Two Killed, Including 18-Year Old, In Highway 29 Wrong-Way Driver Crash
March 17, 2023
Two people were killed in a fiery wrong way driver crash on Highway 29 early Friday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a white Chevrolet sedan was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 29 just south of Quintette Road at 12:41 a.m.
A burgundy Nissan SUV driven by an 18-year old female from Molino was northbound at the time, and the vehicles collided head-on.
The Chevrolet sedan caught fire with the driver still inside. Troopers said the sedan driver has not yet been identified.
Both drivers were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The 18-year old SUV driver was a Northview High School senior.
The FHP investigation is continuing.
Cantonment Man Charged With Cutting And Stealing AT&T Phone Cables From Poles
March 17, 2023
A Cantonment man is accused of cutting down AT&T telephone cables, leaving customers without service and causing thousands of dollars in damage.
Levy Brian Dixon, 42, was charged with theft of copper from a communications services provider, damage of utility fixtures, and grand theft. All of the charges are felonies. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $15,000.
On March 10, a deputy working at Lipscomb Elementary School on Ashton Brosnaham Drive responded to a suspicious vehicle parked in the woods northwest of the school. The deputy noted that it contained numerous wire cutting tools and a ladder.
Dixon walked out of the woods and told the deputy that the Jeep belonged to him. According to an arrest report, Dixon said he had been exploring in the woods. He told an investigator that the cutting tools and ladder were his, but he knew nothing about wire in the vehicle. Pictures were sent to an AT&T representative that the wire was consistent with AT&T wire that had been stolen.
The investigator walked into the wooded area that Dixon had exited and located three disassembled automotive radiators, about 25 feet of insulated copper wire, a cooler full of metal link chain, tire tools and an agricultural plow.
According to the report, Dixon had sold 73 pounds of copper and catalytic converters in February.
A search warrant was executed at Dixon’s home on Frank Ard Road. Deputies reported finding 150 feet of Superior 2×22 phone wire, 200 feet of insulated #2 1-inch paired phone cable, 30 feet of 600 volt FPL aluminum SE cable, 25 feet of 100 amp insulated aluminum wire and one XS100 highline cable pulley. AT&T identified the items as belonging to them.
On March 13, AT&T reported that customers in the area of Tate Road and Highway 29 were without service. AT&T said one of their telephone lines on the west side of Tate Road had been stolen from between wooden poles. Approximately 150 feet of “300 pair” aerial cable, capable of providing service to 300 phone lines, was missing. It was estimated that repairs would cost $3,000. Another aerial drop cable was cut with a replacement cost of $1,000, and another “300 pair” cable near 772 Tate Road was cut but not stolen.
A silver Jeep SUV was captured on nearby surveillance video during the theft.
Man Gets 15 Years For Gas Station Shootout With Motorcycle Club
March 17, 2023
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a gas station shootout on Nine Mile Road.
Jamal Delanie Battle-Donson was convicted of shooting or discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
The shooting occurred at the Circle K gas station at 3255 West Nine Mile Road just after 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 21, 2022. The store surveillance camera video recording showed a vehicle being aggressively driven by Battle-Donson as he pulled into the gas station. He then circled through the parking lot and stopped at the fuel pumps, where he instigated a confrontation with other patrons who appeared to be motorcycle club members. A brief struggle ensued. Battle-Donson returned his car, drove up to another group of customers from the motorcycle club, and conversed briefly before exiting the parking lot.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the gas station shootout, click here.
A few moments later, Battle-Donson returned and exchanged gunfire with the same motorcycle club members he had physically struggled with earlier before driving away.
During the trial, Battle-Donson claimed the motorcycle club members brandished guns and fired at him first, and he merely returned fire in self-defense. However, the video recording also showed that he returned to the store a third time approximately a minute and a half after the previous shooting and fired his handgun indiscriminately from his vehicle as he again passed through the parking lot.
More than 40 shell casings and projectile fragments were recovered from the scene. The physical evidence and testimony at trial showed that Battle-Donson had shot his firearm, re-loaded and firearm again at the scene.
“The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office works tirelessly to keep us safe by investigating and arresting persons that illegally and violently use firearms,” said State Attorney Ginger Madden. “We remain committed to supporting their efforts by prosecuting criminals who recklessly endanger our community. The imposed sentences illustrate the significant consequences of placing our citizens in harm.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
All Three Lanes Are Now Open On One Side Of Pensacola Bay Bridge
March 17, 2023
All three lanes on the Pensacola Bay Bridge are now open from Gulf Breeze to Pensacola.
