FWC Law Enforcement Report
June 16, 2019
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending May 30 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Allgood and Captain Glover were on water patrol in the Pensacola Pass when they stopped a vessel coming in from off shore with fishing gear present on the vessel. While conducting a fisheries inspection the officers found two undersized cobia on board the vessel. Two of the vessel occupants admitted to catching the cobia and were issued citations for taking undersized cobia.
Officer Allgood and Captain Glover were on patrol when they saw a vessel violating a wake zone and driving in an erratic manner cutting across other vessels’ paths on several occasions. The officers conducted a stop to address the violations and saw several indicators of impairment. Officer Allgood administered field sobriety tasks and determined that the operator was impaired. Officer Allgood arrested the operator for operating a vessel while normal faculties were impaired and transported him to the Escambia County Jail.
Officers Long and Clark were on vessel patrol at Big Lagoon State Park in Pensacola when they saw a vessel violate a wake zone. After conducting a stop to address the violation, the officers detected several indicators of impairment. After field sobriety tasks, the officers placed the operator under arrest for operating a vessel while normal faculties were impaired and transported him to the Escambia County Jail.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Lieutenant Berryman received information that a subject fishing on the Pensacola fishing pier caught an oversized red drum and placed it in his cooler. Lieutenant Berryman arrived at the pier a few minutes later and located the subject in question who possessed a 34-inch red drum. Lieutenant Berryman issued the subject a citation for taking an oversized red drum.
Captain Glover and Officer Ramos were on vessel patrol in the Santa Rosa sound and conducted a resource inspection on a boat returning from offshore. The two occupants appeared nervous and during questioning admitted they had harvested a red snapper even though they knew it was closed season. A large red snapper was seized and a notice to appear was issued to the vessel operator.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Gulf Power Foundation Awards Nearly $1 Million in Grants To Nonprofits
June 16, 2019
The Gulf Power Foundation awarded nearly $1 million in grants to community groups through the Amplify! Northwest Florida program.
The grants supports nonprofit organizations in continuing to implement effective programs within the Gulf Power service area.
Recipients include:
- ARC of the Emerald Coast
- The Arc Gateway, Inc.
- Baptist Health Care Foundation, Inc.
- Basic of Northwest Florida
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Inc.
- Boys and Girls Club of Bay County, Inc.
- Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, Inc.
- Children in Crisis, Inc.
- Children’s Home Society
- Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance of Northwest Florida State College Foundation
- Community Action Program, Inc.
- Council on Aging of West Florida, Inc.
- Dixon School of the Arts
- Emerald Coast Science Center, Inc.
- Epps Christian Center, Inc.
- Every Child a Reader in Escambia, Inc.
- Feeding the Gulf Coast
- Florida Wildlife Federation
- Food4Kidz, Inc.
- Fresh Start for Children & Families
- Girls Inc. of Bay County
- LEAD Coalition of Bay County, Inc.
- The Longleaf Alliance
- March of Dimes, Inc.
- The Nature Conservancy
- PACE Center for Girls, Inc.
- Pathways for Change, Inc.
- Second Chance of Northwest Florida, Inc.
- Shelter House, Inc.
- South Santa Rosa Interfaith Ministries
- Special Olympics Florida, Inc.
- St. Andrew Bay Center, Inc.
- Studer Community Institute
- University of West Florida – GeoData Center
- WSRE-TV Foundation, Inc.
- Youth Village, Inc.
The Gulf Power Foundation is funded entirely through resources independent of Gulf Power’s customers.
Florida Retailers Expect Father’s Day Spending To Total $133 Per Dad
June 16, 2019
The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) says Florida families will spend an average of $133 per person for Father’s Day, the second highest in survey history with special events, clothing, gift cards and electronics leading the way as gift choices.
“Consumer confidence remains high, unemployment is at a 10-year low, and our state’s economy remains strong which means Floridians have more money in their pocket to spend on fathers this year,” said FRF President/CEO R. Scott Shalley. “The retail industry remains robust, and I’m excited about what these spending numbers mean for our member retailers this year.”
The survey found 47 percent of consumers plan to give a “special outing” gift, such as a concert, sporting event or dinner. This category represents the largest share of spending.
Over half of those surveyed plan to buy for their fathers or stepfathers (53 percent) followed by husbands (27 percent) and sons (10 percent).
Escambia Vehicle Burglar Gets 15 Years In Prison
June 16, 2019
An Escambia County Main
Domonic Marquis Culliver was convicted by a jury of attempted burglary and grand theft. He was immediately sentenced by Judge Thomas Dannheisser to 15 years in state prison.
On July 14 2018, police responded to a vehicle burglary at Babe’s on North Davis Highway. Culliver walked southbound from there to a parking lot. Once in the parking lot, Culliver attempted to pull on the door handle
of two vehicles, the doors were locked.
Culliver then turned and walked up to a third vehicle, a Cadillac Escalade in which he obtained access into the vehicle and stole $530 cash from the center console. Culliver then fled on foot and jumped a fence in the rear of the building. The incident was captured on surveillance camera.
On July 24 Dominic Culliver was identified as the suspect and ultimately arrested.
Culliver has prior vehicle burglary convictions and is currently on Alabama probation for robbery.
Culliver also has another case currently pending where he is charged with robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and grand theft.
Pedestrian Struck And Killed On Blue Angel Parkway
June 15, 2019
A pedestrian was a struck and killed early Saturday morning on Blue Angel Parkway in Escambia County.
Edgar Lloyd Proctor, age 56 of Pensacola, was traveling east on Blue Angel near Mobile Highway at 3:25 a.m. when his pickup truck hit a pedestrian walking west in the same lane, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The pedestrian was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The name of the pedestrian has not been released pending notification of next of kin. No charges were immediately filed.
