Man Wanted For Questioning In Recent Escambia County Homicide
February 28, 2020
UPDATE: Jaquarius Akiria Donaldson has been located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man wanted for questioning only in connection with a recent homicide.
The ECSO wants to talk to 21-year old Jaquarius Akiria Donaldson about the February 26 murder in the 2400 block of North Baylen Street.
The shooting happened on Baylen Street near Scott Street. As deputies were on the way to the shooting scene, the gunshot victim showed up at a local hospital where he died.
Anyone with information about Donaldson is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 436-9620 or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620. He is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
Arrest Warrant Issued For Man For Killing His Half-Sister In 2017; Her Body Was Found Buried In Jay
February 28, 2020
An arrest warrant has been issued for man wanted in the murder of woman whose body was found in a shallow grave behind a home east of Jay in 2018, Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson announced during a news conference Friday morning.
The warrant charges Jerry Savoy Phillips Jr. with the murder of his half-sister, 38-year old Felicia Kuswandy. Her remains were found buried behind a home in the 7700 block of HIghway 4 on December 14, 2018.
Johnson said an investigation determined she was murdered on November 12, 2017.
Phillips has not yet been formally charged. He is in prison in Alabama on November 2018 narcotics conviction out of Escambia County (AL) and is expected to be released as early as October 23. The warrant for an open count of murder will be served at that time.
Johnson declined to comment on a possible motive or Kuswandy’s cause of death until after the warrant is served.
Student Arrested For Alleged Hit List Targeting Students At Ernest Ward Middle School
February 28, 2020
An Ernest Ward Middle School student has been arrested for an alleged hit list threatening other students last week.
Thursday afternoon, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest but did not release the student’s name.
After writing the hit list naming other students that would be targeted, the student then reported that she found the note and turned it into school officials, leading to an investigation that delayed the departure of buses from the school on February 21.
“The evidence shows that the student that brought the note to the attention of the school was the person that created it,” ECSO Maj. Andrew Hobbs said following the incident.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Sunshine And 60s Into The Weekend
February 28, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia are forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Light southwest wind becoming west 10 to 15 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 65. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Breezy.
Tuesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
Fire Destroys Century-Old Church
February 28, 2020
Fire destroyed a century-old church about seven miles north of Flomaton Thursday night, and the Alabama State Fire Marshal was called to investigate.
The two story wooden church was fully involved and had mostly collapsed when firefighters arrived on scene about 9:40 p.m. Flames from the estimated 10,000 square foot structure on Pineview Cemetery Road and Pine Street were visible for miles.
A sign next to the building identified the church as Cross Road Church. Community residents said only a small group of people attended the church, and they were unsure if the congregation was still active. They said the church was believed to be between 100 and 120 years old.
There were no injuries reported from the fire.
The Pineview, Barnett Crossroads, Lambeth, McCall, Friendship and Flomaton fire departments from Alabama, the Century and McDavid stations of Escambia (FL) Fire Rescue, MedStar EMS and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office responded.
Pictured top: Fire rages through an old wooden church north of Flomaton Thursday night (photo for NorthEscambia.com). Pictured below: Firefighters battle the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Gets Life For Attempted Murder Of Deputy During Chase Ending On Nine Mile Road
February 28, 2020
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for opening fire on deputies during a wild 10-mile long high speed chase that ended on Nine Mile Road.
Christopher Michael Chancey of Ten Mile Road was convicted by an Escambia County jury of attempted second degree murder with a firearm on a law enforcement officer, three counts of attempted manslaughter by act and one count of fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer in an agency vehicle with siren and lights activated. For the attempted second degree murder with a firearm on a law enforcement officer charge, the jury also found that chancey discharged a firearm and was in actual possession of a firearm.
A deputy attempted to stop a 2003 Dodge Dakota driven by Chancey at the intersection of Jackson Street and Old Corry Field Road after an improper lane change in October 2018. The vehicle accelerated away, passing other vehicles in no passing zones. The deputy turned off his emergency lights and discontinued the attempted traffic stop.
