Cantonment Man Accused Of Threatening To Shoot Son During Argument
August 1, 2019
A Cantonment man is accused of threatening to shoot his son during an argument.
Douglas Leon Benjamin, Sr., 57, was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
During an argument, Benjamin allegedly displayed a firearm in his waistband and stated he was going to shoot his adult son at their trailer on Pettway Circle in Cantonment. The victim said Benjamin pulled out the gun, pointed at him and stated that he (the son) was going to die tonight, according to an arrest report.
Benjamine dropped the revolver during the argument, and the son picked it up and handed it to a cousin who hid it in a field until law enforcement arrived, the report states. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office retrieved the firearm, loaded with four rounds, from the field.
Benjamin told deputies he did get into a verbal argument, but he denied that he ever possessed or displayed a firearm during the altercation. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Escaped Inmate Tracked Through North Escambia Remains On The Run
August 1, 2019
An escaped inmate that was tracked through the North Escambia area remains on the run.
Travis Wyatt Dawson, 41, escaped from Loxley Work Release at about 9 p.m. July 10.
Authorities believe he was in the area of Rockaway Creek Road and Miller Road in Nokomis, FL, on July 12. The US Marshals and officers from the Alabama Department of Corrections were assisted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Atmore Police Department and other agencies in a manhunt in both Florida and Alabama along and near Rockaway Creek Road. That manhunt turned up empty.
Dawson was reportedly armed with a machete when he carjacked a minivan from a relative on Miller Road on Sunday, July 14. . The vehicle was later found abandoned in Mobile.
Dawson was sentenced to 20 years in 2013 on a possession of a controlled substance conviction in Escambia County, AL.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Alabama Department of Corrections at (800) 831-8825, the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or 911.
Pictured top: Officers from the Alabama Department of Corrections speak to an Escambia County (FL) deputy and a citizen a roadblock on Miller Road on July 12. Dawson allegedly carjacked a minivan just a few yards from this location two days later. Pictured below: An Escambia County (FL) Road Prison K-9 team searches near a Rockaway Creek Road bridge that spans the Alabama-Florida state line. Pictured bottom: An Escambia County (FL) deputy helps maintain a perimeter around a neighborhood along Rockaway Creek Road at Grubbs Street in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three People Suffer Raccoon Bites In Escambia County; Health Dept. Issues Warning
August 1, 2019
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County is urging residents and visitors to protect themselves from the risk of rabies exposure by avoiding contact with wild and stray animals after three people in Escambia County recently suffered racoon bites.
Kimberly Pace, FDOH-Escambia health educator consultant, declined to specify the geographic area in which the individuals were bitten. She said, “at this time FDOH-Escambia wants to ensure that all county residents are taking the precautions.”
The FDOH-Escambia advises against feeding or attempting to feed all wild and stray animals.
Rabies is a viral disease that infects the central nervous system. Without proper treatment, rabies can cause brain infection and death. Rabies is transmitted by a rabid animal by a bite, a scratch, or by contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, or mouth. A series of “rabies shots” can protect a bite victim from developing the rabies infection, if given soon after the bite occurs.
“Rabies is a fatal infection but is preventable,” notes FDOH-Escambia’s director, Dr. John J. Lanza. “It is important to not feed or pet wild and stray animals, to avoid animals that appear to be acting strangely, and to keep pets vaccinated against rabies. Persons who are bitten by a wild animal or an animal who has not been vaccinated against rabies should seek immediate medical care. Proper medical treatment of an animal bite can be life-saving.”
In Florida, raccoons, foxes, bats, and cats are the animals most frequently diagnosed with rabies. Other animals that are at high risk for rabies include dogs, bobcats, skunks, and otters. Because of their proximity to people, stray and unvaccinated cats and dogs pose a special risk.
You cannot always tell if an animal has rabies by looking at it. To protect yourself and your loved ones against rabies follow these steps:
- · Teach your children not to go near wild and stray animals, and never keep them as pets.
