Escambia Man Gets 35 Years On Trafficking, Other Drug Charges
February 24, 2022
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 35 years in state prison on trafficking and other drug charges.
Charles Earl Johnson, Jr. was convicted of trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in hydrocodone, trafficking in cocaine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a controlled substance (alprazolam), possession of a controlled substance (more than 20 grams of cannabis), and possession of drug paraphernalia.
During a traffic stop, a K-9 alerted on Johnson’s vehicle, and a subsequent search found a large quantity of cash, narcotics, and three firearms.
Johnson had previous convictions for cocaine trafficking among other felony charges.
Former Detectives Revisiting Six Escambia County Cold Case Homicides
February 24, 2022
Former detectives are working to solve six cold cases in Escambia County.
One Wednesday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office launched a “Cold Case Symposium” that will concentrate on cold case homicide investigations while enlisting the expertise of retired certified law enforcement detectives in the area. Information on each cold case in the graphics below.
A cold case is one where all available leads have been exhausted and probable cause has not been established to make an arrest.
The investigators will have the following objectives as they work to solve the cases:
- Complete re-examination of all evidence
- Integrate time-tested investigative techniques with modern forensic technology
- Participants will provide a fresh look at the evidence and an objective viewpoint
- Using extra manpower to conduct follow-up interviews and generate new leads
- Identify items that could now produce DNA results due to technological advancements
Anyone with information on any cold case can call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Olive Baptist To Host ‘Night Of Champions’ And Free Youth Football Camp With Seven NFL Players
February 24, 2022
Olive Baptist Church will host a “Night of Champions” with seven NFL players Friday night, February 25, followed by a youth football camp on Saturday.
At 7 p.m. the seven NFL players will share stories, testimonies and answer questions during the event for all ages. Afterwards, the players will take selfie-style photos with guests and sign autographs. The event is free of charge.
On the Olive Baptist campus, the NFL players will conduct a one-day youth football camp for grades 5-12 from 8:30 a.m. until noon. The youth will rotate through several stations and learn skills from the players. The event is free, but registration is required prior to the event. Register by clicking or tapping here.
The NFL players schedule to present are:
• James Smith-Williams
• Justin Simmons
• Jeremiah Sirles
• Darius Jackson
• Johnathan Abram
• Trent Scott
• Malik Reed
Dense Fog Advisory Tonight; Chance Of Rain For Friday
February 24, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday Night: Areas of dense fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Areas of dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
Cantonment Man Accused Of Grand Theft; Someone Tried Make Text Message Deal To Return Items
February 24, 2022
A Cantonment man is accused of stealing a four-wheeler and other items before someone allegedly tried to make a deal for their return by text message.
Michael David Jones, 31, allegedly stole a four-wheeler valued at $1,500, a marine battery valued at $125, a battery maintainer worth $50, and a $50 battery charger. He was charged with felony grand theft, and two counts of misdemeanor petit theft second degree.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Jones came to his front door and asked for money, and he gave him $5 before asking him to leave. When the victim left for work a few minutes later, he told deputies that he observed Jones nearby. Hours later, he received a phone call and heard Jones’ voice in the background, according to an arrest report.
Text messages offered to tell the victim where to find his four wheeler and attempted to make a deal in exchange for information, and one of the texts provided a location, the report states. The owner found his four-wheeler and other items in the woods across the road from his residence.
A jacket that was allegedly worn by Jones earlier in the day at the victim’s house was found on the four-wheeler, according to deputies.
Jones was released from the Escambia County Jail on an $8,000 bond.
William Joseph “Bill” McMurphy, IV
February 24, 2022
William Joseph “Bill” McMurphy, IV, age 79, passed away Wednesday, January 12, 2022, in Pensacola, FL. He was born June 19, 1942 in Atmore, AL where he resided his entire life.
A graduate of Gordon Military College, Barnesville, GA, Bill served in the Alabama Army National Guard and farmed most of his life. He was co-owner of McMurphy Oil Company. He is preceded in death by his parents, William J. McMurphy, Jr., and Annie Lois Glass McMurphy.
He is survived by his sons, Turner McMurphy, Pace, FL and Justin (Nicole) McMurphy, Santa Rosa Beach, FL; two brothers, William Joseph “Joe” (Toni) McMurphy, III; and John Douglas McMurphy, both of Atmore.; two grandchildren, Lauren and Luke McMurphy, nieces and a nephew.
A graveside memorial service will be held Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL with Bro. Paul LaSala officiating.
The family extends special thanks to family friends, Janet McLeod and Hunter Mosley; caretaker Denisha Lee; niece Sandi McMurphy for her attentive care; and the staff of
Sacred Heart Hospital and Covenant Care Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of choice.
Leaks. Mold. Cell Doors That Don’t Work. Commissioner Describes ‘Unacceptable’ Conditions In Escambia Jail.
February 23, 2022
Unacceptable.
That’s how Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh described what he found during a three hour tour of the Escambia County Jail.
The old jail and annex were built in 1981 and 1984 respectively but still house prisoners in addition to the new jail that opened last year. In the older facilities, Bergosh said he observed mold growing on walls and ceilings, cracked windows, and leaks that have been repaired with tarps that catch water before it is drained away with a hose.
