Married Former Escambia County Deputies Arrested
December 3, 2019
Two former Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies, a husband and wife, have been charged in connection with falsifying training records.
Lisa Hall is charged with falsifying records for Kelly Hall showing that Kelly had completed required training when in fact he had not. Kelly Hall is charged with allowing Lisa Hall to falsify those reports when he had not done the online training.
The investigation revealed that Lisa Hall’s training sessions were completed immediately prior to Kelly Hall’s often within single minutes of one another, while Kelly Hall was documented to be performing other tasks, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Kelly Hall was terminated from his job, while Lisa Hall resigned.
The charges are the result of an investigation into the alleged falsification of mandatory training records pertaining to their employment with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, from 2014 to 2019.
Both were booked into the Escambia County Jail Monday night and released on $16,000 bond each a short time later.
The mugshots of both Halls are exempt from release under Florida law due to their status as former law enforcement.
Woman, Her Mother Charged With Making False Child Abuse Claims Against Father, Local School Principal
December 3, 2019
A local woman and her mother are charged in a case involving the filing of a false police report making child abuse claims against a father and a local elementary school principal.
Cheryl Nadine Smith, 62, and Monica Lynn Kidd, 34, were both charged with making a false statements to law enforcement.
According to an arrest report, Smith alleged the father had beat the children with a bullwhip, and had intentionally taken the children’s seat belts off and tried to wreck his vehicle. She also alleged he had made threats to cut the children’s heads off with an axe, to lock them in a wire fence, to hit them with 2×4’s, and to cut their throats with a knife.
Smith also adamentely claimed that the father and a local elementary school principal had taken a child into a utility closet on school property and beat him with a paddle or 2×4, the report states.
ECSO documents show Smith and Kidd have filed several reports claiming child abuse by the father. Reports also note that Kidd and the father were in a custody battle.
An ECSO report states the claims made by the child are “very disturbing” and that the child “may possibly have been coached and led to believe that these incidents actually happened”.
The report states the ECSO has evidence that all of the claims made by Smith against the father and school principal are false, including the fact the principal was not on campus when the incident involving her allegedly took place.
The deputy did not observe any injuries to the child on initial contact on November 8, but he did on November 9. The child was in the care of Smith and Kidd from November 8-10, and “it is likely these injuries possibly occurred while (the child) was in the care of Kidd and Smith”, the arrest report states.
Both women were released from jail on $1,500 bond.
The Department of Children and Family Services was also notified and in reference to Kidd and Smith making false accusations, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured: Cheryl Nadine Smith. Kidd’s mugshot was not released under Florida law because she is a current, former, spouse or child of a law enforcement officer.
State Attorney Reopens Domestic Violence Case Against Cantonment Man
December 3, 2019
The State Attorney’s Office has reopened a domestic violence case against a Cantonment man.
John Chess Foster, 50, is again charged with domestic battery by strangulation and battery in a June 2019 incident. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The case was originally dropped in late October because prosecutors were unable to locate the victim to testify.
In June, a woman who said she had lived with Foster for the past three years alleged he had been abusing her. She told deputies that Foster slapped her, kicked in the stomach and hit her across the arm with a belt. She said Foster grabbed her by the throat while placing his other had over the top of her nose and face. She said he pressed her against a wall using bathroom door while telling her he hoped her neck would break and she would die, according to an arrest report, before releasing her and sticking her in the left temple.
When she woke up the following morning and packed to leave, Foster searched her things, asking what she was stealing, the report states, before kicking her in the left hip.
In their report, deputies noted that the woman had a bruise under her eye, bruising on her neck, a bruise consistent with a belt strike on her arm and boot print on her shorts near her left hip. She refused medical treatment.
Foster was in the news in October when he was charged with human trafficking, sexual battery, false imprisonment and battery. Those charges were later dropped because the victim did not cooperate with investigators and information provided by a neighbor contradicted the victim’s claims.
Tate High School Souper Bowl And Student Gallery Night On Friday
December 3, 2019
The Tate High School Art Department is hosting their fifth annual “Souper Bowl” and their annual Student Gallery Night on Friday, December 6, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Art Building.