- · Vaccinate your dog, cat, ferret, or horse to protect against rabies. Keep vaccinations up-to-date.
- · Do not feed your pets outside. The food may attract wild animals.
- · Make sure your garbage is securely covered. Open garbage attracts wild and stray animals.
- · Spay or neuter your pet to reduce its tendency to roam or fight.
- · Do not let your pets roam freely or allow them to interact with wild or stray animals. Keep them in a fenced yard or on a leash.
- · Call Escambia County Animal Control, at 850-595-0097, to remove stray animals from your neighborhood.
- · Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come into contact with people and pets.
- · If your pet is bitten by another animal, immediately seek veterinary assistance for your animal and contact Escambia County Animal Control.
- · If you are bitten by a wild animal, or by any animal that is acting strangely, seek medical care as soon as possible so that a physician can evaluate your risk of rabies infection and administer the rabies vaccine if appropriate.
File photo.
Century Man Charged With Burglarizing Century Apartment Twice
August 1, 2019
A Century man is facing four felony counts for allegedly stealing a game system and other items from a local apartment.
Brandon Dewayne Jackson, 33 was charged with two felony counts of grand theft, burglary of an occupied dwelling and burglary of an unoccupied conveyance.
He is accused of stealing a PlayStation 4, a HDMI cable a house keys from a woman’s unit at the Century Woods Apartments on West Highway 4. The items were allegedly taken on two different dates after he got into an argument with the woman.
Jackson remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $25,000.
Medical Examiner Submits Resignation
August 1, 2019
District One Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrea Minyard has submitted her resignation effective September 30.
She cited problems the office faces with understaffing and an inadequate, overcrowded facility.
State Attorney Bill Eddins says he has been completely satisfied with Minyard’s work.
Minyard has served the district that includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties for the past 14 years.
Photo courtesy WEAR 3.
Escambia Schools Selected For University of Florida Scientist In Every Florida School Initiative
August 1, 2019
Escambia County science teachers will now have the chance to bring scientists into their classrooms as part of a new initiative led by the UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute called the “Scientist in Every Florida School” program.
In its first three years, the program aims to connect scientists with every K-12 public school in five target counties: Escambia, Alachua, Seminole, Lee and Palm Beach.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to be one of the first counties in Florida to be selected as a pilot county for the Scientist in Every Florida School program,” said Carol Myers, Escambia County’s K-12 science subject area specialist.
“This initiative is addressing a huge need for students in a classroom to explore science through the lens of a scientist where they will be able to examine the questions the scientist is investigating and create their own ideas for solving problems.”
The Scientist in Every Florida School program was one of eight projects selected for UF’s “moonshot” initiative, a $17-million effort to solve some of society’s most urgent problems. Participating scientists must have a research focus related to Earth systems—air, water, land and life — which is in line with TESI’s mission to advance public understanding of environmental issues.
Because Escambia is a coastal county, the program can be a great way to bring issues like sea level change, salt water intrusion, red tide and algae blooms into lesson plans. The idea is simple, says TESI K-12 education and outreach coordinator, Brian Abramowitz.
“Through scientist classroom visits, field trips and hands-on teacher professional development, we hope to better connect teachers to the latest science, improve student achievement and encourage students to explore STEM careers,” Abramowitz said. “We also hope to bridge the gap between the great research coming out of UF and K-12 classrooms.”
Last month, Myers and four Escambia County teachers attended the first Scientist in Every Florida School professional development program at UF. During the workshop, teachers spent four days in a scientist’s lab where they assisted with ongoing research projects and developed lesson plans related to that research to take back to their classrooms this fall. The participating scientists each agreed to at least one classroom visit next semester.
“By collaborating with scientists, our students will be able to see the connections of science in their daily lives. It will spark new passion for science in our teachers who will be the bridge to real world science,” Myers said.
