ECSO: Prison Escapee Carjacked Minivan In North Escambia While Armed With Machete
July 15, 2019
An Alabama prison escapee that remains on the run is accused of of an armed carjacking in Nokomis, NorthEscambia.com has learned.
Travis Wyatt Dawson, 41, was allegedly armed with a machete when he took a minivan from a relative on Miller Road just off Rockaway Creek Road early Sunday morning. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Mobile. No one was injured in the incident.
He eluded authorities in a manhunt led by U.S. Marshals in the area on Friday.
Dawson escaped from Loxley Work Release at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 10.
Authorities believe he was in the area of a relative’s home last Friday morning on Miller Road near the Florida community of Nokomis. A manhunt in the area later shifted focus early Friday afternoon north along Rockaway Creek Road into Atmore, Alabama. By late afternoon, authorities closed Highway 31 west of Atmore after a reported sighting.
Dawson was sentenced to 20 years in 2013 on a possession of a controlled substance conviction in Escambia County, Alabama.
Officials said he has previous local ties to the North Escambia and Atmore areas. He reportedly attended Ernest Ward High School. In 2003, he was sentenced in Escambia County, Florida, to one year in state prison for possession on drug paraphernalia and trespassing. Once released, he told the Florida Department of Corrections he was living on Washington Avenue in Atmore, according to state records. Information on his Alabama criminal history was not available.
Anyone with information on Dawson’s whereabouts is asked to call the Alabama Department of Corrections at (800) 831-8825 or 911.
Agencies involved in the manhunts Friday included the U.S. Marshals, the Alabama Department of Corrections, Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County (FL) Road Prison K-9 units, Atmore Police Department.
Pictured top: Officers from the Alabama Department of Corrections speak to an Escambia County (FL) deputy and a citizen a roadblock on Miller Road in Florida midday Friday. Dawson allegedly carjacked a minivan just a few yards from this location on Sunday. 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 Friday afternoon. Pictured bottom: An Escambia County (FL) deputy helps maintain a perimeter around a neighborhood along Rockaway Creek Road at Grubbs Street in Atmore Friday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Home Damaged By Fire
July 15, 2019
Fire damaged a Cantonment home Monday morning.
Firefighters responded to the home on Mintz Lane just north of Muscogee Road about 9:45 a.m. No one was at home at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries reported.
The cause of the blaze was under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Live In This Part Of Cantonment? There’s A Free Neighborhood Cleanup This Week
July 15, 2019
Residents in part of the Cantonment area will have the opportunity to dispose of yard debris and other items free of charge Wednesday, July 17 during the Cantonment Neighborhood Cleanup in District 5. Only residents in the designated cleanup area are able to participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. The general cleanup area is south of Well Line Road, north of Heaton Road, east of Highway 95 and Vircent, and West of Nowak Street. (Click map above to enlarge.)
During neighborhood cleanups, Escambia County departments team up to bring services to residents in an effort to keep local neighborhoods clean and safe. Participating is easy; residents in the cleanup area simply leave eligible items at the curb to be disposed of free of charge by Escambia County and partnering agencies.
All debris must be at the curb directly in front of your residence by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Please keep tires and paint cans separate from all other debris. Do not place piles under low-hanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes.
Items eligible for removal include:
Household appliances and electronics
Yard waste
Household junk and debris
Bicycles and toys
Old furniture and mattresses
Barbecue grills
Household hazardous waste (old paint, motor oil, chemicals, batteries)
Tires (limit 10 per household)
Items NOT eligible for removal include:
Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
Explosives or ammunition
Auto parts
Dirt or sod
Vehicles or vessels
55-gallon drums of fluids
The neighborhood cleanup initiative involves an aggressive clean-up effort, targeting different neighborhoods throughout the county, with crew members and volunteers picking up a variety of debris and waste, including electronics, furniture and household items.
Since 2016, more than 1,885 tons (3,771,120 pounds) of debris were collected and disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program.
Click map above to enlarge.
FWC Hunter Safety Courses Offered In Molino And Jay
July 15, 2019
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety courses in Molino and Jay.
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 ahunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
Courses will be held:
Escambia County
July 31 (6 to 10 p.m. CDT) & Aug. 31 (7 to 10 a.m. CDT)
Molino Community Center
6450 Highway 95A in Molino
Santa Rosa County
July 17 (6 to 10 p.m. CDT) & Aug. 3 (7 to 10 a.m. CDT)
Jay Community Center
5259 Booker Lane in Jay
July 24 (6 to 10 p.m. CDT) & Aug. 3 (7 to 10 a.m. CDT)
Santa Rosa County Extension Services
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.
