Former Escambia District Employee Charged With Having Sexual Relationship With Tate High Student
December 2, 2019
A former Escambia County School District employee has been arrested on charges related to an alleged ongoing sexual relationship with a Tate High School student.
Susan Elizabeth Weddle, age 40 of Cantonment, is charged with felony sexual battery on a victim 16 or 17 years old, lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim 12-16 year old, and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
On November 22, a male Tate student alleged he was having sex with “forty year old” Susan Weddle, according to an arrest report. The student told a school counselor about the relationship, and said his mother was aware of the allegation and had taken his cell phone away from him because she discovered text messages between him and Weddle.
A witness reported seeing the victim and Weddle kissing at her house, the report states.
When interviewed by authorities, the student confessed to having sex with Weddle “several hundred times” over about a year and half beginning when he was 15-years old at locations that included her house, his house, the beach and her vehicle. The student stated he believed he was in love with Weddle, and they pair routinely shared nude photographs by phone. He stated those phones have been destroyed or factory reset. He said the relationship started in October 2018 when he was at her house because he was friends with her son. The Tate student said he became intoxicated and persuaded her to have sex with him, according to an arrest report.
A witness said he saw Weddle and the student kissing in the kitchen during a party at her house, and he said the student admitted to having sex with Weddle after the party. He also told investigators that he saw a video he believed showed the student having sex with Weddle, but no faces could be seen in the video.
The student told investigators that during their relationship, Weddle provided him with an iPhone, necklace and bracelet, but they were gifts, not payment for anything.
Weddle’s statements to investigators are redacted from an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Two Injuries In Three Vehicle Crash At Nine Mile, Pine Forest
December 2, 2019
At least two people were injured in a three vehicle crash Monday afternoon on West Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Bellview and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Burglary, Assault With A Lamp
December 2, 2019
A Cantonment man has been charged with hitting another man with a lamp inside his bedroom.
Lorenzo McNeal, Jr. was booked into the Escambia County Jail, charged with felony burglary with assault battery a, and felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
McNeal lives in a locked bedroom in the same house as the adult male and his girlfriend. McNeal accused the victim of having relations with the woman, which the victim denied, according to an arrest report.
While the victim was sleeping, McNeal allegedly hit him in the head with a metallic lamp post and was standing over him with a knife. The investigating deputy noted the lamp post had an indention on the base “an if it had been struck against something such as (the victim’s) head”.
The victim suffered a knot on the back of his head and a small cut beneath his armpit.
Deputies were unable to locate McNeal immediately after the incident and obtained a warrant for his arrest. When they returned to the home on Highway 297A to make the arrest, McNeal attempted to close the door on the deputies and resist, according to the report.
McNeal “was eventually escorted outside of the residence and onto the ground” before being taken into custody. The report states he stopped resisting when a sheriff’s K-9 began to bark at him.
Colder Weather
December 2, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Showers likely, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.
Stefani Road Closed At Nine Mile Tuesday Through Saturday
December 2, 2019
Stefani Road will be closed at the intersection of Nine Mile Road in Escambia County from 7 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 as crews perform drainage work. Traffic will be detoured to Ashland Avenue and 9 1/2 Mile Road. Signs and variable message boards will be in place to alert drivers of the temporary closure and direct traffic to the alternate routes.
Please use extra caution as drivers become familiar with the new traffic patterns. Motorists should also watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway as they prepare for the work.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to obey the 35-mph speed limit and to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the work zone.
Century Council Breaks From Two A Month Meetings In December
December 2, 2019
The Century Town Council holds two regular meetings per month – except in December.
The council normally meets the first and third Monday of the month, with changes for holidays. But in December, there is just one regular meeting.
This year, the council’s December meeting will be at 7 p.m. on the 16th.
Kids Enjoy ‘Oliver Twist’ At The Molino Branch Library
December 2, 2019
The Hampstead Stage Company performed “Oliver Twist” at the Molino Branch Library last week. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Still Time To Register For Saturday’s Molino Christmas Parade
December 2, 2019
There is still time to register for Saturday’sMolino Christmas Parade.
The parade starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 7 and will travel from the west end of Crabtree Church Road to the Molino Ballpark where Santa will be waiting to meet with all the good little boys and girls.
Registration fees are $30 for floats, $20 for vehicles (including motorcycles, tractors and golf carts) and $10 for horses. Four-wheelers and go carts are not allowed. Line up time for participants is 10 a.m.
To register or donate, call (850) 698-4396 or visit www.MolinoBallpark.com. All registrations must be done in advance; there will be no registration available on the day of the parade.
Proceed go directly back to the community to help children in need.
Boil Water Notice Prompted By Big Leak Lifted For 10 Mile Road
December 2, 2019
A boil water notice issued Friday for a portion of 10 Mile Road has been lifted.
The precautionary boil water notice was issued for 10 Mile Road between Highway 29 and 40 10 Mile Road due to a water leak near a well on East 10 Mile Road. Water flowed and was standing in areas over a quarter mile away. East 10 Mile Road was closed between Highway 29 and North Palafox Street by the leak, which took over nine hours to fix.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Hold Steady After 8-Cent Hike
December 2, 2019
Florida gas prices are holding steady after rising early last week eight cents per gallon.
Florida drivers are now paying $2.43 per gallon, while Escambia County drivers are facing an average of $2.39 at the pump. In Cantonment, one station was as $2.30 Sunday night.
“Despite the increase, travelers still found the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices in three years,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Pump prices should point lower this week, based on what happened in the crude oil market, Friday. The price of crude plummeted $3 per barrel, due to ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China, and concerns that OPEC production cuts for 2020 will be unable to balance global supply and demand. Unless the energy market bounces back this week, drivers should notice a 5-10 cent drop at the pump in the next week or two.”