran next to a garbage can several feet away and stared at me. I was concerned because this was not a natural behavior by a wild raccoon. took a shovel out of the truck because I didn’t know what the raccoon was going to do. At that point, he then ran at me. That is when I hit the raccoon with the shovel. I was convinced that the animal was dying and would not recover.”
People in the area claimed that the raccoon was a community pet of sorts and is often fed by people at the boat ramp.
“What he did is not illegal,” Chris Lewis, assistant chief of enforcement for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, told NorthEscambia.com. “It is OK to defend yourself against a wild racoon.”
Lewis noted that it would actually be illegal for people to purposely feed the raccoon as a pet in Alabama.
“Raccoons are the biggest carrier of rabies in the state,” Kim Nix, spokesperson for the department said. “They can never be treated like pets.”
“I am an animal lover and I would never intentionally injure an animal,” Staff said. “However, when a wild raccoon, which is normally a nocturnal animal, exhibits this unnatural behavior and runs at my wife and then at me, I have every right to be fearful of what may happen. I am well aware of recent events in Baldwin County where a rabid fox and a rabid raccoon charged at and bit two women in Fairhope, Alabama….The Alabama Department of Public Health warns against the dangers of being bitten by a raccoon.”
Staff said the online videos do not tell the entire story because they only begin after he defended himself.
“The bottom line is that I had every right to fear and act accordingly when a wild animal ran first at my wife and then at me. The video and the comments posted on Facebook are both misleading and irresponsible because they don’t give the entire picture of what happened,” Staff said.
Pictured: Images from a video showing Atmore Mayor Jim Staff killing a raccoon with a shovel. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Officials: Century’s Natural Gas Boss Has Been Operating Without Required Certification
June 4, 2019
The Town of Century gas superintendent has operated the town’s natural gas system without a required valid state certification, according to town officials. But exactly how long it has been is not yet clear.
Both Mayor Henry Hawkins and Council President Ann Brooks confirmed Wally Kellett’s natural gas certification has expired. Hawkins said it recently expired, while Brooks said it expired November 30, 2018.
The expiration came to light last month during a inspection of the town’s gas system. Inspectors were able to conduct the inspection only because Town Clerk Kim Godwin is still a certified operator; she was promoted to town clerk from the natural gas supervisor’s job in April 2018.
Godwin said she was unable to provide a copy of Kellett’s certification paperwork to determine the exact expiration date because it is only in his possession and he was out of town at a conference in Clearwater, Florida.
Hawkins said Kellett’s certification renewal would soon be complete. The mayor also noted that Century passed the inspection.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
ECSO: Woman Was Running Around Naked While Stabbing Man In Cantonment
June 4, 2019
An Escambia County woman was allegedly running around naked as she stabbed a man in Cantonment Sunday, according to a newly released arrest report.
Keriah Renea Giomi, 25, was charged with aggravated battery, false imprisonment and destroying evidence.
Deputies responded to the 300 block of Wegner Avenue about 4 p.m. Sunday in reference to an armed disturbance to fresh blood droplets on a concrete driveway.
Giomi met deputies at the door of the home and made spontaneous statements, but exactly what she said was redacted from the arrest report.
The stabbing victim checked into Sacred Heart Hospital’s emergency room.
He told deputies he heard Giomi screaming. When he exited his bathroom she was standing there naked hold a “hunting style knife with a hood one the end” and yelled “Jehovah” before attempting to stab him in the stomach, according to the report.
The victim said he pushed Giomi away and attempted to leave, but she reached front door first and locked it, trapping him inside. He then went to a friend that drove him to the hospital. Deputies said he suffered cuts on his hands and lacerations across his back and on his left shoulder.
A neighborhood resident told deputies he observed a naked woman running around outside chasing a black male with no shirt.
Investigators said Giomi washed blood off the knife and front porch of the home prior to their arrival.
The report does not specify if Giomi was still naked when deputies arrived on scene. She remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $25,000.
Even Hotter Today, Rain Chance Returns Wednesday
June 4, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90.