Escambia Sheriff Says He’s Cracking Down On Speeding, Meth And Crime in Century

July 15, 2021

Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said Wednesday that he’s cracking down on speeding, meth and crime in Century.

“We are working with Mayor (Ben) Boutwell up there on some speeding right now,” Simmons said.

“In fact I am I telling you now, if you are coming and going through Century, we are going to start writing some tickets because the mayor of Century called me and said, ‘hey I need some help up here’. And we wanted to give some warnings, to be quite honest, but we also have to write some citations at certain times because there are fatalities taking place so we have to have traffic enforcement,” the sheriff said during a Jeff Bergosh “Coffee with the Commissioner” video event.

Simmons said the department is also targeting crime in Century.

“There are a lot of people riding their own ATVs wreaking some havoc with the people that live up in Century. And there is a bit of a meth issue up there in Century that we are targeting as well,” said Simmons. “So soon you will see a lot more speed enforcement coming in and out of Century, but you’ll also see the efforts on 4-wheelers, on ATVs; we have a bicycle unit that is funded through a grant.”

“It is very important for people to see the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office out there in their neighborhoods, not just engaging, but very much enforcing the laws and putting people in jail that need to go to jail,” he said.

“We are working with all of our communities,” he said, mentioning the opening of the Molino and Perdido precincts this year.

“I wanted every area of Escambia County to have that sense of a small town feel where you know who is doing your policing, you know who to go to. You don’t have to go to the sheriff; you can, but you don’t have to. You can go right around the corner to the Molino Precinct or the Cantonment Precinct.”

Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducts a traffic stop on North Century Boulevard at Tedder Road. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

31 Responses to “Escambia Sheriff Says He’s Cracking Down On Speeding, Meth And Crime in Century”

  1. David Huie Green on July 22nd, 2021 2:21 am

    REGARDING:
    “How about cracking down on the meth in Pensacola?”

    Pensacola Police Department

  2. John on July 21st, 2021 10:16 am

    How about cracking down on the meth in Pensacola? it’s running wide open on the street

  3. David Huie Green on July 18th, 2021 3:10 am

    CONTEMPLATING:
    “The poorer you are the less you consume. The less you consume the less damage you inflict on the environment.”

    So perfection would consist of everyone having nothing?

    Followed quickly by all of us dying of thirst and starvation!!

    For a false sense of moral superiority resulting from illiteracy, misreading?

    Good thing most aren’t blinded by silly ideas.

    David for fewer Pol Pots
    (by any means necessary)

  4. Bill on July 17th, 2021 5:07 pm

    The poorer you are the less you consume. The less you consume the less damage you inflict on the environment. There’s no fancy argument that change the truth.

  5. Shs on July 17th, 2021 12:30 pm

    Speed limit needs to be increased to 45 mph

  6. Bewildered on July 17th, 2021 8:24 am

    And the wheels go round and round going nowhere. How long will it take before the community will cry foul – they are being targeted?

  7. David Huie Green on July 17th, 2021 12:17 am

    REGARDING:
    “The homeless belong to the community just as much as the sheltered.”

    People are not property, belong to nobody else.
    Members of a community have obligations, things like obedience to the law and respect for the rights of others.

    AND
    “How much pollution are the sheltered subjecting the homeless to with their carbon emissions, poisonous lawn care, swimming pool chemicals, and the pavement used to maintain driveways and roads for dangerous vehicles that the homeless rarely use?”

    Silly question intended to make people feel guilty for sheltering their loved ones from rain, lightening, skeeters, suchlike. It also assumes those of us with roofs poison the ground, all have swimming pools, fancy cars or should walk everywhere. Also that any harm done doesn’t affect all of us.

    And opposition to pavement? That which stops erosion from choking our waterways??

    And claiming the homeless don’t use roads and vehicles? They get their food from vehicles driving on those roads, emergency vehicles protect them by use of those roads for their benefit. They don’t even have to drive themselves.

