ECSO: Girlfriend Comes Home To Find Another Woman Cooking Man Dinner; He Opened Fire With AK-47.
April 17, 2020
A McDavid man is facing felony charges after allegedly opening fire at his live-in girlfriend and a woman that was at his home on South Highway 99 to cook dinner.
John Hillman Dennis, 32, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and using a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.
Dennis was at his home with a woman that he had just met the day before that was going to cook him dinner and was cleaning the kitchen, according to an arrest report. The woman that he had been living with for the past year and a half arrived and got into an argument with him, the report states.
The women said they attempted to flee together when Dennis went inside to get a gun. He exited the house, told the women to leave and opened fire with an AK-47, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The women fled without injury in a pickup truck.
Deputies arrived on scene and found Dennis sitting in a chair on his front porch with a handgun in his waistband and an empty half gallon of a Fireball Whiskey on the ground by the porch steps. Dennis was taken into custody at gunpoint without further incident.
The arrest report states an AK-47 rifle was on the porch in front of Dennis’ chair, along with multiple shell casings.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized multiple weapons including the AK-47, two semi-automatic rifles, a pump shotgun, a semi-automatic handgun, multiple magazines and over 200 rounds of ammunition.
He remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $11,000.
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s On Nine Mile Road Providing Free Meals For Kids On Saturday
April 17, 2020
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s on Nine Mile Road will provide a free lunch for kids on Saturday.
Owner Tracy Goodson said he wanted to give back to the community.
The kids meals will be served curbside pick up from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. or while supplies last. Children must be in the vehicle to receive a meal.
United Way Of West Florida Distributes $246,266 In COVID-19 Response Funding
April 17, 2020
United Way of West Florida (UWWF) has distributed its first phase of COVID9 Response Funding to nonprofit agencies providing direct support to impacted individuals and families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The COVID-19 Response Fund will target assistance to ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households that have been economically impacted by the pandemic with expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities, childcare, and other household expenses.
“The ALICE population has been significantly affected by this pandemic,” said President and CEO Laura Gilliam. “These are hardworking individuals, but one missed paycheck can lead to financial crisis, which is where many of them are now.”
Phase One is disbursing roughly 70% of the fund for immediate, basic needs via an expedited grant process to current UWWF Certified Partner Agencies. Remaining and additional funding will be distributed at a later date and will focus on community priorities. To facilitate the distribution process and approve Phase One grants, United Way of West Florida convened a COVID-19 Response Fund Committee comprised of board members and community volunteers.
The following organizations are receiving Phase One disbursements totaling $246,266. As United Way of West Florida Certified Partner Agencies, these organizations are annually vetted to ensure their financial health, governance, and nonprofit best practices.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida
- Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida
- BRACE
- Covenant Hospice
- Epilepsy Florida
- Community Health Northwest Florida
- Feeding the Gulf Coast
- Gulf Coast Kids’ House
- Health and Hope Clinic
- Manna Food Pantries
- Outreach Navarre
- Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola
- The Salvation Army
- South Santa Rosa Interfaith Ministries
- United Ministries
Agencies will not give money directly to individuals but will work with local vendors like landlords or utility companies, and food will be distributed by agencies. Recipients of COVID-19 funds through this grant process will be required to submit bi-weekly reports regarding disbursement of their funds.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, BRACE, Covenant Hospice, Epilepsy Florida, Gulf Coast Kids’ House, and Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola will assist their own clients. For information on how to access assistance, please dial 211.
To make a donation to United Way of West Florida’s COVID-19 Response Fund, text 850Respond to 41444 or visit www.uwwf.org/covid19fund. Businesses considering a corporate contribution are encouraged to contact Director of Development, Bart Hudson, at bart.hudson@uwwf.org.
Individuals in need of information about available resources or services are encouraged to contact 211 Northwest Florida, powered locally by United Way of West Florida. Dial 211 or visit www.211nwfl.org to speak with a trained Information and Referral Specialist. The program is completely free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Two More Blackwater Correctional Facility Inmates Die From COVID-19
April 17, 2020
Two more inmates have died due to coronavirus at the Blackwater Correctional Facility in Milton.
Rafael Rosario (pictured left), 65, died April 15, and Jessie Bannerman died April 16. As we previously reported, 69-year-old Jeffrey Sand, died April 9, and 84-year-old William B. Wilson, died April 12, according to the District One Medical Examiner’s Office.
Wilson, Rosario and Bannerman died in the hospital, while Sand passed away inside the prison. Rosario was serving 15 years for a Palm Beach County manslaughter, and Bannerman was serving a life sentence for robbery with a weapon.
The latest update from the Florida Department of Corrections shows nine staff members and 34 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 at the privately operated prison.
One employee or contract staffer at Century Correctional Institution has tested positive, but no inmate cases have been reported in Century.
A total of 63 employees and 44 inmates across the state have been reported positive for COVID-19 by the Florida Department of Corrections.
Cantonment Man Charged With Robbery, Battery In Incident With Ex-girlfriend
April 17, 2020
A Cantonment man is facing felony charges after allegedly robbing his ex-girlfriend.
Billy Ray Constantine, 23, was charged with robbery of an individual, battery domestic violence and criminal mischief.
