Jay Man Charged With Shining Laser Into Deputy’s Cruiser, Temporarily Blinding Him
October 16, 2019
A Jay man has been charged with shining a laser light into a deputy’s vehicle as he traveled along Highway 4 in the heart of the town.
Glenn Austin Bingham, 43, was charged with felony pointing a laser light at driver and resisting an officer.
The deputy was westbound on Highway 4 near Booker Lane when he observed a green beam on the rear of his patrol vehicle. He turned around at the town hall and headed west on Highway 4 toward the light. As he approached Highway 4 and Commerce Street, the beam was pointed at his vehicle again.
“The green beam them pointed toward the cab of my patrol vehicle which concentrated on the cab of my vehicle causing me to be unable to see the roadway,” the deputy wrote in his report. “I swerved to avoid the green beam.”
The laser light, according to an arrest report, was emanating from the residence of Bingham. Deputies had received complaints from citizens over a two month span of Bingham pointing the laser into passing traffic.
When the deputy pulled up at the residence, he could hear someone running toward a pickup truck. Bingham was found under the pickup and the laser device was found in his front pocket, the report states.
“I was just being dumb,” Bingham told the deputy, according to the arrest report. H stated he had consumed approximately six alcoholic beverages.
Here’s How You Can Buy The Old Pensacola Beach Sign, Some Assembly Required
October 16, 2019
The old Pensacola Beach sailfish sign is for sale, and you have a chance to buy it, some assembly required.
Escambia County will sell the iconic sign during a live public auction Tuesday, October 22. The auction includes two sailfish signs, starburst sign and the arrow sign.
Live bidding will commence Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. in the Pensacola Beach Sheriff’s substation parking lot, located at 43 Fort Pickens Road.
The purchaser will be responsible for the winning bid, plus 7.5% sales tax, and the total must be paid by close of business Wednesday, October 23. Payment will only be accepted in the following forms: cash, certified check, company check, cashier’s check and money order.
The winning bidder must remove the signs within 10 days of the auction and must provide their own transportation and loading assistance. The removal of all signs will require the use of a crane. A Florida Department of Transportation permit will be required if the starburst sign is taken off the beach.
Moorhead Name Byrneville Elementary Teacher Of The Year
October 16, 2019
Susan Moorhead as been named the Byrneville Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She is a second grade teacher with 43 years of teaching experience in Alabama and Florida. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nine Mile Bank Robbery Suspects Captured In Under 10 Minutes
October 16, 2019
Two suspects were taken into custody just after the robbery of a Nine Mile Road bank Tuesday.
Christopher Gene Summers, 47, and Angela Christine McKinney, 47, were taken into custody after a short vehicle and foot pursuit that ended on Olive Road. It took the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office just eight minutes from the time of the robbery to make the arrests.
Summers and McKinney were both charged with robbery and booked into the Escambia County Jail on $100,000 bond each for the robbery at the Wells Fargo Bank in the 200 block of Nine Mile Road at Chemstrand Road.
The money from the robbery was recovered, according to Major Andrew Hobbs. There were no injuries reported.
Authorities said Summers is currently on federal probation for a prior bank robbery.
Pictured below: The Wells Fargo on Nine Mile Road shortly after a robbery Tuesday morning. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Hits School Bus In Highway 29 Construction Zone
October 16, 2019
A Pensacola man was cited for hitting school bus in a Highway 29 construction zone Tuesday.
William Joseph Brewer, 71, was traveling north on Highway 29 in a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria in the left lane while a 2019 school bus driven by Cathleen Schlobohm of Molino was in the right lane. Both stopped at a red light at the intersection of 9 1/2 Mile Road. Due to the road construct, a lane shift occurred. The bus properly negotiated the lane shift, but Brewer did not, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The right side of the Crown Victoria collided with the left side of the school bus.
Brewer, Schlobohm, and an adult passenger on the bus, Betty Cloy of Cantonment, were not injured. There were no children on the bus at the time.
Brewer was ticketed for failure to use the designated lane by FHP.
Northview Chiefs No. 7 In State, No. 2 In Region
October 16, 2019
The Northview Chiefs have moved up to No. 2 in the region and No. 7 in the state in the latest 1A rankings released Tuesday by the Florida High School Athletic Association.
In Region 1-1A, the Chiefs are ranked one spot behind the Baker Gators, who defeated the Chiefs 14-12 on September 13. The Gators are ranked number one in the state in 1A.