    AND
    “The rich are the real blight on our community with their repulsive insistence on destroying the ecosystem with their chronically wasteful lifestyle.”

    Now we’ve gone from those with houses to just the rich? Or are we to take it that every person with a house, apartment, or tent (tents are shelters too) is rich? Everyone generates waste. This is true. Jealousy and hatred are ugly things.

    AND
    “The homeless…are morally superior.”

    Doing less damage because you are too poor, sick, old, or lazy to do more damage does not equate to moral superiority.

    If you use what others have produced, their “carbon footprint” is YOUR “carbon footprint.” Their waste, their pollution, is YOURS.

    The difference is that they served others by providing what they needed or wanted: food, clothing, shelter, medical care, entertainment, education, fire suppression, cars, protection from criminals,…

    I’m not putting them down, just not placing them on a pedestal either.

    David for sanity

  8. David Huie Green on July 16th, 2021 11:32 pm

    REGARDING:
    “tourist don’t like navigating multiple highways through speed traps like Flomaton and Century.”

    It is not really a speed trap if the speed is posted and violators are ticketed. It is law enforcement for public safety
    Other than that, an interstate spur from end to end WOULD be nice.

    AND
    “The speed limit should be 55 not 35.”

    If I may be blount: That’s just stupid.

    AND
    “Blessed are the poor! And that’s from the Bible.”

    Not really. What Jesus ACTUALLY said was: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Poor in spirit is generally thought to mean humble and recognizing we are all sinners, needing God. As Billy Graham put it, “we must realize our own sin and our spiritual emptiness and poverty. We must not be self-satisfied or proud in our hearts, thinking we don’t really need God. If we are, God cannot bless us. The Bible says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).”
    https://billygraham.org/answer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-poor-in-spirit-as-jesus-said-we-ought-to-be/

    David for truth

  9. JoJo on July 16th, 2021 7:01 pm

    Need more patrol on Hwy 4A. Been way too many wrecks with numerous fatalities. Yet people are driving this road as if it’s Talladega. And noise ordinance needs to be in place too, not just the city limits but the rural areas as well.

  10. Just sayin on July 16th, 2021 4:40 pm

    Well shouldnt be too hard start behind the precinct in century at the new apartments. Then all beside there, the fake pot and meth is taking tolls on people and the peoples families. Then at the line and well everywhere down that way. Can’t even take your kids to showalter park apparently that where the junkies stay.

  11. Former resident on July 16th, 2021 9:11 am

    I went through Century about a year ago after a brief visit to Pensacola. I’d left the area many years ago and had not been back in as many years. I was honestly so saddened to see the deterioration of what I once called home. I didn’t even recognize Ensley or Cantonment and was honestly a bit anxious stopping in Century for fuel. I truly hope the sherif can help turn the tide and all of Escambia county gets better. I will say though, leaving was the best decision I ever made. A sad statement, but true.

  12. Bill on July 16th, 2021 6:15 am

    Susan

    The homeless belong to the community just as much as the sheltered.

    How much pollution are the sheltered subjecting the homeless to with their carbon emissions, poisonous lawn care, swimming pool chemicals, and the pavement used to maintain driveways and roads for dangerous vehicles that the homeless rarely use?

    The rich are the real blight on our community with their repulsive insistence on destroying the ecosystem with their chronically wasteful lifestyle.

    Blessed are the poor! And that’s from the Bible.

    The homeless are the least destructive people with the smallest carbon footprint in the community so maybe those of us with more should stop throwing stones and start showing respect and gratitude for those who are morally superior.

  13. Citizen on July 16th, 2021 12:01 am

    J the G

    it’s actually lower on the curves. Remember the 18 wheeler over turning. THe FDOT put up flashing signs for 30MPH.

    I am so glad the Mayor is reaching out to partners and working with Mr. Prather and the county on infrastructure.

    Council, You need to either lead follow or get out of the way.

    We need to hire more people.