On the Pensacola to Gulf Breeze (eastbound) side, the two-lane configuration will remain in place as crews work on the tie-in areas in Gulf Breeze.
Pictured: Traffic flows from Gulf Breeze to Pensacola on a fully opened span of the Pensacola Bay Bridge on Thursday. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Free Community Health Fair (And Free Lunch) Saturday In Century
March 17, 2023
A free Eating Better, Feeling Better, Living Better Health Fair will be held Saturday in Century.
The event will take place from noon until 3:30 p.m. at the Century Community Center (Ag Building) on West Highway 4 at Industrial Boulevard.
Exhibitors and presenters will include the Escambia County Health Department, Escambia County Fire Rescue, Life Option Clinic, Escambia County Extension, Community Health Northwest Florida, a sleep study advisor, Sickle Cell Association, zumba, and more. A free lunch will be available.
Showers Tonight; Turning Sharply Colder For The Weekend
March 17, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A chance of showers before 10 p.m. Low around 42. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 55. North wind around 10 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. East wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 75.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.
Saturday Is Deadline To Request Vote By Mail Ballots For Century Special Election
March 17, 2023
Saturday, March 18 is the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the Century special election.
Anyone who wishes to request a vote-by-mail ballot should visit EscambiaVotes.gov and click “Vote by Mail” or contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (850) 595-3900.
Polls will be open at the Century Town Hall from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on March 28 for the special election for two town council seats.
Pace wins the Aggie Classic; Tate Falls To Broken Arrow In Nine
March 17, 2023
The Pace Patriots claimed the Aggie Classic championship Thursday night with a 4-1 win over Union, Oklahoma.
In the consolation game, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma defeated Tate 5-4 in nine innins.
A homerun from Ethan McAnally tied things up 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth. McAnally led the Aggies at the plate, going 3-4.
Flomaton Man Convicted In Century Manslaughter; Victim Hit With A Propane Tank
March 16, 2023
A Flomaton man was convicted Wednesday of the negligent manslaughter of a Century man in July 2021.
Timothy Lavon Johnson, 35, was convicted of the death of Christopher Lynn Hunter who passed away 10 days after he was hit in the head by Johnson with a propane tank. He is set to be sentenced May 11 before Judge John Simon.
According to court documents, Johnson struck Hunter in the head at least once with a steel propane take such as the type 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 initially provided very little information about what happened.
Cold Case Symposium Begins: Here Are Clues On Four Unsolved Murders
March 16, 2023
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office opened their two-day Cold Case Symposium Wednesday with a focus on four unsolved murders.
Retired certified law enforcement detectives in the area are taking a closer look at the cases.
Here are the preliminary clues they were provided by the ECSO:
Anna Louise Brown
On April 30, 2017, Anna Louise Brown was found face down on the side of Gibson Road near the Alligator Creek bridge in Molino. She had been shot multiple times.
A nearby witness observed an older model silver vehicle drive past his residence. A short time later, the vehicle drove back past his residence again. Moments later the witness heard approximately six to eight gunshots.
The victim had recently finalized her divorce from her ex-husband Manuel De-Jesus Vega. A family member expressed concern about Vega due to him being both verbally and physically abusive.
Connie Slaughter
On December 10, 2010, Connie Slaughter was found strangled to death near her vehicle in the backyard of her residence in the 400 block of East 10 Mile Road . She had blood on her hands and face. Her car keys and cell phone were missing from the scene. She was on her way out to go dancing with her cousin and last spoke to her at 11:06 p.m.
The victim and her husband were in the process of a divorce and were both living under the same roof.
Kenneth Underwood
Kenneth Underwood, 9, was reported missing on the evening of January 2, 1980. Last seen playing (hunting) near an old abandoned church at the intersection of Calloway and Booker streets in Cantonment.
Underwood was found by rescue personnel about 5:45 a.m. the following morning in the area of Booker Street. He had a 20-foot section of a pine tree over the upper portion of his body.
His belt and BB gun were found in two different areas approximately 50 feet from where his body was located.
Steven Davis
On August 26, 1998, Steven Davis was leaving Winn Dixie parking lot at 400 Navy Boulevard in his cab when he was shot.
Davis exited the vehicle and started back on foot towards Winn Dixie for help. He collapsed in the parking lot where he died.
The cab was located near Navy Boulevard with the driver’s door and rear passenger doors open and the driver’s window shattered out.