Florida Gas Prices Decline Despite Barry
July 15, 2019
Florida gas prices declined through the weekend, even as Tropical Storm (to later become Hurricane) Barry moved over oil platforms and refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Most of Louisiana’s refineries appear to have weathered Tropical Storm Barry without operational incident. Only one refinery shut down on a precautionary basis, while others continued to run. The restart process can take about a week to complete if there is no damage. Nearly 73% of total Gulf of Mexico production was shut in (temporarily stopped), according to the Federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
The state average declined to $2.63 per gallon on Sunday. In Escambia County, Sunday’s average price per gallon of regular unleaded was also $2.63, but stations in Cantonment were as low as $2.54.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
July 15, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – Nine Mile Road will be closed at U.S. 29 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 14 through Thursday, July 18 as crews drive piles for the new southbound bridge deck. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct motorists. The following detour will be in place:
- Eastbound Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane, directed to U.S. 29 southbound, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road.
- Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road.
- U.S. 29 traffic between Interstate 10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
- Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29 – Drivers will experience the following impacts to traffic Sunday, July 14 through Monday, July 22:
- Pine Forest/Nine Mile Road Intersection: Alternating lane closures at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road from 8 p.m. Friday, July 19 to 6 a.m. Monday, July 22 as crews reconstruct the intersection to match the newly-constructed eastbound lanes. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct traffic.
- Cove Avenue at Nine Mile Road: Cove Avenue north of 9 Mile Road will be closed from 7 a.m. Tuesday, July 16 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 20 to continue drainage improvements. Traffic will be detoured to West 9 and a Half Mile Road and Fowler Avenue. Detour signs and variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the temporary road closure and detour routes.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 14 through Wednesday, July 21:
-
- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- I-10 Routine Maintenance from U.S. 90A to east of Scenic Highway (Mile Markers 5-19)- There will be intermittent and alternating east and westbound lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 14 through Thursday, July 18 as crews replace overhead signs and lighting.
- I-10 over Perdido River Pavement Testing- There will be alternating east and westbound, outside lane closures on I-10 over the Perdido River at the Florida/Alabama state line from 8 p.m. Monday, July 15 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 16 as crews perform pavement testing operations.
- State Road (S.R.) 727 (Fairfield Drive) from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place- Traffic on Fairfield Drive from south of Usher Circle to north of Hestia Place remains shifted to the west as crews complete the installation of the box culvert under the roadway. The north entrance to Usher Circle is also temporarily closed to traffic during the drainage operation. Residents will utilize the south entrance of Usher Circle.
- County Road (C.R.) 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- Traffic was shifted onto a temporary bridge Wednesday, July 3 and the existing roadway will be closed to traffic and the temporary diversion will remain in place throughout the construction of the new bridge. Activities associated with the bridge replacement project continue and are anticipated to be complete late 2019.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- The project is complete and the roadway is open to traffic.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities continue. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 14 through Wednesday July 21:
- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- I-10 Widening from the Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for Interstate 10 and Avalon Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 14 through Thursday, July 18
o Alternating lane closures, Sunday through Thursday, on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange as crews perform construction activities.
o Alternating lane closures on I-10 from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22), Sunday through Thursday, as crews work to place final striping and to finish work list items.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Friday until Thursday, July 30 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
- U.S. 90 to Nicholas Lake Road
- U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road– All north and southbound travel lanes on State Road (S.R.) 87, between County Road (C.R.) 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and two miles south of the Yellow River are now open and the speed limit is now 65 mph. Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures as crews complete construction activities and the speed limit is reduced to 45 mph through the active work zones.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Biscuits Blank The Wahoos
July 15, 2019
They went to rival colleges in the Pac-12 Conference, entered professional baseball in the same year, so Caleb Hamilton was well-familiar with Montgomery Biscuits pitcher Matt Krook.
“I had an idea of what he was doing, but he was still pretty nasty,” said Hamilton, the Blue Wahoos’ versatile catcher-infielder.
So nasty, in fact, that Krook struck out four of the six batters he faced in order Sunday, including Hamilton, in his role to pitch the first two innings as an “opener.” This is a concept the Biscuits’ parent club, the Tampa Bay Rays, introduced to baseball a year ago.
On the same day when the Rays used an opener (Ryne Stanek), then starter Ryan Yarbrough to nearly pull off the first combined, perfect game in baseball history, the Biscuits used their own tandem to help blank the Blue Wahoos in a 4-0 win at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Krook threw two perfect innings, then scheduled starter Kenny Rosenberg followed to work the next six, improving to 9-1 – tied for the most wins in the Southern League — after allowing just three hits and three walks.
It gave the Biscuits (59-35, 15-9 second half) their third win of a six-game series which concludes Tuesday. The Blue Wahoos (49-45, 11-13 second half).
As an organization, Tampa Bay is credited for starting a baseball trend that the Blue Wahoos and Minnesota Twins have tried at times.
The Rays’ perfect game bid was broken up in the ninth inning of their 4-1 win against the Baltimore Orioles, spoiling a feat that has never happened with two pitchers in MLB history.
