Cantonment Man Charge With Battery, False Imprisonment Of Girlfriend
June 24, 2023
A Cantonment man has been charged after an alleged confrontation with his girlfriend.
Roderick Ezell Purifoy, 33, was charged with felony kidnapping false imprisonment domestic violence and misdemeanor battery. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday morning with bond set at $5,000.
Purifoy’s girlfriend said they got into an argument that became a physical confrontation as they were taking her child somewhere, according to an arrest report. She accused him of grabbing her arm causing scratches and throwing her to the ground.
Purifoy claimed she opened the passenger door of a vehicle while they were driving and attempted to exit the vehicle. He said he grabbed her arm to prevent her from leaving the moving vehicle, the report continues.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, there have been several other domestic violence incidents in the past between the two.
Escambia Sheriff’s Newest Vehicle Is a 1957 Chevy Bel Air
June 24, 2023
The newest vehicle in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office fleet is a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.
The non-profit Escambia County Sheriff Foundation purchased and modified the classic car to gift to the ECSO ato further promote community engagement and pay tribute to the men and women who have served at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office throughout its history.
“This has quickly become a favorite in our fleet,” Sheriff Chip Simmons said. “This gift allows us to acknowledge the dedication and sacrifice of those who have proudly served at the Sheriff’s Office throughout our 200-year history, while providing us with another opportunity for community engagement.”
For more photos, click or tap here.
The Escambia County Sheriff Foundation exists to promote the community engagement efforts of the Sheriff’s Office while directly supporting its employees. It is the Foundation’s hope that this privately funded gift will help enhance the engagement efforts of the sheriff’s office while evoking a sense of pride from current employees as well as those who have come before.
The Chevy Bel Air was presented during an event at the Summer Vista Assisted Living Community.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Teen Seriously Injured In Early Morning Cantonment Wreck
June 24, 2023
At least one person was seriously injured in a wreck early Saturday morning in Cantonment.
A teen male was reportedly ejected from a pickup. He was transported to a Pensacola hospital as a “trauma alert” following the 12:20 a.m. crash on Highway 29 near Tree Street.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional information.
Escambia Man Who Murdered His Girlfriend Could Be Paroled In 2059
June 24, 2023
An Escambia County murderer is looking at a possible parole date in 2059.
This week, the Florida Commission on Offender Review continued to set Sean Patrick Esty’s presumptive parole date for January 7, 2059. Esty is serving life for murdering his girlfriend in 1991 when he was 18-year old.
The murder occurred prior to the legislative changes that now require inmates to serve the entirety of a life sentence, Esty is parole eligible after 25 years, but the date set by the commission is the earliest that Esty could be paroled. He would be 86 at that time.
Esty brutally stabbed 15-year-old Lauren Ramsey with a butcher knife before retrieving a baseball bat with metal studs and beating her until she lost consciousness. He then took a machete and sliced her head and face. Esty planned the murder after Ramsey learned she was pregnant with Esty’s child.
He bought the butcher knife at Albertson’s the night of the murder and changed into a trench coat and combat boots before killing Ramsey. Her body was found in a secluded area at Gulf Islands National Seashore on December 24, 1991, two days after she disappeared.
Ramsey’s family spoke at the hearing and urged commissioners to keep Esty in prison for the remainder of his life. Assistant State Attorney John Molchan pointed out the aggravating factors and urged the commission to keep Esty from ever being released into society. Lauren’s mother, Jan Ramsey, spoke emotionally but eloquently to the commission about the significant impact the murder of her child had upon her and her family.
The State Attorney’s Office for the First Circuit said they will continue to oppose any parole for Esty.
Slight Chance Of Showers For Sunday
June 24, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly in the afternoon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Three In A Row: Wahoos Beat Smokies 7-4
June 24, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their third in a row on Friday night, beating the Tennessee Smokies on the strength of four home runs.
Will Banfield, Griffin Conine, Troy Johnston and Cody Morissette each went deep in support of Jake Eder, who allowed three runs over 4.1 innings in his first Double-A start since August of 2021.
Nasim Nuñez began the game by drawing a leadoff walk against Smokies starter Kohl Franklin (L, 2-4), then stole a pair of bases before scoring on a Johnston RBI single. Banfield went deep with a two-run blast a batter later, giving the Blue Wahoos a 3-0 lead.
Eder allowed an RBI double to Luis Vasquez and and RBI single to BJ Murray in the first inning, but settled into a groove as he made his milestone return in a continued recovery from elbow surgery. The lefty struck out two and walked three, departing in the fifth inning after throwing a prescribed 75 pitches.
Solo homers from Conine and Johnston helped stretch out the lead further, and Josan Méndez (W, 4-1) left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth to prevent a Smokies comeback.