File photo.
DePine Sentenced To Federal Prison On Child Porn Charges
June 15, 2019
An Escambia County man was sentenced Friday to federal prison on child pornography charges.
Michael Lee DePine, 62, was sentenced to 18 years for production of child pornography and five years, to be served concurrently, for possession of child pornography. He previously pleaded guilty to the charges. When his sentence is complete, he will be on supervised release for five years, pay $10,000 in fines and register as a sex offender.
In December 2018, law enforcement officers received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that DePine and a local minor female were engaged in illicit sexual communications and activity via Facebook Messenger. After Homeland Security Investigations and the Pensacola Police Department geolocated DePine’s criminal activity to his Pensacola residence, law enforcement obtained a federal search warrant for the residence. In January 2019, law enforcement searched DePine’s residence. While the residential search was underway, DePine was located at his place of employment, Navy Federal Credit Union.
A forensic review of DePine’s seized digital media confirmed that he was in possession of multiple child pornographic images and videos of the minor victim. DePine produced these images and videos of the minor female in his bedroom at his residence on Lobelia Lane off West Nine Mile Road. The investigation revealed that DePine had been picking the minor female up at her residence in the middle of the night to bring her back to his residence and engage in sexual acts. DePine also provided the minor female with intimate apparel and electronic funds for her expenses.
Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida said: “Tragically, the internet and social media can allow child predators a gateway to victimize children, the most innocent and vulnerable members of our communities. Together with our investigative partners, we will vigilantly pursue and prosecute those who hurt minors.”
“The harm this predator has caused to a young child is unimaginable to most of society,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “Thanks to the diligence of our special agents and the Pensacola Police Department, he will be held accountable for that harm, and we hope today’s guilty plea is a small step on the road to recovery for the young survivor of his crimes.”
After the arrest, a Navy Federal spokesperson said, “Navy Federal fully cooperated with investigators in this case. As soon as we learned of this investigation, Navy Federal took immediate and appropriate action.”
The case was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Pensacola Police Department, and the North Florida internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
DeSantis Signs Law Banning Sanctuary Cities
June 15, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law a ban on so-called sanctuary cities that protect some undocumented immigrants from being deported.
“Earlier this year, I made a promise that we would ban sanctuary cities in Florida and today we are delivering on that promise,” said DeSantis at the bill signing in Okaloosa County. “I am proud to sign the bill presented to me by the Florida Legislature to uphold the rule of law and ensure that no city or county jurisdiction can get in the way of Florida’s cooperation with our federal partners to enforce immigration law. This is about public safety, not about politics. We must do everything within our power, and use all the tools available to us, to ensure that our communities are safe.”
DeSantis said the bill makes great strides in protecting the public from illegal aliens who unlawfully reside in Florida by prohibiting state and local entities from having policies in place which prohibit or impede law enforcement from cooperating with a federal immigration agency. The bill requires any sanctuary policies already enacted to be repealed, and gives both the governor and attorney general authority to initiate enforcement actions against entities who violate the bill’s provisions.
The bill also requires county jails to enter into agreements with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to temporarily house persons subject to immigration detainers.
Pictured top: Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a law banning so-called sanctuary cities Friday in Okaloosa County. Pictured below: U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks in support. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Whataburger Sold To Chicago Investment Firm, No Longer Family Owned
June 15, 2019
Whataburger is no longer family owned. As of Friday, a majority interest has been sold to Chicago-based investment banking company BDT Capital Partners.
The burger chain will remain headquartered in Texas, and the group will “begin exploring expansion plans”. There are currently more than 700 Whataburger stores in 10 states.
“Whataburger has grown significantly over the years. And, in order to keep satisfying our customers, we’ve been exploring different options to expand the brand and introduce it to new audiences. We’ve gone through this process purposefully and diligently because we wanted to find a partner who honors our values, culture and 69-year legacy of family tradition,” said Whataburger President/CEO Preston Atkinson.
“We’re excited about the partnership with BDT because they respect and admire the brand we’ve built,” Atkinson continued. “They want to preserve it while they help us continue growing a sustainable, competitive business over a long period of time. They don’t plan to change our recipe for success.”
“More than anything, we’re beyond grateful for our 43,000 Whataburger Family Members who work in our restaurants 24/7,” said current board chair Tom Dobson. “And to our Whataburger fans: You’re part of our family. And as we grow, we know our Whataburger team will continue to make you proud.”
Pictured: The Whataburger restaurant on North Century Boulevard in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Atmore Police, Drug Task Force Make Multiple Arrests During Traffic Stops
June 15, 2019
Several arrests were made during traffic stops in Atmore conducted by local and state authorities.
Officers with Atmore Police Department, Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force, and Alabama Department of Corrections K-9 Division performed several traffic stops for traffic violations which led to the following arrests, according to Atmore Police:
- Mike Sapser, 37 of Citronelle– carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Patrick McPherson, Atmore– warrant service
- Rodney Showers, 49 of Atmore– warrant service for theft of property fourth degree and possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Robert Munro, 29 of Pensacola– possession of a controlled substance (ecstasy), possession of marijuana second degree
- Dustin McGhee, 28 of Atmore– possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Javis Grimes, 34 of Flomaton– possession of a controlled substance (spice) possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Brandon Mathis, 26 of Atmore- possession of a controlled substance (spice), possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Camp Fire Century Campers Make Solar S’mores
June 15, 2019
Summer campers at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Century have been busy with several activities, including making “solar s’mores”, designing an obstacle course and a trip to the Century splash pad. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