“Pottery students are working hard on handmade ceramic bowls and other arts and crafts for sale specifically for this event. All the proceeds are going towards Tate’s ceramics program, which will help cover expenses for clay, glaze, tools and equipment maintenance. Student artists from all over the Tate Art Department will also be selling a variety of artwork including photography, paintings, jewelry, etc. This is a great opportunity to get some unique holiday gifts,” said said Jennifer Rodriguez, Tate Art educator.
“We find ourselves working harder each year to raise funds to pay for our materials. Aggie Artists accomplish a lot on a limited budget. With a little more we could give our students more experiences, update ancient equipment and create bigger pieces of art with higher quality materials,” said Rodriguez “By supporting our Souper Bowl you will contribute to students sculpting their ideas into clay, throwing bowls on the potter’s wheel and more.”
There will be art, food and fun for all ages during the event. The cost is $10 to purchase a handmade bowl plus food and drink, or $5 to purchase just food and drink. Donations of pots of soup or chili, drinks and side items will be accepted.
Bratt Elementary Releases Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance
December 3, 2019
Bratt Elementary School has released their honor roll and perfect attendance for the first nine weeks.
A Honor Roll
Landon Allcock
Patton Amos
Eli Anthony
Amahl Atallah
Frances Barber
Rileigh Barlow
Jasiah Barnes
Hayden Batson
Jackson Beasley
Klaire Beasley
Alexa Beasley
Waylon Bell
Tinleigh Bius
Abigail Boatwright
Levi Bolen
Ta’kia Bush
Amara Campbell
Christian Caraway
Jonah Carter
Jordan Carter
Emery Champlin
Sawyer Chancery
Thomas Clark
Avaiha Colbert
Kendall Corey
Isabella Coy
Melody Cruz
Corey Culpepper
Brantley Cummings
David Daniel
Jamarreai Davison
Ella Grace Diller
Logan Diller
Annberly Dunn
Wesley Dunsford
River Edwards
Hallie Emmons
Korbyn Faircloth
Aubrey Flowers
Audrey Franklin
Parker Ganey
Olivia Garrett
Sawyer Gilmore
Cameron Gipson
Addison Godwin
Breanna Greenwell
Cathryn Greenwood
Kyndal Hadley
Brody Hall
Riverly Heathcock
O’Brien Holbein
Taegan Hughes
Sophia Ikner
Camden Jacobson
Lillian Jacobson
Zoe Jantz
Rylan Johnson
Maybree Johnson
Presley Johnson
Kylee Langham
Naomie Lawson
Ella Lee
Jeremy Lisenby
Steven Lloyd
Jadon Long
Kaylee Long
Lilly Long
Bentley Lowery
Noah Luker
London Lyons
Caleb Madison
Brian Madison
Christian Madison
Kaylee Marshall
Sanora Martin
Mikayla McAnally
Shannon McCall
Brylynn McGhee
Audrina Miller
Jaxon Moore
Liam Morales
Rainey Nelson
Emma Norton
William Norton
Hunter Parker
Braxton Parker
Cameron Parmer
Jonathan Patrick
Elijah Peebles
Samuel Peters
Jamius Phifer
Makayla Plato
Patrick Quinnelly
Brooklyn Reynolds
Dakota Richardson
Christian Roberts
Makinzi Roley
Chayton Rolin
James Romans
Melody Sage
James Sage
Anna Claire Sanspree
Myles Sellers
Hayden Smedley
Magnolia Smedley
Nevaeh Smith
Makenna Smith
Marcus Smith
Emma Southard
Kayson Southard
Ajalon Spates
Robert Spicer
Addisyn Steege
Cory Stetson
Dillan Stuart
Avery Stuckey
Emory Taylor
Kenneth Thames
James Thompson
Avery Trawick
Charlie Trawick
Noah Vause
Hendrix Ward
Chloe Weaver
Genesis Williams
Mason Wilson
