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Century Mayor Reports Entire Playground Stolen; ECSO Says It Was Scrapped For $196
April 22, 2024
Century Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. reported an entire park playground had been stolen, but the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office determined that no crime was committed.
Gomez told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he went to the Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue on April 8 and noticed that the playground equipment, basketball goals and poles, and the handrails from the building were gone. He said the playground was there the prior day because he saw children playing and be believed it was stolen between 10 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Gomez said the metal was removed using a torch, according to an incident report.
The town has approved a design for a new $3.255 million community center on the property, and the current building will be demolished first due to advance termite damage and deterioration. The town council recently voted to allow local resident Marilyn Robinson, a former caretaker of sorts of the community center, to remove property she claimed belongs to her from the building prior to demolition.
Robinson was at the community center when an ECSO investigator arrived. She told the investigator that she had given Melvin Manuel permission to take an outside air conditioner unit and a portion of chain link fence, but that she did not give permission to take anything else.
Another person at the community center told the deputy that she saw a white truck across the street near the back of the building about 11:30 a.m. and a white female with blond hair leaving the community center on a bicycle.
While enroute to Manuels home, the investigator said a white female with a blond hair and a male with a hat and red shirt on bicycles near North Century Boulevard and Highway 4. He stopped them and determined that they had been involved in taking metal from the community center, the report states. John Hunter, who has experience as a welder, said he was paid a total of $75 by Manuel to help take the metal. Hunter stated that he believed Manuel had permission since the community center was slated for demolition, the report says.
The deputy contacted Manuel at his home, and he stated that he had taken the basketball goals and poles, handrails, and playground equipment, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He provided a receipt where the metal was sold as scrap to Atmore Recycling for $196.
Robinson met with the investigator and was asked if there was any chance that Melvin misinterpreted her statements.
“Robinson stated that while she did not believe she was unclear, there was a chance that Manuel misinterpreted her statements about the building due to her being in an emotional state over the circumstances that had led to the programs at the building being shut down,” the ECSO incident report states.
The investigator determined that no crime was committed.
“I do not find probable cause for an arrest. As such, no further law enforcement action is being taken by this deputy at this time,” he wrote.
Comments
21 Responses to “Century Mayor Reports Entire Playground Stolen; ECSO Says It Was Scrapped For $196”
We published the preliminary drawings in early March:
http://www.northescambia.com/2024/03/century-approves-design-for-new-3-255-million-carver-community-center
Can we see the projected plans for the re-establishment of the center, please??
To Sam on behalf of toilets everywhere I find that remark very offensive comparing them to century is outlandish
You cant just give away community property with out bids….
you had to know this would happen. spending tax payer money in that area is like throwing it down the toilet.
I worked there way back when, and I can tell you that many of us put our own money into purchasing equipment, including air conditioners, because we never had enough funding. Mrs Robinson may very well have purchased the a/c in question.
Is the footprint of the new community center going to be atop the playground?
If yes, then it would simply be dismantled and relocated.
If no, it would get fenced off during construction.
None of the explanations makes a bit of sense. The only explanation is “incompetence”.
“So Salzman gives money to the town to improve school board property. Correct?”
No. The School Board gave the property to the town.
AYE YO WHAT THATS CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m starting to look forward to the stories about “what’s next in Century “
Almost like a soap opera that you just can’t wait for tomorrow’s episode.
I thought the school board owned the property.
So Salzman gives money to the town to improve school board property. Correct?
Then it’s not accounted for in an audit.
And the council votes to give “whatever” away to a private individual.
Sorry, this was just plain funny to me. A script for the Andy Griffith show.
Once in a breakroom, I pointed to a lunch on the table and exclaimed. “I’m not going to eat that.” Someone asked.”Mind I do? I said. “No”.
The owner of the lunch sure was surprised to see their coworker chowing down on it when they came back in the lunchroom.
Similar.
“So it’s now legal to steal property belonging to the Town of Century, take it over the state line and sell it?
The individuals involved didn’t commit a crime. They had “permission” from the town. But the town committed criminal malfeasance by telling someone that they could take public property that was there for the public good. This was an open town public playground. Up until the day it was taken, I’ve seen kids out there playing on it. Gomez and the council should be charged.
“The investigator determined that no crime was committed.” So it’s now legal to steal property belonging to the Town of Century, take it over the state line and sell it?
When did the town council legally declare the property surplus? How did sweet Ms Robinson prove ownership of what she is removing? How can she give permission to remove a fence and outside air conditioner? Those were certainly were not her property. It is criminal malfesence by the town… that was all public property.
Century is an absolute disgrace , what we have is people in positions they have no no experience at all . Lopez should be ashamed and the other clowns that appear to be clueless in what they are doing . Lopez is a sleazy individual & needs to be exposed & he will .
Next chapter is an emergency approval for new playground equipment. The saddest part of this is that some other playground or civic organization could have used this equipment. The big question is; is it legal for the mayor to dispose of any property without competitive bids?
Sherlock Gomez is on the case. He and his Posse, the clown council, haven’t got a clue what they are doing, and apparently, who is doing it.
Don’t worry folks grant money will replace it.
LOL … I swear sometimes I can SEE the future. Seriously, who didn’t see something like this happening?
This is just sad and pathetic. Century needs saving from it’s own self…
Mayor reports playground stolen.
No charges to be filed.
Can’t make this up no one would believe you.
Except it’s true.