Region 1-1A rankings are as follows (listed as school, RPI, record)
- Baker .698 (7-0)
- Northview .605 (5-2)
- Freeport .598, (6-2)
- Vernon .597, (5-2)
- Graceville .541 (5-2)
- Jay .515 (3-4)
- Holmes County .443 (2-5)
- Cottondale .428 (2-5)
- Chipley .405 (1-6)
There are no districts in Class 1A. The top six teams in each district make the playoffs, with the top two receiving a bye in the first week.
Teams are ranked based upon a RPI formula. RPI stands for Ratings Percentage Index. In short, it is a way to measure a team’s strength relative to other teams, based largely on the strength of their schedules.
The Chiefs are off this Friday night, and will round out the regular season with away games at Chipley and Jay.
Pictured: The Baker Gators got past Northview in a close 14-12 game September 13 in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Volleyball Districts: Jay Defeats Northview; Baker Beats Central
October 16, 2019
The Jay Royals and Baker Gators advanced to the District 1-1A volleyball finals with wins Tuesday night at Northview.
Jay defeated Northview in the first two sets of their matchup, before Northview powered back in close third and fourth sets. But the Royals won a tight third set to win 3-2.
In game two Tuesday night, Baker beat Central 3-0.
No. 1 Baker and No. 2 Jay will meet Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Northview for the district title.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Goody’s In Atmore Closing, To Reopen As Gordmans
October 16, 2019
The store closing signs may be up at Goody’s in Atmore, but it will be quickly replaced by Gordmans, owned by the same parent company.
Stage Stores owns both nameplates, and will be converting the Atmore Goody’s to Gordmans in early 2020.
“The Goody’s store is planned to close in the days leading up to the Gordmans grand opening in 2020. The conversion from Goody’s to Gordmans takes less than two weeks,” Blakely Graham, manager of brand publicity for Stage Stores, told NorthEscambia.com. “During the transition of our stores to Gordmans, our associates at these stores will be offered jobs at Gordmans.”
Graham said Gordmans operates with an off-price concept, featuring brand name merchandise for the entire family at low prices compared to department stores.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bank Robbery At Wells Fargo On Nine Mile Road
October 15, 2019
Two suspects were taken into custody shortly after a bank robbery Tuesday morning on Nine Mile Road.
The Wells Fargo Bank in the 200 block of Nine Mile Road at Chemstrand Road was held up shortly after 11 a.m. Christopher Gene Summers and Angela McKinney were taken into custody after vehicle and foot pursuit, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Summers is on federal probation for a previous bank robbery, according to investigators.
The money from the robbery was recovered, according to Major Andrew Hobbs.
Further details have not been released as the active investigation continues.
Pictured top: The Wells Fargo on Nine Mile Road shortly after a robbery Tuesday morning. Pictured below: Wells Fargo at 235 Nine Mile Road (file photo). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two More Suspects Charged In Theft of 31 Guns, 100 Knives In Cantonment
October 15, 2019
Two more people have been charged in connection with a burglary on Pinoak Lane in Cantonment in which 31 firearms were stolen, along with a approximately 100 knives, two chain saws, a Suzuki ATV and assorted camouflage clothing items. The items were collectively valued at $20,000.
Joann Marie Witt, 40, and Joseph Randall Bush, 36, were charged last week with 31 counts of grand theft of a firearm, dealing in stolen property, and burglary. Bush was taken into custody after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office surrounded a Cottage Hill neighborhood [previous story...].
Martin Joseph Shaughnessy, 35; Dawn Cheree Brooks, 39; and Charles Kettering, 42, were previously arrested in connect with the case. They were each charged with 15 counts of felony grand theft of a firearm and one count of burglary. In addition, Shaughnessy was charged with felony resisting an officer with violence, misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence and violation of probation, and Brooks was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Warrants are outstanding on Hunter Grant Myrick, 29, in connection with the case. He is being held in Baldwin County after fleeing from a traffic safety checkpoint and leading officers on a high speed pursuit at speeds reaching near 100 mph through northern Baldwin County, Mobile County and into Washington County in August. Myrick was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, attempting to elude and multiple traffic offenses.
Myrick is being held without bond in Baldwin County. as a fugitive from justice on the Pinoak Lane charges.
Witt remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $102,000. Bush is jailed with a $205,000 bond, and Brooks was jailed with bond set at $20,000. Shaughness was being held with no bond due to a probation violation and Kettering was released on bonds totaling $36,800.
