Alabama Closing Most Of Holman Prison In Atmore
January 29, 2020
Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) Commissioner Jeff Dunn announced Wednesday morning accelerated plans to close and decommission the main facility at William C. Holman Correctional Facility – one of the Department’s oldest structural facilities.
The decision to accelerate the existing plan was made swiftly and strategically by ADOC’s executive leadership upon learning of the daily interventions required to maintain deteriorating underground utility systems, which provide essential power, water, and sewer services, in order to keep the main facility operational.
“Since my arrival at the ADOC almost five years ago, this department has been vocal about the pervasive and extreme dilapidation crippling facilities throughout the correctional system – and Holman Correctional Facility is no exception,” said Jeff Dunn. “This is a real and serious issue that cannot be understated and, after learning the extent of the risks associated with continued maintenance attempts at Holman Correctional Facility, moving quickly on our plans to decommission was the right and only decision.”
The ADOC continuously monitors and performs risk analyses of its aging facilities in an effort to maintain critical systems across the correctional system. The current conditions within the Holman Correctional Facility tunnel, in which the main facility’s electrical, water, and sewer control systems are housed, now present increased safety concerns and a degree of risk to anyone who enters the tunnel, ultimately rendering ongoing maintenance or repair of these systems unsustainable.
“Protecting inmates, staff, and the general public is of paramount importance to the ADOC, and the 51-year-old Holman facility simply is no longer viable to house a large population of inmates,” added Dunn. “Band-aid solutions to any problem of this magnitude are temporary at best and cannot fix the root cause of our collective problem – Alabama’s prison infrastructure is failing. We are now projecting upwards of $800 million in deferred maintenance costs alone. This unavoidable issue reinforces the critical importance of Governor Ivey’s transformative and necessary plan to build three new correctional facilities.”
The main facility at Holman Correctional Facility houses general population and death row inmates, the cafeteria, the medical unit, the administrative suite, and the execution chamber, which is the only component of the main facility that will remain in use. Executions will not be affected, and the ADOC will take all necessary measures and precautions to maintain the integrity and safety of the chamber and its access points. The department currently is working with third-party experts to accomplish this important endeavor.
Upon completion of the decommissioning process, approximately 422 general population inmates and 195 restrictive housing inmates will be relocated to other ADOC facilities. Approximately 150 of Holman Correctional Facility’s low-risk inmates serving life without parole sentences will be moved to the facility’s standalone E-dorm (formerly the faith-based dormitory) and continue to work at the prison’s tag and clothing plants.
Holman’s restrictive housing unit will be modified appropriately to house and serve the facility’s current 145 death row inmates, as well as 21 additional death row inmates who already have been transferred safely from Donaldson Correctional Facility as part of Phase 1 of this process. The restrictive housing unit, E-dorm, and the tag and clothing plants all have independent power, water, and sewage systems.
The exact details and timing of Phase 2, which encompasses the transfer of Holman Correctional Facility’s general and restrictive housing populations, will not be made public in advance for security purposes. The process by which inmates are transferred is routine, and the department will work diligently to minimize disruption.
“We currently are working hard to identify and implement measures to account for the impact of increased populations across the correctional system, and to ensure continued access to health, educational, and rehabilitative services and programs for our inmate population,” continued Dunn. “We will be making appropriate modifications to existing facilities to address concerns associated with relocation including safety, security, staffing, crowding and programming. This is a complex process, and my department is committed to maintaining transparency without compromising inmate, staff, or public safety.”
The ADOC anticipates retaining enough security and support personnel to staff the active areas at or near 100 percent, establishing a replicable management and rehabilitative model for other facilities as new security staff continues to be added across the correctional system. Staff currently working at Holman Correctional Facility not assigned to active areas within the facility will be reassigned to nearby correctional facilities based on the needs of the department.
Health, rehabilitative, and food services will be provided to Holman Correctional Facility from Fountain Correctional Facility, which is located approximately one mile from Holman.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Freedom Road Bridge In Century Closed
January 29, 2020
The Town of Century closed a portion of Freedom Road Wednesday morning for bridge repairs.
Freedom Road is closed from Jefferson Avenue to just east of the bridge, which is located about 250 feet from the Jefferson Avenue and Freedom Road intersection. The closure eliminates all through traffic on Freedom Road; drivers must use the Highway 4 entrance to Freedom Road. This includes all residents of the Camellia Gardens Apartments.
The town said the bridge will remain closed until repairs of replacement can be made.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Walnut Hill Man Charged With Felony Sexual Battery Of Teen Girl
January 29, 2020
A Walnut Hill man has been charged with the sexual battery of a teenage girl over a four year period of time.
William Isaiah Dunsford, 40, was charged with first degree felony sexual battery on a victim over 12 but under 18 by a custodial person.
The investigation started in June 2019 after the victim went to her work supervisor and asked for more hours and a later shift. When the supervisor asked why, she admitted Dunsford had been sexually assaulting her since she was 13, according to an arrest report. The employer contacted law enforcement.
The victim told investigators that Dunsford had sex with her one to two times a week. She said Dunsford tells her that he will take care of her, and when she turns 18 they will be together, according to an arrest report. The victim said multiple times that she does not want anything bad to happen to Dunsford “because she feels as though they are in a loving relationship” and she allows him to have sex with her, the report states.
“He says that he loves me and I tell it to him back,” the victim stated, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
The victim was confirmed to be pregnant at the time of the report last June by the Department of Children and Families, but the report does state who is the biological father of the child.
Dunsford also allegedly took multiple nude photos of the underage victim and instructed her to take photographs of herself and send them to him.