Kaylee Wilson
A-B Honor Roll
Ariel Alexander
Govan Alexander
Tyler Amerson
Destiny Andrews
Eric Anthony
Sadie Baker
Margaret Baker
Montgomery Baker
Nola Barber
Alyssa Barber
Jerrilynn Barlow
Kasei Barlow
Korben Bell
Brantley Bius
Teagen Black
Gabrielle Boatwright
Kayden Boswell
Aria Boyington
Rex Brown
Abigail Brown
Forester Bryan
Jaxon Byrd
Bailey Campbell
Sarah Jane Classen
William Classen
Payton Coon
Jerick Cooper
Luke Craft
Harmony Cruz
Caley Daharsh
Carlie Davis
Kylar Davis
Thomas Davis
Jax Denmon
Jacob Dove
Amanuel Dubose
O’Neshia DuBose
Linley Dunn
Preston Eicher
Cordae Elliott
Carrie Emmons
Evelyn Esparza
Brayden Faircloth
Michael Flowers
Pryce Flowers
Kintley Flowers
Zachary Flowers
Brooklynne Fountain
Connor Fretwell
Tripp Gilly
Nathan Gilmore
Hayden Gipson
Jepp Godwin
Maddox Green
Michael Greenwell
Micheal Griffis
John Griffis
Olivia Grimes
Emmalee Grimes
Cameron Hall
Lori Hall
Trayvaughn Hartley
Autumn Heist
Taylor Helton
Mason Helton
Jackson Helton
O’Neal Holbein
Owen Holbein
Tiffin Hubbard
Lakelynn Ikner
Ja’kayvioun Jacobs
Robert Johnson
Anthony Johnson
Ja’Corey Jones
Weston Jones
Evelyn Jones
Sa’Riyah Jones
Maverick Kelson
Gabriel Key
Bentley Kirkland
Savannah Lowry
Elizabeth Madden
Parker Marsh
Victoria Mason
John McAnally
Mya McCants
Fallon McCauslin
Dylan McGlothren
Wyatt Mooney
Briley Moore
KayLeigh Morris
Logan Morris
Marshall Nall
Monqarious Nettles
Jaxson Parker
Brylee Peters
Layla Pettway
Madalynn Pittman
JadeLynn Pullen
Keylashia Randle
Nyla Rolin
Anniston Salter
Jackson Salter
Brian Sanders
Caden Sanspree
Brantley Sharpless
Jazmyn Smith
Miles Smith
Noah Spence
Wyatt Spence
Jake Taylor
Maryann Tedder
Kimmora Thomas
Aislynn Tomberlin
Brooklyn Turk
Parker Tutton
Jazlynn Wesley
Teresa Wiggins
Cobie Wiggins
MacKenzie Winchester
Shirley Yang
Lance Yuhasz
Kevin Zhang
Perfect Attendance
Alyssa Caroline Barber
Brantley Tate Bius
Tinleigh Marie Bius
Amara Nicole Campbell
Sawyer Kyle Chancery
Thomas Henry Clark
Za’mya Jade Clemmons
Corey Demond Culpepper
David Lucas Daniel
Braxton Lee Dinc
Carrie Grace Emmons
Hallie Christine Emmons
Blake Austin Faith
Aubrey Elizabeth Flowers
Sawyer Evan Gilmore
Cameron Reid Gipson
Hayden Ally Gipson
Dawson Lee Golson
Maddox Lamar Green
John Hunter Griffis
Micheal David Griffis
Lori Madelyn Hall
Cade Radney Hare
Tucker Argent Hare
Mason Kade Helton
O’Brien James Holbein
O’Neal Xavier Holbein
Owen Michael Holbein
Ja’kayvioun Deondrae Jacobs
Landon Bryce Lee
Peyton Shailee Lee
Kaylee Brett Long
Adalynn Faith Lowery
Madalynn Grace Lowery
Parker Wyatt Marsh
John Tyler McAnally
Wyatt Miles Mooney
KayLeigh Morris
McKenzie Grace Norton
William Cole Norton
Cameron Xavier Parmer
Madalynn Rene’ Pittman
Jackson Wade Salter
Calee Brooke Satterwhite
Chloe Nicole Satterwhite
Myles Levi Sellers
Michael James Singleton
Curtis Dalton Smith
Houston Jase Smith
Samantha Taylor Smith
Wyatt Neal Spence
Wyatt Duane Swearingen
TyDereon Omar Thomas
Aislynn Brooks Tomberlin
Hendrix Royce Ward
Zachary Thomas Weaver
Former Escambia District Employee Charged With Having Sexual Relationship With Tate High Student
December 2, 2019
A former Escambia County School District employee has been arrested on charges related to an alleged ongoing sexual relationship with a Tate High School student.