A second deputy observed the vehicle slide out of a parking lot and turn northbound on New Warrington Road at a high rate of speed. The deputy attempted a traffic stop as someone fired a weapon at him from the vehicle. The deputy reported seeing the muzzle flash and hearing the gunfire, at which time he swerved his patrol vehicle to avoid being shot. Multiple deputies joined in the chase.
At Fairfield Drive and South Dakota Street, additional shots were fired at deputies. Chancery then turned on W Street and then onto Pensacola Boulevard. On Pensacola Boulevard, the vehicle continued northbound in the southbound lanes. Deputies continue to purse the vehicle as it turned eastbound onto Nine Mile Road.
At the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Old Palafox, a deputy ended the chase by using the PIT-maneuver. The driver, later identified as Chancey, ran from truck. He was taken into custody at gunpoint after a brief foot chase.
A search of the vehicle revealed numerous bullet holes in the rear glass of the vehicle and a hole in the tailgate. A 9mm handgun was found on the ground outside the driver’s door of the pickup with an empty magazine and chamber. A second unloaded 9mm magazine was on the driver’s seat.
Chancey has several prior convictions including convictions for possession with intent to sell pseudoephedrine, sell, manufacture, deliver or possess a controlled substance with the intent to sell, manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of listed chemical, driving while license revoked pursuant to habitual offender, burglary of unoccupied dwelling, grand theft, pawnbroker transaction fraud, possession of controlled substance, resisting officer without violence as well as several other counts.
Chase images are from a low quality reader submitted video for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Go West! Jim Allen Elementary School Fourth Grade Presents Program
February 28, 2020
The Jim Allen Elementary School fourth grade presented “Go West!” to the school Thursday morning and had an encore presentation Thursday night for parents and family members. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Beats Navarre Times Three; Northview Beats The Hoboes 17-3
February 28, 2020
The Tate Aggie beat Navarre in varsity, junior varsity and freshmen baseball Thursday, and Northview beat the Hoboes of Laurel Hill.
Tate 1, Navarre 0 (9 innings)
The Tate Aggie shut out Navarre 1-0 Thursday night.
Three Aggie pitchers – Josiah Glodfelter, Sam Shackle and Ethan George — combined for 18 strikeouts
Glodfelter, Chase Tolbert, Zak Licastro, Jadon Fryman and Cole Fryman each had one hit for the Aggies.
Tate 0, Navarre 0 (JV)
In junior varsity action, Tate and Navarre played to a 0-0 tie in seven innings
Tate 13, Navarre 0 (Freshmen)
Northview 17, Laurel Hill 3
The Northview Chiefs beat the Laurel Hill Hoboes 17-3 in a run-ruled shortened game Thursday night in Laurel Hill.
Ben Wilson earned the win for the Chiefs, allowing four hits and three runs in five innings while striking out eight.
Jamarkus Jefferson led Northview at the plate with four runs. For Northview: Jefferson 2-4, 2R, 4RBI; Bryce Korinchak 2-3, 3R; Logan Bryan R, RBI; Dalton Burke 1-2, 3R, RBI; Adam Aliff 2-5, R, 2RBI; Logan English 1-3, RBI; Kaden Odom 1-3, 1R; Rustin Pope R; Bradley Freeman R; Wilson R; Logan Misner; 3R.
Who’s Got Spirit? The Tate Aggies Do. And They Earned $1,000 For It.
February 28, 2020
Jersey Mike’s Subs presented $1,000 to the athletic department at Tate High School Thursday for a being a Most Spirited School. The Tate cheerleaders, basketball players, softball players and baseball players were on hand for the presentation. Each athlete received a free Jersey Mike’s sub, bag of a chips and a cookie as part of the celebration. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Girls Tennis Remains Undefeated With 7-0 Win Over Navarre
February 28, 2020
The Tate High School varsity girls tennis team remained undefeated after a Thursday win over Navarre.
Up next, it’s a matchup between the top of the district from last year as district champ Gulf Breeze takes on district runner-up Tate Friday night.
File photo.