“It just appears to me there has been a tremendous lack of maintenance,” Bergosh told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday afternoon. “Windows shattered, never replaced. Fixtures pulled off the wall, not repaired. A sink running for a year, hot water up to a year, I’ve been told by multiple sources. A ticket has been put in and closed out while the issue hasn’t been solved. They said it’s not a leak, if it’s not leaking out of a sink.”
“There’s a lot of issues that I think are self-inflicting on that facility, and it’s very disappointing to see it. But we are going to see if we can inspire quick movement on it.”
The commissioner noted that most of the areas that have significant flooding in the older jail buildings are no longer occupied. But he said several areas with leaks are occupied by prisoners, and it is leaking in an employee break room.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done over there and we need to make it a top priority. That’s what my intention is, to make it a top priority.”
Bergosh said the problems he found were not limited to the older buildings. One of the three elevators in the new facility has not worked for weeks, he said. Several pods, or housing areas, in the new jail are not open due to staffing issues.
There has been discussion in recent days about returning control of the jail from Escambia County back to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. But first, he said repairs must be made.
“I wouldn’t want to hand him (the sheriff) a lighted stick of dynamite, which is akin to what that would be,” Bergosh stated. “He’s gonna have to deal with the same issues we are. He doesn’t have a facility staff. His facility staff is the county’s facility staff. We maintain his range, his building. So I think that’s a separate question. I think what we’ve got to do is get our own house in order.”
The ultimate solution the commissioner suggested is to hire a firm to determine what areas of the old jail buildings can be salvaged, then demolish the rest.
“Then we’ve got to come up with funding for the expansion of the new jail.”
Bergosh said he will begin holding discussions with staff on Wednesday.
“The blame has to fall on us — the elected commissioners. We have to own it,” Bergosh wrote on his blog.
“Bottom line is, whatever it takes, we’ve got to fix it,” Bergosh told NorthEscambia.com.
Bergosh provided NorthEscambia.com with photographs of multiple pages of maintenance problems posted within the old jail — dozens of leaks, loose bunks, toilets that will not flush, lights that are out. There are even multiple cell doors listed that will not open or close. Because the lists we obtained contain cell numbers and their locations within the jail, NorthEscambia.com has chosen not to publish them to avoid any security concerns.
Contributed photos by Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Manslaughter Suspect Hit Victim In The Head With A Propane Tank In Century Death, ECSO Says
February 23, 2022
A Flomaton man charged with negligent manslaughter in the death of a Century man last July allegedly caused his death by hitting him in the head with a propane cylinder.
Timothy Lavon Johnson, 34, remains in the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola with bond set at a half million dollars.
As NorthEscambia.com first reported last week, Johnson is charged with the death of Christopher Lynn Hunter, who passed away 10 days after he was injured. An arrest report we obtained Tuesday provides more information about the incident.
According to the report, Johnson struck Hunter in the head at least once with a steel propane cylinder such as is used on an outdoor grill. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an aggravated battery report on Hilltop Road at Alger Road at 11:18 a.m. on Sunday, July 18, 2021.
They arrived to find Hunter bloody and beaten, crawling around the ground, the report states. He was transported to the hospital, where he died on July 28, 2021.
Witnesses on the scene were interviewed, but provided very little information about what happened.
Low Near 62 Tonight
February 23, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: Patchy fog. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Areas of fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Local Students Visit Tallahassee On Annual Youth Tour
February 23, 2022
When Northview High School junior Drake Driskell sat on the floor of the Florida Senate for a mock bill debate, appreciation for the Youth Tour experience sank in. As he took in the room from the perspective of a state lawmaker, he realized what a unique opportunity he had been given.
“That was probably my favorite part because we got to see what it’s like to be a senator,” Driskell said. “I may never get to do that again. I would definitely recommend it to any student who is interested.”
Driskell was one of seven local high school students who attended the Florida Electric Cooperatives 2022 Tallahassee Youth Tour, thanks to Escambia River Electric Cooperative. Each student applied and was chosen based on their GPA and a written essay.
Students toured the Challenger Learning Center, held a mock bill debate on the floor of the Florida Senate and a mock trial in the Supreme Court, and visited the Museum of Florida History.
Central High School student Taylor Baggett was unable to attend last year as a junior due to COVID-19; however, was afforded the opportunity to participate as a senior this year. Baggett participated as a judge in a Supreme Court mock trial.
“It was so interesting how people come together to fight for causes and to be able to enjoy this experience with other students from around Florida made it that much better,” Baggett said. “I believe that it’s very important for students like us to be involved in politics and our government.”
All of the Florida electric cooperatives select the youths from their local high schools to attend the Youth Tour, and all expenses are paid by the sponsoring electric cooperative.
“Through attending the tour, young people learn about government, and about their local electric cooperatives and the role they play in their communities,” said EREC CEO Ryan Campbell. “It’s very important that we have these young leaders in our community learning to use their voice for what they are passionate about.”
Pictured top: Students from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties visit with Rep. Michelle Salzman during the Tallahassee Youth Tour. Pictured below: Central High School student Taylor Baggett participates as a judge in a mock trial at the Florida Supreme Court. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