”From my perspective, it’s you throw a closer role out there to open up the game to face the lineup’s best hitters, so the starter doesn’t have to face them three or four times,” said Hamilton, a Southern League All-Star and former Oregon State player, who went 2-for-3 Sunday and walked in another at-bat.
“So it’s always tough when you have a dude that’s pretty nasty up there… and in the beginning of the game… to go through once or twice,” said Hamilton, who was part of the 2016 draft with Krook. “It’s pretty tough to hit and then the actual starter comes in. You have to adjust and as hitters, we don’t want to adjust.”
It’s the 10th time this season that Krook, a former Oregon Ducks star, has worked as an opener. The Biscuits are 9-1 in those games.
Since returning July 6 from the injured list, Krook has struck out eight of 12 batters in two games and not allowed a baserunner in two appearances.
The two Biscuits pitchers held the Blue Wahoos to four hits and three walks. Neither team made an error. A night earlier, the Blue Wahoos broke out with 12 hits in their 5-3 win.
Sunday’s loss spoiled a second consecutive quality start by the Blue Wahoos Jorge Alcala. He worked into the sixth, allowing five hits and three earned runs. Alcala gave up a mammoth, solo home run blast to Brett Sullivan into the wind at right field in the fifth inning.
In the sixth, Alcala ran into trouble after issuing a leadoff walk, then giving up a one-out single that brought Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego to summon reliever Andrew Vasquez.
But Alcala’s outing was another positive sign that the touted, hard-throwing right hander is on the right track.
“He is commanding three pitches,” said Hamilton, who was Alcala’s catcher Sunday. “Command is what comes down to his success.
“If he has no command, he gets hit around and he walks guys. He just needs confidence. That comes from the first pitch, that comes from the (warmup) bullpen.”
Vasquez, who began this season with the Twins in their bullpen, struggled in his first Blue Wahoos appearance.
After an intentional walk with two outs, loading the bases, Vasquez then walked in a run and gave up a two-single by Lucius Fox.
That was all the scoring in the game.
Just like the previous three games in this series, the wind from Pensacola Bay was a factor. Sullivan’s homer was the only one of the series and would have left any ballpark.
But the Blue Wahoos Lewin Diaz had a fourth-inning shot to right field that got knocked down to allow a warning track catch. In the ninth, Joe Cronin drove a pitch deep in left-center, but it was curtailed by the wind.
“It is always tough when you have a ball that can’t get out of the ballpark, but you have to adjust to it,” said Hamilton, in summation for the team. “And it almost makes the stadium quiet, because all you hear is wind.
“You can’t hear anything else. But you have to adjust. Baseball is a game of adjustments, so we can’t control weather.”
The loss was the Blue Wahoos’ eighth in their last 10 games. Montgomery, meanwhile, has won nine of its last 12 games.
But Hamilton put the game in perspective, after signing autographs for a group of young children, when assessing the team’s position.
“We are just trying to have some fun. The moment you are not having fun playing baseball is when it all goes downhill. We’re just going out there every day… to do our best and making adjustments to different pitchers but at the end of the day it’s just having fun and playing a kids’ game.
Man Charged In Two Cottage Hill Shots Fired Incidents; Photo Shows Bullet Hole In Victim’s Truck
July 14, 2019
[UPDATED DETAILS] At least one shot was fired from inside a pickup truck early Saturday morning in Cottage Hill in one of two shots fired disturbances that ended with one arrest.
James Peter Tipton, 38, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, firing a weapon in public or on residential property, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, armed burglary, and two counts of criminal mischief with property damage. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Sunday morning with bond set at $96,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1800 block of Williams Ditch Road about 4 a.m. The victim reported that as he exited his vehicle someone driving a dark colored SUV fired two shots at him, according to Sgt. Melanie Peterson.
About 7 a.m. deputies responded to another shots fired disturbance a short distance away in the 1400 block of Highway 95A. Tipton’s uncle reported that Tipton drove into his yard and entered his garage. The uncle observed Tipton removing guns from his SUV and placing them into the bed of the uncle’s truck, Peterson said. The victim also stated that Tipton fired two shots from a rifle into the woods.
A photo obtained NorthEscambia.com shows a bullet hole in the driver’s door of the reported victim’s pickup.
Tipton was taken into custody without incident. There were no injuries reported.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Cantonment Mobile Home
July 14, 2019
Fire destroyed a mobile home midday Saturday in Cantonment.
The mobile home was fully involved when firefighters arrived on scene in the 500 block of Robinson Street. A second structure was also threatened by the fire.
There were no injuries immediately reported.
Further details have not been released on the cause of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Rogers, Macks Complete Basic Military Training
July 14, 2019
Nicholas J. Rogers
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Nicholas J. Rogers graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Rogers is the son of Alex C. and Jacquline A. Rogers of Cantonment.
Lane J. Macks
U.S. Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Lane J. Macks graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Macks (no photo provided) is the son of Amy and step-son of Bo Booker of Century.
He is a 2014 graduate of Northview High School in Bratt.