Arrest Made In Atmore Ambush Style Murder
September 30, 2019
An arrest has been made in the ambush-style of an Atmore man last Tuesday morning, not far from Escambia County Middle School.
Anthony Jerome English, age 23 of Atmore was taken into custody Monday in Monroeville, Alabama. He is charged with murder for the 2:30 a.m. shooting death of Roderick Watkins, Jr. September 24 on Jimbos Road in Atmore.
“When officers arrived on scene, they found a male subject identified as Roderick Watkins, Jr. laying beside his car. Officers also noticed several bullet shell casings laying next to the car,” Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks told NorthEscambia.com. “Preliminary investigation revealed Mr. Watkins was ambushed.”
He said Watkins was returning home from work when he was shot.
The car was located in the driveway of a home at the end of the road. The back passenger window of the Nissan Altima was shattered with visible bullet holes.
Brook said English was believed to be a lone gunman. No motive for the shooting has been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. English is pictured in a 2018 mugshot.
Missing Woman With Dementia Located
September 30, 2019
UPDATE – THIS MISSING PERSON HAS BEEN LOCATED.
Police are searching for a missing woman that suffers from dementia.
Stephanie Marie Simmons walked away from the Lakeview outpatient facility at 1201 West Hernandez Street about 8:55 a.m. Monday.
Simmons was last seen wearing a red hoodie and tan capri pants. She could also possibly be wearing a multicolored scarf on her head. Simmons last known address is 1810 West Gadsden Street, but she is currently believed to be homeless, according to Police.
Anyone that sees Simmons is asked to contact Pensacola Police at (850) 435-1900.
Refrigerator Sparks House Fire
September 30, 2019
Fire swept through the garage of a home Sunday afternoon, but firefighters were able to save part of the home.
The fire in the 1000 block of Penguin Terrace, just south of Old Chemstrand Road, was reported at 4:02 p.m. Escambia Fire Rescue (ECFR) arrived to find heavy fire in the garage and spreading into the attic.
ECFR said the fire was quickly contained, preventing it from spreading to the rest of the house. Half of home was damaged by fire, and fire crews were able to salvage many of the occupants’ possessions.
Monday, ECFR said the blaze started as an electrical fire from a refrigerator in the garage.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Capital Sexual Battery On Underage Girl
September 30, 2019
A Cantonment man has been charged with the sexual abuse of an underage girl.
Adam Lee Bryant, 37, was charged with capital sexual battery on a victim under 12, capital sexual assault on a victim under 12 by a person in familial custody, and lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim under 12.
Bryant allegedly inappropriately touched and had sexual contact with a female family member under the age of 12. He called an adult female and confessed that he had inappropriate contact with the girl over a three year period and said he was ready to turn himself in and face his punishment, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. The exact relationship between the adult female responsible for the child and Bryant was redacted from the report.
Bryant is a truck driver who would be away from home for long periods of time. When not on the road, he would sometimes be home alone with the girl because she is homeschooled, the arrest report states.
If convicted as charged, Bryant faces up to life in prison.
Florida’s New Handheld Cellphone Ban Now In Effect
September 30, 2019
A new law went into effect Tuesday in Florida banning the use of handheld wireless phone while driving in a designated school crossing, school zone, or active work zone area. Work zone would include construction areas like Highway 29 or Nine Mile Road.
Officers will issue warnings until January 1. In 2020, violators could be charged with a moving violation, which includes a base $60 fine (not including court costs or other fees) and three points on their driver license.
Another new texting and driving law went into effect back on July 1, but only warnings will be issued until January 1. That bill changed current enforcement of the ban from a secondary offense to a primary offense – enabling law enforcement officers to stop a vehicle solely for texting while driving.
Florida Gas Prices Decline
September 30, 2019
Florida gas prices dropped an average of 6 cents during the past week. After shooting up to $2.50 per gallon 11 days ago, the state average is now $2.44 and falling.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $2.45. Four gas stations in Cantonment were at $2.36.
“Oil prices are essentially back down to their previous levels before the drone attacks in Saudi Arabia,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The belief that Saudi Arabia’s crude infrastructure could recover quickly has eased market concerns of an extended supply interruption. The lower oil prices, combined with rising gasoline supplies, is keeping downward pressure on prices at the pump. The state average could trickle lower this week.”
Atmore Man Gets Life In Prison For 2017 Murder
September 30, 2019
An Atmore man has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2017 murder in Baldwin County.
Justin Bryan Still, now age 33, negotiated a plea for the murder of 25-year old Christopher Michael Allen of Atmore.
Allen was shot and killed on August 22, 2017, on Dallas Hadley Lane in Perdido, Alabama. Still was taken into custody a few hundred yards away on Hoyle Bryars Road in Perdido.
Hot And Dry
September 30, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 93. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Jim Allen Elementary’s Crazy Hat Day For Childhood Cancer Research
September 30, 2019
Jim Allen Elementary School raised over $500 for the American Cancer Society and childhood cancer research during their recent Crazy Hat Day. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Weekly Traffic Alerts – This Week’s State Road Project Slowdowns
September 30, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road/C.R. 184) to Atmore Highway (State Road /S.R. 97) – North and southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction south of Muscogee Road in Cantonment from 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 to 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30 as crews replace the CSX railroad crossing. During the crossing work, crews will stop traffic in two intervals for approximately 15 minutes to move the new rails into place. North and southbound traffic may encounter intermittent day and nighttime lane restrictions as crews perform median work.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A)– Drivers will experience the following impacts to traffic Sunday, Sept. 29 through Saturday, Oct. 5:
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating east and westbound lane shifts as crews construct the new southbound bridge, end bend, and center pier.
- U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and 9 ½ Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
- U.S. 98 Resurfacing from S.R. 298 (Lillian Highway) to west of S.R. 173 (Blue Angel Parkway)- There will be intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 through Friday, Oct. 4 as crews stripe the roadway.
- · U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge) Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Sept. 29.
- · S.R. 298 (Lillian Highway) Utility Operations west of New Warrington Road- The eastbound travel lanes of Lillian Highway just west of New Warrington Road will be closed from 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 to 5 a.m. Friday, Oct. 4 as utility crews conduct maintenance on underground unities. Traffic will be redirected during the repair operations.
- · U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) Widening from Beulah Road (C.R. 99) to S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road)- Eastbound traffic between the I-10 overpass and the new Eleven Mile Creek bridge will be opened to two travel lanes the week of Sunday, Oct. 6
- · Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek- The bridge will be open to traffic Friday, Sept. 27.
- · C.R. 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- Crews continue driving production piles. Traffic will remain shifted onto the special detour until the new bridge is constructed and reopened to traffic.
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- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek- Construction activities continue. The roadway is temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Sept 29:
- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays between Nicholas Lake Road and Vonnie Tolbert Road from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday until Tuesday, Dec. 31 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.