North Escambia Storm Damage Was Not A Tornado, Says National Weather Service
April 22, 2020
The National Weather Service has determined that damage in the Quintette, Cottage Hill and Cantonment areas early Monday morning was caused by poweful straight line winds, not a tornado.
“Damage was typical of severe straight line winds with no evidence of a tornado path,” the NWS said. Winds were estimated at 80-85 mph.
A storm survey crew found a corridor of significant wind damage from West Quintette Road east-southeast through Cottage Hill toward the Escambia River. Damage included roof damage to some homes with significant tree damage across the area.
Once the storm passed into Santa Rosa County, it created a brief EF-0 tornado track from Ephrem Lane to Bradley Drive in Pace with winds estimated at 75 mph. But most of the damage in the Pace area was from straight line winds estimated at 80-85 mph.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia (AL) COVID-19 Cases Up By One
April 22, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County (AL) in increased by one on Wednesday, the Alabama Department of Health reported on the day after the county record its first death.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Escambia County (AL) has increased to 18, with a total of 246 total tests performed.
The Alabama Department of Health reported 5,610 total positive cases in the state out of 48,387 tests. There have been 201 reported deaths statewide.
Burglary, Vehicle Theft Suspect Captured After Foot Chase On Muscogee Road
April 22, 2020
Steven Paul Griggsby, 43, was charged with burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of burglary tools, two counts of petit theft, criminal mischief with property damage and resisting arrest.
Griggsby is accused of stealing a vehicle Monday night from a used vehicle dealer on Palafox Street, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He’s also suspected of stealing catalytic converters.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received information that led to Griggsby at a location on Muscogee Road midday Tuesday. After a brief foot chase. he was taken into custody. An ECSO spokesperon said the clothing he was wearing in video from the car lot and catalytic converters were found inside the vehicle.
ECSO spokesperson Amber Southard said Griggsby may face additional charges, and there may be additional arrests in the case.
Griggsby remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $29,000.
Two Injured In Old Chemstrand Road Crash
April 22, 2020
Two people were injured in a two vehicle crash midday Tuesday in Cantonment.
The crash happened about noon on Old Chemstrand Road at the Mill Creek Trail, across from the Cypress Lakes Golf Club. At least one of the injured was transported to the hospital as a trauma alert.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further information.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Photos: Blue Angels And Thunderbirds Fly Over Escambia County
April 22, 2020
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flew over Pensacola Beach and downtown Pensacola Tuesday afternoon. Pictured above and below: The U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell and Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Improvement Committee Continues To Feed Kids Weekly. Here’s How You Can Help.
April 22, 2020
The Cantonment Improvement Committee was able to provide food bags to kids again on Tuesday.
For week seven of the ongoing project, food donations will be accepted on Monday, April 27 at 3 p.m., and food distributions will begin at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21 at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street in Cantonment.
Donations can also made to $CICfunding on Cash App.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida SNAP Recipients Can Now Shop For Groceries Online
April 22, 2020
Florida SNAP recipients can now buy their groceries online at select retailers.
Online shopping became available on Monday at Walmart and Amazon. The Florida Department of Children and Families will continue to coordinate with the USDA and the Florida Retail Federation to expand the network of retailers participating in the pilot program.
The USDA approved adding the online shopping program in Florida. The online option is currently available in six other states.
“Removing barriers and enhancing access to critical services, while supporting Florida’s infrastructure, remains a top priority for this agency, “ said DCF Secretary Chad Poppell. “I commend Governor DeSantis for taking yet another proactive action to equip Florida families with resources, while keeping their health and safety at the forefront. This is an innovative, common sense efficiency that will strengthen our families during this time of uncertainty.”
Walmart already accepts SNAP benefits at all its brick and mortar locations in the United States. Customers will be able to use their EBT cards and opt for curbside pick-up. Utilization of food assistance benefits remains limited to the purchasing of eligible grocery items and cannot be used to pay for delivery services.