Morissette’s solo homer in the seventh stretched the Pensacola lead to 7-3. Tennessee got a run back on another Vasquez RBI double against Blue Wahoos reliever West Tunnell, but Jefry Yan (S, 6) worked a spotless ninth to lock down the win.
The Blue Wahoos and Smokies play a doubleheader on Saturday, making up a rainout from Thursday.
written by Erik Bremer
Escambia County Fire Rescue Holds Awards Ceremony (With Gallery)
June 23, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue recently held an awards ceremony, presenting medals, citations and certificates to several firefighters.
Final Alarm medals were presented to the families of two late Century firefighters, civilians were honored for lifesaving efforts, retirees were honored and promotions were recognized.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Career Fire Officer of the Year
- Lt. Jim Allen
Volunteer Fire Officer of the Year
- District Chief Brandon Stevens
Career Firefighter of the Year
- FF David Carballosa
Volunteer Firefighter of the Year
- FF Jay Ates
Lieutenant Terrell Jackson Award
- FF Channin O’Connor
District Chief Dwain Bradshaw Award
- FF Christianne Barry
Hurricane Ian Deployment Ribbon
- Deputy Chief Paul Williams
- Assistant District Chief Yoshimi Core
- Lt. Nick Gradia
- Lt. Keith Chapman
- Lt. Jim Allen
- FF Kenny Fehl
- FF Chris Knezenski
Retiree Service Recognition Medal
- Capt. Craig Ammons
- Lt. John Van Matre
- Lt. Steve Bode
- Lt. Bill Halfacre
Final Alarm Medal
- Retired District Chief Regi Burkett
- FF J.B. Johnson
Civilian Lifesaving Award
- John Haynes
- Kristina Barth
Service Recognition Medal
- Warehouse Supervisor John Elswick
- Division Chief Greg Campanella
- Battalion Chief Jon Hollingsworth
- Division Chief Joe Quinn
- Lt. Jeff Tavener
- Lt. Tad Bush
- FF Jason Rocco
Distinguished Service Medal (Structure Fire with Rescue of Trapped Victim on 8/27/2021)
- Lt. Ronson Cloer
- FF Robert Held
Company Citation (Structure Fire with Rescue of Trapped Victim on 8/27/2021)
- Lt. Joey Jasionowski
- FF Scott Walther
- FF Robert Vardeman
- FF Nick Segner
Medal of Courage (Motor Vehicle Crash with Extrication on 9/19/2021)
- Lt. Daniel Mills
- FF Kenny Fehl
- FF Will Smith
Distinguished Service Medal (Saved a Choking Victim on 6/22/2021 and Saved a Cardiac Arrest Victim on 8/3/2021)
- Division Chief Joe Quinn
Distinguished Service Medal (Saved a Firefighter in Cardiac Arrest)
- Lt. Sean King
- Lt. Nick Gradia
- Lt. TJ Smith
- Lt. Ian Sumner
- FF Peter Welch
- FF Robert Held
- FF Brian Kraatz
- FF Michael Iglesias
- FF Baylen Payne
Company Citation with Ribbon (Saved a Firefighter in Cardiac Arrest)
- Lt. Jeff Tavener
- FF JP Norris
- FF Ryan Callahan
- FF Clint Miller
Medal of Courage (Mayday Incident at Jasmine Creek Apartments)
- Lt. Jim Beagle
Company Citation (Mayday Incident at Jasmine Creek Apartments)
- FF Jacob Hoskins
- FF Brent Nesmith
- FF Garett Chandler
Medal of Courage (Mayday Incident on Mathison Road)
- FF Dale Dirks
- FF Jacob Hoskins
Company Citation with Ribbon (Water Rescue Involving Multiple Victims on 1/4/2023)
- Capt. Wesley Barnett
- Lt. Josh Rowe
- FF/Paramedic Guy Meredith
- FF Rick Mauro
- FF Robert Stivers
- FF Mattox Chapman
Company Citation with Ribbon (Water Rescue Involving Multiple Victims on 3/16/2022)
- Lt./Paramedic Jeff Tavener
- FF JP Norris
- FF Stephen Service
- FF Matt Van Matre
Company Citation (Motor Vehicle Crash with Extrication 9/22/2022)
- Lt. Dimitri Jansen
- FF Donovan Murphy
- FF Michael Maddrey
- FF Logan McGuffey
Company Citation (Saved a Cardiac Arrest Patient on 1/4/2023)
- Lt. Jim Allen
- FF Tony Buscaino
- FF Mathius Russ
Company Citation with Ribbon (Motor Vehicle Crash with Extrication)
- Battalion Chief Jon Hollingsworth
- District Chief Brandon Stevens
- Assistant District Chief Yoshimi Core
- Lt. Ian Sumner
- Lt. Keith Chapman
- FF Jacob Creighton
- FF Anthony Rizzo
- FF Nathan Montgomery
- FF Chris French
- FF Chris Knezenski
- FF Zach McMillan
- FF Jonathan Welsh
Company Citation with Ribbon (Electrocution at Pensacola Christian College)
- Deputy Chief Paul Williams