Constantine allegedly went to his ex-girlfriend’s home and demanded that she give him her purse and money and began to “pat her down”, she told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He allegedly pushed her down and took her purse which contained $450 in rent money before smashing her phone, according to an arrest report.
The woman suffered an apparently broken finger during the incident.
Constantine was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond due to a probation violation charge in a child abuse case.
Here Are The New Honor Society Members At Ernest Ward Middle School
April 17, 2020
New members were scheduled to inducted into the National Junior Honor Society during a candlelight ceremony Friday at Ernest Ward Middle School, but that was canceled due to the pandemic.
The NJHS is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding middle school students. More than just an honor roll, NJHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character.
New 2020 National Junior Honor Society members at Ernest Ward are:
Rabekah Abbott
Emma Benson
Olivia Boatwright
Ava Brock
Blakely Campbell
Ashton Covan
Chloe Criswell
Colton Criswell
Beau Daw
Payton Daw
Carsyn Dortch
Maddie Driskell
Tyteanna Dubose
Mayson Edwards
Alysia Enfinger
Noah Faulkner
Aliyah Fountain
Raleigh Gibson
Jamison Gilman
Braden Glick
Noah Goslee
Madalyn Grimes
Ava Gurganus
Jade Howell
Mary C. Hughes
Markavia Johnson
Aubree Jordan
Laura Laborde
Kamryn Langham
Madison Levins
Jared Long
Brooke Lytton
Logan Madden
Evin Matlock
Mattie McLaney
Addison Miller
Chloe Morris
Colby Pugh
Ally Richardson
Naoki Rogers
Maggie Scott
Lilly Smallwood
Brit Smith
Mallory Smith
Zakyla Smith
Jayden White
Brian Yoder
Brandon Odom
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Escambia County Employee Tests Positive For COVID-19
April 16, 2020
An Escambia County public works employee has tested positive for COVID-19.
The county said the employee does not interact with the community and works in a small building without public access.
The office area has been sanitized and the employee’s office door has been closed. At this time, no other employees in that building show symptoms, and one employee is in self-quarantine out of precaution, according to a county statement. Employees who work in that building have been notified.
The employee is symptomatic and is at home. This case is not travel related. The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County is performing its due diligence to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 by tracing all contacts.
“We are concerned for this employee and pray for a quick recovery,” said Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley.
How Many People Have Recovered From COVID-19 In Florida? Officially, Zero.
April 16, 2020
How many people have recovered from COVID-19 in Florida?
That number is officially zero.
NorthEscambia.com readers commonly ask us why our at least twice-daily data reports don’t include the number of people that have recovered. Officially, we don’t know because the number does not exist.
Each day, the Florida Department of Health releases data about hundreds of new cases, increasing a case total that was at 22,519 Wednesday night. The FDOH data daily increases total in multiple categories, but for the now the numbers do not show the number of patients that have recovered from the virus.
We asked the Florida Department of Health why, and they said there is no accepted definition of what “recovered” means.
“The state is developing new efforts daily as we respond to COVID-19 to keep Floridians and visitors safe and informed about the status of the virus. Currently, there are multiple ways for recovered cases to be recorded and several methods are used by different countries and states. Some states and countries measure a case as recovered when a person has had COVID-19 for more than 14 days, while others upon hospital discharge data – neither of which completely capture recovery of the full COVID positive population,” the FDOH said in an email to NorthEscambia.com.
“The Florida Department of Health will continue to provide information on hospitalizations and deaths to keep the public informed about the threat of the virus,” FDOH concluded.
Fire Damages Duplex In Ferry Pass
April 16, 2020
Fire heavily damaged a duplex in Ferry Pass Wednesday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 6:20 p.m. 3000 block of Cedarwood Village, near Life Care Center of Pensacola. There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
There were no injuries, and one family was displaced by the fire.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Prison Inmates Have Died As COVID-19 Continues To Spread At Blackwater In Milton
April 16, 2020
Two inmates at Milton’s Blackwater River Correctional Facility have died from COVID-19 as the virus continues to spread.
The first inmate, 69-year-old Jeffrey Sand, died April 9. The second, 84-year-old William B. Wilson, died April 12, according to published reports citing the Santa Rosa County medical examiner’s office. The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has not released any details or acknowledged the deaths.
Sand (pictured left) was serving a three year sentenced from St. Johns and Duval counties for aggravated assault and burglary. Wilson was serving life for sexual battery on a victim under 12 in a Clay County case.
As of Wednesday, there were 33 inmates and eight workers positive for COVID-19 at Blackwater. With no public clarification from FDC, it was not clear if the deceased inmates were included in the 33 counted as positive.
FDC announced Wednesday that 10 inmates at Tomoka Correctional Institution in Daytona Beach have COVID-19, with all of the cases diagnosed this week.
“Tomoka CI transitioned to providing all services including medical services and meals to inmates within their dormitories,” FDC said. “All symptomatic inmates are being tested for COVID-19. Additionally, elderly and immune-compromised inmates are given priority for testing.”
A Wednesday report from FDC showed 58 positive employees or staff members across the state and 42 total inmates, including those at Blackater. One employee or contract staff member at Century Correctional Institution is confirmed positive.