On August 6, Abramowitz and other members of the TESI team will be presenting to 160 Escambia County middle and high school teachers during the district’s next in-service training.
“We are excited to get more Escambia County teachers on board so that they can help us guide the success of this program and be a model for other counties in the future,” Abramowitz said.
The Scientist in Every Florida School program is the vision of TESI director Bruce MacFadden, who believes that hope for Florida’s environment lies in the next generation of scientists and decision makers.
“About 2.6 million Florida schoolchildren could benefit from the world-class science and research at UF. This pilot program is a great step toward achieving this goal,” MacFadden said.
Cottage Hill Boil Water Notice Rescinded
July 31, 2019
A precautionary boil water notice that was issued for a portion of Cottage Hill has been rescinded after testing showed the water to be safe to drink.
The notice was in effect for residents of 16 to 460 Williams Ditch Road, Virecent Road, Crowndale Road, Cottage Hill Road and Eden Lane following a water main break on Monday.
For any additional information, contact Cottage Hill Water Works at (850) 968-5485.
Hit And Run Claims Life Of Pedestrian; Seventh Traffic Fatality This Week In Escambia County
July 31, 2019
The seventh traffic fatality this week in Escambia County has occurred in Pensacola.
A pedestrian died as the result of a hit and run on Pace Boulevard and Cervantes Street about 8:30 Tuesday evening. The name of the victim has not yet been released.
The victim was hit by a small, black SUV with tinted windows that fled the scene at a high speed, according to Pensacola Police. The vehicle will likely have front end damage.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Other traffic fatalities this week in Escambia County included two people in a single vehicle crash on Highway 95A in Cottage Hill, a pedestrian on Pine Forest Road near Nine Mile Road, two people on Pine Forest Road near I-10, and a motorcyclist on Davis Highway.
Commissioner Calls For Elimination Of 4-Cent Gas Tax For ECAT
July 31, 2019
An Escambia County commissioner is calling for the elimination of a 4-cent gas tax to fund Escambia County Area Transit.
Commissioner Doug Underhill says he wants to get rid of the entire tax and force ECAT to scale back operations.
“The gas tax has failed to make ECAT better, only more bloated. 11 of our 22 routes experienced declining ridership in the last 3 years,” Underhill said on social media. “It is time to eliminate this tax and force ECAT to scale back to a sustainable operation.”
The Escambia County Commission is set to hold a public hearing on the gas tax interlocal agreement with Pensacola at 5:32 p.m. Thursday.
The 4-cent per gallon Local Option Gas Tax went into effect on January 1, 2014. The Escambia County Commission and Pensacola City Council entered to an interlocal agreement on the tax to fund ECAT. The Town of Century refused to go along with the increase, but the higher gas tax is still collected in the town for ECAT.
Century refused sign off on an interlocal agreement with Escambia County to allocate additional gas taxes collected in Century to the county for mass transit. Town officials contended the new tax is unfair to North Escambia residents and predicted Century drivers would purchase lower priced gasoline across the state line in Flomaton.
But regardless of Century’s refusal to support the tax, they simply were not allowed opt-out of the tax altogether. The local option fuel tax statute provides that the most populous municipality within the county speaks for all the municipalities in the county on the issue.
The Century Town Council wanted the Florida Legislature to consider exempting the town from the tax, but the proposal never made it to a meeting of the Escambia County State Legislative Delegation because Florida law won’t allow the Legislature to consider such an exemption.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Semi Rear-Ends Car Injuring One Near Century
July 31, 2019
A Century man was injured Tuesday afternoon when his vehicle was rear-ended by a semi truck on Highway 29.
Witnesses said the man, whose name has not been released, was driving at a slow speed southbound on Highway 29 near Tedder Road when the 5:25 p.m. accident occurred. The semi driver attempted to avoid the collision, and lengthy skid marks from the truck were observed on the roadway.
The injured man was transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not believed to be life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