- Division Chief Norman Robinson
- Battalion Chief Adam Bobe
- Lt. Jake Anderson
- Lt. Keith Chapman
- Lt. Matt Scallan
- FF Charles Bailey
- FF Kyle Muldoon
- FF Zach Aceto
- FF Aubrey Ashcraft
- FF Garrett Chandler
- FF Brent Nesmith
- FF Reiner Crabtree
- FF Jeff Huber
Company Citation with Ribbon (Locating and Removing a Lost Person from Wildland Area on 11/3/2021)
- Lt. Scott Hunsucker
- Lt. Tad Bush
- FF Jon Quina
- FF Anthony Stafford
- FF John Longsworth
- FF Michael Maddrey
- FF Jacob Hoskins
- FF Ryan Callahan
Company Citation with Ribbon (Locating, Treating and Removing Patient from Wildland/Swamp Area on 1/4/2023)
- Lt. Jeff Roher
- Lt. Dan Kunz
- Lt. Daniel Mills
- FF Tim Nagim
- FF Wesley Brandt
- FF Jakub Fajardo
- FF Charles Bailey
- FF Ryan Callahan
- FF Gordon Wilson
- FF Sean Straut
- FF Kyle Saxton
- FF Geoff Carmichael
Company Citation (Peripheral Entrapment at the County Jail)
- Battalion Chief Curt Isakson
- Lt. Keith Chapman
- Lt. Charles McGuffey
- Lt. Jake Anderson
- FF David Carballosa
- FF Zack Aceto
- FF Josh Reeves
- FF Phillip Hoffman
- FF Brandon Figueredo
- FF Michael Iglesias
- FF Kyle Muldoon
Company Citation with Ribbon (Motor Vehicle Crash with Extrication)
- Lt. Dimitri Jansen
- Lt. Lyndon Halteman
- FF Michael Maddrey
- FF Logan McGuffey
- FF Donovan Murphy
- FF Justin Marcum
- FF Marcus Fairley
- FF Jacob Stevenson
Promotions
The following individuals were promoted to the position of Lieutenant:
- Lt. Justin Marcum
- Lt. Kyle Saxton
- Lt. Phillip Hoffman
- Lt. John Longsworth
- Lt. Jacob Creighton
- Lt. JP Owens
- Lt. Tom Schwarz
The following individuals were promoted to the position of Captain:
- Capt. Scott Averill
- Capt. Wesley Barnett
- Capt. Dan Kunz
The following individuals transferred from company officer positions to training and safety lieutenants:
- Lt. Jim Allen
- Lt. Daniel Akerman
- Lt. TJ Smith
Amateur Radio Field Day Is This Weekend, Demonstrations At Ashton Brosnaham And Bratt Parks
June 23, 2023
Local ham operators will gather at two locations in Escambia County this weekend for the 2023 American Radio Relay League Field Day.
ARRL Field Day is an opportunity for thousands of amateur radio enthusiasts throughout the U.S. and Canada to set up temporary communications stations and make contact with like-minded people. Licensed radio operators, often called “hams,” spend the weekend practicing community outreach, emergency preparedness and technical skills.
Local hams participate in providing emergency communications during hurricanes and other disasters when normal communications are disabled and during local events like triathlons, bikeathons, parades or wherever real time communications are needed.
The Five Flags Amateur Radio Association will begin operations at about 1 p.m. Saturday and operate continuously until 1 p.m. Sunday at Ashton Brosnaham Park off East 10 Mile Road.
The Southern Amateur Radio Union will participate from Travis Nelson Park on West Highway 4 in Bratt, just west of Northview High. Club members from both Escambia counties (Alabama and Florida) will participate from noon Saturday until noon Sunday.
The public is invited to stop by both locations to observe and learn.
At Ashton Brosnaham Park, there will also be a “Get on the Air” station for anyone that wants to try it out. Escambia Search and Rescue, Escambia Fire Rescue and other groups will participate.
The Escambia County Commission recently proclaimed June 20-26 as “Amateur Radio Week” in the county.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Scattered Summertime Pattern Showers Through The Weekend
June 23, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 94.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 95.
Utility Trailer Overturns After Collision With Car In Cantonment
June 23, 2023
There were no injuries reported in a collision between a car and a utility trailer Thursday afternoon in Cantonment.
The utility trailer came loose from the pickup truck that was pulling it and overturned on South Highway 97 and West Kingsfield Road about 4:10 p.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge
