Century Man That Evaded Capture For Months Gets 50 Months For Arson

August 16, 2024

A Century man that eluded capture on several occasions before being captured May 1 has been sentenced to just over four years in state prison.

Christopher George Pace, 41, was convicted of arson, criminal mischief, trespassing and resisting arrest. He was sentenced to 50 months for arson, and time served on the additional charges.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and K-9s from the Century Correctional Institution and the Escambia County Road Prison captured Pace without incident May 1 g in a wooded area off Pleasant Hill Road.

According to sheriff’s office reports:

On February 27, Pace set a fire in a wooded area at the dead end of Sellers Road off West Highway 4. In an incident captured in game camera photos, someone piled a tent and other items onto a deer feeder before they were burned. The fire destroyed $450 worth of property including a hunting blind/tent, a deer feeder, 50 pounds of feed corn, a batter, solar battery charger and an archery target.

Pace was identified as the suspect in the game camera photos by one of his relatives and a deputy.

On March 18 deputies attempted to locate Pace in the wooded area in order to serve an arrest warrant. They spotted him on a trail through a wooded area at the dead end of Pleasant Hill Road, according to a report. They came close enough to him to make eye contact before he ran into the woods. Deputies pursued on foot but lost sight.

Two ECSO K-9s, a K-9 from the Century Correctional Institution, and a drone team were unable to locate him. One ECSO deputy received minor injuries to his knee during the chase.

On April 21, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suspicious person complaint in the area of Williams Street and West Highway 4. A responded deputy recognized a person walking on Williams Street as Pace. Pace ran into a wooded area when he saw the marked Sheriff’s Office vehicle. The deputy gave chase on foot, but lost Pace. An ECSO K-9 responded but was unable to locate him in the woods. a deputy reportedly tripped on vines and suffered minor injuries.

NorthEscambia.com photos and photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Century Man That Evaded Capture For Months Gets 50 Months For Arson”

  1. Eric M on August 16th, 2024 6:53 pm

    In Florida, we have the Baker Act and Marchman Act, will force a person to undergo drug and mental health treatments. These are involuntary treatments that family initiates.

    If the family did both of those, then don’t blame the family.

  2. Brittanie on August 16th, 2024 1:56 pm

    You are correct! He does need mental help. But good luck getting any type of mental health services around here. The family has tried multiple times to get him help with no results. Not having the services available and they always think prison will fix the issue when it in fact will not.

  3. Susie on August 16th, 2024 10:21 am

    These kind of beings need psych doctors. There is no good reason for his destructive behavior. No telling what he could do.