Escambia County Fully Reopens Beaches, But Perdido Still Sunrise To Sunset
May 22, 2020
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday to fully open public beaches to the public.
Camping on the beach is not allowed under a county ordinance and consistent with the “Leave No Trace” protections for nesting sea turtles. Other Escambia County parks, including public access points on Perdido Key are open from sunrise to sunset.
CDC social distancing guidelines remain in place. Beach goers are asked to keep group sizes at 10 or less and to keep a six-foot distance from those not in their immediate household.
Pavilions, beach bathrooms, the area of the fishing pier and beach dog parks have all reopened.
Scattered Showers Through The Weekend
May 22, 2020
A burn ban remains in effect for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Memorial Day: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Florida Department Of Corrections Extends Visitation Suspension Statewide
May 22, 2020
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has extended the suspension of visitation at all correctional institutions statewide due to COVID-19.
The visitation suspension will be in effect through June 7, 2020. The decision to reinstate the normal visitation schedule will be evaluated in consultation with public health experts, FDC said.
Inmates will continue to have access to their loved ones through mail, phone calls and video visitation. Legal visits will not be impacted, although attorneys are encouraged to consult with their clients via phone, email or mail during this time.
FDC partners have provided complimentary communications credits to inmates and loved ones to provide avenues for communication during the visitation suspension.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Three COVID-19 Deaths, 11 New Cases In Escambia County
May 21, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
Three more long-term care facility deaths in Escambia County were announced Wednesday by the Florida Department of Health, along with 11 new cases.
The deaths were females age 75. 87, and 103.
The number of cases in Escambia County increased by 11 to 734 , and Santa Rosa was up by one to 198.
Of the 24 deaths in Escambia County, 18 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been eight deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 48,675 cases including 47,381 Florida residents. There have been 8,946 hospitalizations and 2,144 deaths.
- Total cases — 734 (+11 since Wednesday)
- Pensacola — 540
- Cantonment — 49
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 4
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 62*
- Deaths — 24
- Male — 253
- Female — 353
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 198 (+1 since Wednesday)
- Milton — 115
- Navarre — 35
- Gulf Breeze — 26
- Pace — 16
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 23*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 135
- Female — 60
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 48,675
- Florida residents — 47.381
- Deaths — 2,144
- Hospitalizations — 8,946*
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
Escambia County Names Indiana Man As New Public Safety Director
May 21, 2020
Escambia County has named Jason Rogers as the new director of Public Safety.
His responsibilities to include oversight of daily operations and planning for long- term improvements for Escambia County EMS, Emergency Management, county dispatch and 911 center, the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, the county medical director, as well as Escambia County Fire Rescue’s combination career and volunteer division.
Rogers brings 27 years of public safety experience from Indiana to Escambia County. He currently serves as both the director of emergency management and as the executive director of the Delaware County Emergency Medical Services in Muncie, Indiana, and began his career as a paramedic and police officer. Delaware County, Indiana, has a population of about 114,000 people, about one-third the size of Escambia County.
“My goal has always been to improve public safety for both the responders and the citizens that I serve,” Rogers said. “I’m looking forward to serving Escambia County, and my vision is to build an even stronger partnership between our first responders and the Escambia County community.”
Rogers previously served as a police officer and investigator for the City of Muncie Police Department, and as an EMT and paramedic for Delaware County Emergency Services. He has also served as a volunteer firefighter. Rogers has served the last four years on the Indiana State Fire Service Training Board, and the last eight years on the county 911 Board of Directors. He has instructed across the country for the fire service specializing in hazmat.
Rogers has been recognized for his leadership in emergency management, emergency medical services and government affairs. He was named the 2017 Delaware County EMS Director of the Year, the 2009 Hero of the Heartland by the American Red Cross for leadership of the District Disaster Response Task Force and received a 2004 Medal of Valor by the Fraternal Order of Police #87 for bravery and courage under gunfire during SWAT operations.
Rogers graduated with honors from the Indiana Law Enforcement Agency, is a nationally registered paramedic through the Methodist Hospital Paramedic Program in Indianapolis and studied at Ball State University.
FBI Shoots, Kills North Carolina Murder Suspect In Atmore (With Exclusive Photos, Video)
May 21, 2020
A North Carolina murder suspect was shot and killed by the FBI during a standoff in Atmore Wednesday.
Tobby Wiggins was wanted for a murder in the Charlotte area of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on May 15.
“The investigation determined that the subject was staying in Atmore, Alabama. FBI special agents identified the location of the subject, and attempted to take the subject into custody,” said James Jewell, special agent in charge of the FBI Mobile Field Office.
The FBI found Wiggins at a trailer park on Mobile Street, just off Highway 21 near Walmart and a standoff ensued when they attempted to take him into custody on North Carolina state warrants for murder and a federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
For a photo gallery, click here.
FBI agents attempted to negotiate with Wiggins. He came to the door of the mobile home during the standoff as FBI agents and bystanders yelled for him to surrender.
Throughout the ordeal, a female repeatedly yelled at Wiggins, begging him to come out with his hands up and surrender.
She yelled, “I love you” as a FBI tactical team began to move, just seconds before shots rang out.
NorthEscambia.com was the only media on Mobile Street at the time of the gunfire, and our camera was rolling about 100 feet away. Unfortunately, our camera was hit by a person running for cover from the gunfire, but it did catch the sound of the shots.