  14. Marshall on July 15th, 2021 6:39 pm

    Well J-THE-G

    HWY 29 is not a County Road and the locals don’t set the speed limits. Speed limits for State or Federally controlled roads, are set by one of those agencies.

  15. dishearted on July 15th, 2021 4:27 pm

    speeding has got out of hand, but LEO speed 15+ mph over the limit for no reason. whats good for the goose is good for to gander(LEO) chief you need to address this

  16. ricksilver777@gmail.com I on July 15th, 2021 3:18 pm

    I concur, cantonment as well!

  17. J-THE-G on July 15th, 2021 11:35 am

    The speed limit should be 55 not 35. that’s on them for being dumb in managing the main hwy in the town properly. raise the speed limit.

  18. Crockett St on July 15th, 2021 10:54 am

    Need to target Cricket Ridge for Meth

  19. Susan Littlefield on July 15th, 2021 10:41 am

    The trash that the homeless are putting down around them in our community is a real problem. It spreads out over a wide area blown by the wind. What must residents, tourists, and visitors think of us allowing such a blight and offensive sight? There are so many programs and places they may go to get help with what they need and shelter for them as well. Littering is against the law, as is panhandling. Now that Sheriff Morgan has gone the problem has escalated and the offenders are getting bolder and worse. Please enforce the laws that protect our citizens and property.

  20. Charlotte Schwartz on July 15th, 2021 9:14 am

    Need to get back over to Hwy 99. It’s like a raceway there. The speed limit is 55 but people are going 65 – 80 mph. Not just cars, but motorcycles too. I can hear them coming from Crabtree Church Road all the way past our house and down to Chalker Road.

  21. Justin on July 15th, 2021 9:13 am

    Jacks Branch rd and Greentree would be a great start. Some treat it as turn 3 at the Daytona.

  22. Jason on July 15th, 2021 9:00 am

    Need patrolled on 29 in Molino. People hit 85 90 mph thru there. Semis running interstate speeds. Look at all of the skid marks at the new light

  23. Maury Middlebrooks on July 15th, 2021 8:59 am

    People speed down my dead end road in Pensacola like its a racetrack. Nothing happens to them. Of course no other traffic laws are followed either. There’s a lot of work to be done that’s been neglected so far.

  24. Cuyon on July 15th, 2021 8:41 am

    Please add coverage to Hwy. 97, I saw 2 more deaths on this road just 1 week ago. The speed some drive is upwards of 80+ mph.
    When you try to keep the posted speed you get all types of frustrated hand signals.

  25. Judy on July 15th, 2021 7:37 am

    Gonna be busy, for sure!!! Hope it helps!

  26. Bypass for Tourist and Business on July 15th, 2021 7:28 am

    It’s time to bypass Century with a direct express to I-65. Big companies choose locations that have easy access to multiple major transportation options. Similarly, tourist don’t like navigating multiple highways through speed traps like Flomaton and Century. An express would catch and funnel southbound I-65 beach tourist to Pensacola and our beaches before they hit Exit 37 for Gulf Shores Beaches.

  27. sam on July 15th, 2021 7:09 am

    lots of luck with the meth heads and criminals. this town if full of both. they steal to support their habit. mom and dad did it, so what would you expect? it is how they exist.

  28. Ensley Mom on July 15th, 2021 6:48 am

    Try to do something about speeding on New Chemstrand Rd. It’s like a drag strip now.

  29. Gary Hebert on July 15th, 2021 6:44 am

    Need to more law enforcement on Muscogee Rd in Cantonment

  30. Aheadsup on July 15th, 2021 6:13 am

    Please patrol Tedder/ Killam Rd area- both ends! It’s a speed way, garbage can, ATV’s all hours of the night. Some of the bottles found have “funny” stuff in them!

  31. ekg on July 15th, 2021 5:35 am

    Glad the speeders are getting caught in Century, but sure wish we had more cops in Cantonment on Hwy29 where so many drivers are speeding high over the speed limit every day…