Susan Elizabeth Weddle, age 40 of Cantonment, is charged with felony sexual battery on a victim 16 or 17 years old, lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim 12-16 year old, and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
On November 22, a male Tate student alleged he was having sex with “forty year old” Susan Weddle, according to an arrest report. The student told a school counselor about the relationship, and said his mother was aware of the allegation and had taken his cell phone away from him because she discovered text messages between him and Weddle.
A witness reported seeing the victim and Weddle kissing at her house, the report states.
When interviewed by authorities, the student confessed to having sex with Weddle “several hundred times” over about a year and half beginning when he was 15-years old at locations that included her house, his house, the beach and her vehicle. The student stated he believed he was in love with Weddle, and they pair routinely shared nude photographs by phone. He stated those phones have been destroyed or factory reset. He said the relationship started in October 2018 when he was at her house because he was friends with her son. The Tate student said he became intoxicated and persuaded her to have sex with him, according to an arrest report.
A witness said he saw Weddle and the student kissing in the kitchen during a party at her house, and he said the student admitted to having sex with Weddle after the party. He also told investigators that he saw a video he believed showed the student having sex with Weddle, but no faces could be seen in the video.
The student told investigators that during their relationship, Weddle provided him with an iPhone, necklace and bracelet, but they were gifts, not payment for anything.
Weddle’s statements to investigators are redacted from an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Two Injuries In Three Vehicle Crash At Nine Mile, Pine Forest
December 2, 2019
At least two people were injured in a three vehicle crash Monday afternoon on West Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Bellview and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Burglary, Assault With A Lamp
December 2, 2019
A Cantonment man has been charged with hitting another man with a lamp inside his bedroom.
Lorenzo McNeal, Jr. was booked into the Escambia County Jail, charged with felony burglary with assault battery a, and felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
McNeal lives in a locked bedroom in the same house as the adult male and his girlfriend. McNeal accused the victim of having relations with the woman, which the victim denied, according to an arrest report.
While the victim was sleeping, McNeal allegedly hit him in the head with a metallic lamp post and was standing over him with a knife. The investigating deputy noted the lamp post had an indention on the base “an if it had been struck against something such as (the victim’s) head”.
The victim suffered a knot on the back of his head and a small cut beneath his armpit.
Deputies were unable to locate McNeal immediately after the incident and obtained a warrant for his arrest. When they returned to the home on Highway 297A to make the arrest, McNeal attempted to close the door on the deputies and resist, according to the report.
McNeal “was eventually escorted outside of the residence and onto the ground” before being taken into custody. The report states he stopped resisting when a sheriff’s K-9 began to bark at him.
Stefani Road Closed At Nine Mile Tuesday Through Saturday
December 2, 2019
Stefani Road will be closed at the intersection of Nine Mile Road in Escambia County from 7 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 as crews perform drainage work. Traffic will be detoured to Ashland Avenue and 9 1/2 Mile Road. Signs and variable message boards will be in place to alert drivers of the temporary closure and direct traffic to the alternate routes.
Please use extra caution as drivers become familiar with the new traffic patterns. Motorists should also watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway as they prepare for the work.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to obey the 35-mph speed limit and to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the work zone.
Century Council Breaks From Two A Month Meetings In December
December 2, 2019
The Century Town Council holds two regular meetings per month – except in December.
The council normally meets the first and third Monday of the month, with changes for holidays. But in December, there is just one regular meeting.
This year, the council’s December meeting will be at 7 p.m. on the 16th.