The sound of the gunfire and the aftermath of the shooting are in the video below. Warning: Some readers may find the video to be too intense, but it does not contain graphic scenes.
“A shooting incident review team lead by the FBI’s inspection division will interview witnesses and gather information for a presentation to the shooting incident review group, which consists of members of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice,” Jewell said. “The shooter incident review group examines all of the information and determines the reasonableness and application of deadly force in accordance with the department of justice deadly force policy and law.”
The results of the investigation will be presented to an Escambia County (AL) Grand Jury and the DOJ for review.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Approves Nearly 10% Budget Increase, Even Though Much Of It Was Illegible
May 21, 2020
The Century Town Council voted this week to increase their current fiscal budget by nearly 10 percent — even though council members were unable to read some of the line items they voted to increase.
The town’s budget for the current fiscal year that began October 1 was $3,637,645, and is now amended to $3,946,623. The $309,278 increase comes from an anticipated grant of about $110,000 for a sewer project, a transfer of $79,783 from special revenue and anticipated savings in a few budget categories.
Four members of the town council took part in a teleconference budget workshop May 13 discuss the changes with town accountant Robert Hudson. Councilman James Smith did not attend.
On a motion by council member Luis Gomez, Jr. and a second from council member Sandra McMurray Jackson, the council approved the budget amendment 5-0 Monday night with no chance for public comment.
After approving the budget, Council President Ann Brooks complained some portions of the budget document were illegible and impossible to read.
The images above and below show the increased budget document that the Century Town Council voted to approve. The council’s vote increased some of these illegible line items. To see the complete budget pdf as presented to the council, click here.
Prison Escapee On The Run Since July Caught In Louisiana; He Carjacked Minivan In North Escambia
May 21, 2020
An Alabama prison escapee accused of a July 2019 armed carjacking in North Escambia was captured Wednesday by U.S. Marshals in St John Parish, Louisiana.
Travis Wyatt Dawson, 41, escaped from Loxley Work Release at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, 2019. He remained in the St John Parish Jail Thursday morning. According to St John Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Angel Thompson, Dawson does not face any charges in Louisiana and is awaiting extradition back to Alabama. (Dawson is pictured in his Alabama Department of Corrections mugshot, and his mugshot from Wednesday in Louisiana.)
He was allegedly armed with a machete when he took a minivan from a relative on Miller Road just off Rockaway Creek Road on July 14, 2019. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Mobile. No one was injured in the incident.
Days before, he eluded authorities in a manhunt led by U.S. Marshals in North Escambia and Atmore.
Authorities believe he was in the area of a relative’s home last Friday morning on Miller Road near the Florida community of Nokomis. A manhunt in the area later shifted focus north along Rockaway Creek Road into Atmore, Alabama. By late afternoon, authorities closed Highway 31 west of Atmore after a reported sighting.
Dawson was sentenced to 20 years in 2013 on a possession of a controlled substance conviction in Escambia County, Alabama.
Officials said he has previous local ties to the North Escambia and Atmore areas. He reportedly attended Ernest Ward High School. In 2003, he was sentenced in Escambia County, Florida, to one year in state prison for possession on drug paraphernalia and trespassing. Once released, he told the Florida Department of Corrections he was living on Washington Avenue in Atmore, according to state records. Information on his Alabama criminal history was not available.
Pictured top: Officers from the Alabama Department of Corrections speak to an Escambia County (FL) deputy and a citizen a roadblock on Miller Road in Florida in July 2019. Dawson allegedly carjacked a minivan just a few yards from this location. Pictured below: An Escambia County (FL) Road Prison K-9 team searches near a Rockaway Creek Road bridge that spans the Alabama-Florida state line. Pictured bottom: An Escambia County (FL) deputy helps maintain a perimeter around a neighborhood along Rockaway Creek Road at Grubbs Street in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
COVID-19 Cases Increase At Blackwater Prison; Still Just One Case Reported At Century Correctional
May 21, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases at the Blackwater Correctonal Facility in Milton has increased, according to the Florida Department of Corrections, while there continues to have been just one case at the prison in Century.
At Blackwater, 66 inmates and 14 staff members have tested positive for coronavirus. As of Wednesday, there are 470 inmates at Blackwater in security quarantine, 419 awaiting test results. and 203 that have tested negative.
One staff member at Century Correctional Institution tested positive for COVID-19 in March. Three Century inmates have tested negative.
Teacher Guilty Of Having Sex With A Student Asks For Castration. The Judge Gave Him 12 Years In Prison.
May 21, 2020
A former Escambia County high school teacher asked for physical or chemical castration instead of prison time, but that was rejected by the judge when he was sentenced Wednesday.
Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Dannheisser sentenced 32-year old Mark Ryan Lua to 12 years in state prison to be followed by 15 years of sexual offender probation. He was also designated as a sexual offender and will have to comply with all reporting requirements for the remainder of his life.
On October 16, 2019, Lua entered a plea of no contest to one count of promoting the sexual performance of a child and three counts of unlawful sexual activity with certain minors. Lua was previously employed as a teacher at Washington High School.
The charges stem from an investigation beginning in January 2019 when it was discovered that Lua used a fake social media account in which he posed as an adult female and encouraged a female student to send Lua a sexual video. Lua was interviewed by detectives and eventually admitted to using the fake account to obtain the video from the student.
After Lua was initially arrested, additional female students came forward and testified that Lua had sex with them at his home while his wife was away. Lua was not interviewed regarding the additional allegations, but text messages provided by one of the students corroborated her account.