A deputy contacted Dunsford who stated he had retained an attorney and would not be making any further statements to law enforcement.
Dunsford was booked into the Escambia County Jail this week and released Wednesday morning on a $100,000 bond.
Five Injured When Driver Flees Traffic Stop, Crashes Into SUV In Cantonment
January 29, 2020
Five people were injured when driver fled from an attempted traffic stop and crashed into a SUV Tuesday evening in Cantonment.
The crash happened about 5:30 p.m. at Highway 297A and Booker Street at near the Greater First Baptist Church
A deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the sedan, but the driver fled, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy did not directly pursue the vehicle but did locate the crash a short time later, according to ECSO spokesperson Amber Southard.
Four people including two minors in the SUV were injured, along with a passenger in the car. All five were transported by Escambia County EMS to the hospital with injuries that were not considered to be life threatening.
The driver is expected to be charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement and drug offenses, Southard said.
The names of those involved in the crash have not yet been released as the Florida Highway Patrol and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigations continue.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
FWC Hunter Safety Courses Offered In Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties
January 29, 2020
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in February. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Students who have taken the online course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report with them.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
The locations and times of the online completion course are:
Escambia County
February 12 (6 to 10 p.m.) & February 29 (7 to 10 a.m.)
Molino Community Center
6450 Highway 95A in Molino
February 26 (6 to 10 p.m.) & February 29 (7 to 10 a.m.)
Langley Bell 4-H Center
3730 Stefani Road in Cantonment
Santa Rosa County
February 5 (6 to 10 p.m.) & February 29 (7 to 10 a.m.)
Jay Community Center
5259 Booker Lane in Jay
February 19 (7 to 10 a.m.) & February 29 (7 to 10 a.m.)
Santa Rosa County Extension Office
6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at (850) 265-3676.
Giving Back: Tate High FFA Members Make PB&J Sandwiches For Waterfront Rescue
January 29, 2020
Members of the Tate High School FFA gave back to the community by preparing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Waterfront Rescue Mission. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Get Free Reblended Paint From Escambia County
January 29, 2020
Escambia County offers free reblended paint in five gallon buckets.
The paint is available every Thursday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Perdido Landfill. It is offered to the public for free in exchange for a new five gallon bucket with a lid (available at local hardware stores). Available colors may include beige, black, blue, brown, green, grey, orange, pink, purple, red, yellow and white.
Citizens can also dispose of up to 20 gallons of latex and oil-based paint at a time at the landfill at no charge. Latex paint is screened twice, reblended and put into new five-gallon buckets.
Call (850) 937-2160 for additional information and color availability.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Update: Missing Man Located
January 28, 2020
UPDATE: This missing man has been located.
Previous story:
A silver alert has been issued for 73-year old David Weithop.
He was last seen leaving the Portafino Drive area on Pensacola Beach early Tuesday morning. He may be in the Pensacola area, or could be headed to Indiana. He was last seen driving a green Subaru Forester with Missouri tag TB4P9P. He is described as a white male, six feet tall, 190 pounds with green eyes and white hair.
Anyone with information on Weithop’s whereabouts is asked to call 911.
Century Not Have To Repay $2.7 Million In Special Revenue Funds (Even With Their 750 Year Payment Plan)
January 28, 2020
Century’s accountant may have found a way to get the town out of an obligation to repay millions to a restricted special revenue fund.
At the time of a 2019 grand jury investigation, the town owed their special revenue fund approximately $2.7 million. The sales tax revenues placed in the special revenue fund were restricted for specific purposes. The grand jury found these funds would have to be repaid or it will be considered an inappropriate use of the restricted revenues. In June 2018, the town council approved a repayment plan of $300 per month — a 750 year payback..
Accountant Robert Hudson recently told the town council that the $2.7 million can be accounted for as operating transfer during this fiscal year for documented capital outlay projects.
Hudson plans to explain the plan further at a council workshop at a future date that has not yet been announced. The council will discuss an amended budget for the current fiscal at the workshop, prior to public hearings and a vote to approve the amended budget.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Sheriff: Driver Killed In Atmore Crash May Have Never Known He Was Being Pursued
January 28, 2020
A local sheriff says a driver killed in a four vehicle crash north of Atmore last week may not have known a deputy was trying to catch up with him.
Warren Demetrick Stallworth, 39, of Monroeville, died in the crash about 5:45 p.m. January 23 on Highway 21 near Ross Road. Minutes before, an Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office began to pursue Stallworth, but Sheriff Heath Jackson said Monday that Stallworth may have never known because the deputy never caught up.
Jackson said one of his investigators was traveling south on Highway 21 in an unmarked vehicle when he was passed by a 2019 Acura TLX being driven in excess of 100 mph. The investigator and other drivers were forced off the roadway.
“The investigator activated his lights and siren and attempted to catch up to the vehicle but was unable to. It is not known if the driver of the Acura (Stallworth) knew that law enforcement was behind him,” Jackson said. “A few miles down the road near Ross Road, the investigator came upon a crash that involved the 2019 Acura and numerous other vehicles.”
Stallworth’s Acura collided head-on with a 2019 Ford F-150 driven by Spencer Rogers, 36, of Atmore. Also involved in the crash was a 2015 Chevrolet Impala driven by Sherry Ann Dale, 60, of Frisco City and a 2008 Dodge Ram driven by Sharon Banks, 53, of Monroeville.
Rogers, Dale, Banks, and two others were transported for treatment of injuries. Stallworth, who was not using a seat belt, was ejected from his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Alabama State Troopers are continuing their investigation.