13-Hour Police Standoff In Atmore Ends With Arrest
April 21, 2020
A 13-hour police standoff ended with a suspect in custody Tuesday night in Atmore.
John Bradley James was taken into custody about 8 p.m. He is charged with two counts of kidnapping first degree, and Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks told NorthEscambia.com that additional charges will be filed on Wednesday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Brooks said he received a phone call about 7 a.m. from a personal friend reporting a domestic situation on Sneed Drive.
James went out to smoke about 5 a.m. and his father followed. James “became extremely irritated. He then threatened to kill his father and then fired a warning shot into the air,” Brooks said.
James then held his mother and father against their will for a couple of hours until the mother was able to sneak out of the home, and he later allowed the father to leave the home after Brooks arrived on scene, the chief said. There were originally two small children also in the home
Brooks said James made statements that he would kill people and injure officers if they came into the house.
An armored tactical vehicle from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and a SWAT team made their way to the home on Sneed Drive about 5:30 p.m. For the next couple of hours, our reporter was able to hear a negotiator on a loudspeaker urging James to come out of the home. Periodically, there was also the sound of teargas canisters being fired into the home.
Brooks said they were able to communicate with James for a few minutes, but he stopped responding
“At that time, we made a decision to go ahead ahead and start putting teargas into the home, the chief said, adding that there were no gunshots fired during the incident.
James was not injured.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Atmore Police Department, Monroeville Police Department, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency all responded .
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bond Upped To $250,000, Charges Upgraded Against Man That FHP Says Hit Two Kids On Quintette Road
April 21, 2020
Charges have been upgraded against the man accused of a hit and run that claimed the life of one juvenile and injured a second two weeks ago, and a judge increased his bond to a quarter million dollars.
On April 6 about 8 p.m., Hailey Locke and Rylee Simmons, both students at Ransom Middle School, were on Quintette Road approaching Carrington Lake Boulevard when they were struck by a Ford Escape driven by 58-year old Robert William Etheridge, according to the FHP. Troopers said he fled the scene and called the FHP about 24 minutes later to say he thought he had hit a deer.
The windshield was cracked in the crash, but not enough to obscure the driver’s view, according to an arrest report. The area in which the collision occurred was lit with multiple overhead lights, the weather was clear and there was a full moon, FHP said.
Etheridge was arrested Monday on an upgraded charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving death. He is also still facing one count of leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury.
He was previously charged with two counts of leaving the scene of the crash with serious bodily injury and released from jail on a $30,000 bond on April 9.
Monday morning, Judge Jennie Kinsey ordered Etheridge to turn himself into the Escambia County Jail by 4 p.m., according to the State Attorney’s Office. She increased his bond on the original leaving the scene count from $15,000 to $50,000 and set bond at $200,000 for leaving the scene of a traffic crash involving death, for a combined total bond of $250,000.
Escambia County Jail records indicated he was released on a $250,000 bond 20 minutes after he surrendered to authorities Monday afternoon.
Grant Gets His Wish – A Really Big Rolling Birthday Parade (With Photo Gallery)
April 21, 2020
Almost every little boys loves cars and trucks.
Especially Grant, who was born with a congenital heart defect. He’s proudly celebrating his seventh birthday in Cantonment, and scores of people came together Monday evening to help him celebrate.
The procession included the public safety vehicles you might expect to see in any parade — Escambia County Sheriff’s Office vehicles and motorcycles, Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County Mounted Posse, Florida Highway Patrol.
And there were race cars, lines of motorcycles, several car clubs, sports cars, antique cars, cement trucks, an old military vehicle, a fleet of wreckers and more. Even Pensacola’s boat car (it’s a car and a boat). Everything a seven-year old boy could wish for.
Grant was scheduled for a Make-A-Wish Foundation trip this year, but that was canceled for now due to the pandemic.
Instead, the community came together to give Grant, who was wearing his own personalized “Happy Quarantined Birthday” shirt, a rolling birthday parade to remember.
And he received his own set of wheels — a kid-sized four wheeler.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Meagan Kennedy and Alisa Sanders for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
