DeSantis Calls For Grand Jury Probe Of School Safety
February 14, 2019
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of Florida’s deadliest school shooting, Gov. Ron DeSantis asked the Florida Supreme Court to empanel a statewide grand jury to investigate whether school districts are complying with mandatory safety measures designed to protect students.
DeSantis made the announcement Wednesday, flanked by family members of the 17 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students and staff gunned down last Valentine’s Day. Seventeen other people were injured in the massacre, which the governor called “one of the worst days that we’ve had in the history of Florida.”
The statewide grand jury “is something that is real,” DeSantis said at a news conference inside the Broward County courthouse.
“This is something that is very serious,” the governor said. “Whatever recommendations they have for us, we’re going to heed that.”
Since taking office last month, DeSantis has taken a number of high-profile actions to address the horrific Parkland shooting.
On his first week on the job, DeSantis suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, accusing the law enforcement official of “neglect of duty” and “incompetence” related to the shooting. Israel is appealing the suspension, but a recently released report by a state commission found fault with the sheriff’s office’s handling of the attack by confessed gunman Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the school with a long history of mental health problems.
Angry parents and other critics — including Andrew Pollack, whose daughter, Meadow, was among the slain students — also called on DeSantis to oust Broward County Superintendent of Schools Robert Runcie. But the governor said he does not have the authority to remove the schools chief because Runcie is an appointed official.
DeSantis, a Harvard Law School graduate, called a statewide grand jury “the best tool that we have” to explore possible wrongdoing by school districts throughout the state. The probe will be at least the third statewide investigation into the Parkland shooting, which is also the subject of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement inquiry.
The governor asked the statewide grand jury to explore “whether refusal or failure to follow the mandates of school-related safety laws … results in unnecessary and avoidable risk to students across the state;” whether public officials committed — and continue to commit — fraud and deceit” by accepting state money conditioned on implementation of certain safety measures; whether public officials committed fraud by “mismanaging, failing to use, and diverting funds from multi-million-dollar bonds specifically solicited for school safety initiatives;” and whether school officials violated state law by “systematically underreporting incidents of criminal activity” to the state Department of Education.
The Sun-Sentinel recently reported that Broward County school district turned down an opportunity to levy $55 million in tax dollars for school safety in 2013.
Lawmakers last year created the state commission, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission, which spent months investigating the shooting and issued a report last month.
But DeSantis said Wednesday that, unlike that commission, the grand-jury investigation won’t be limited to Broward County or the events surrounding the mass shooting.
“It is multi-jurisdictional. But I think it’s something that is warranted. I think it’s something that may lead to potential accountability measures by a grand jury. But it could also lead to, and I think it will, lead to recommendations about what some of the various school districts could do better. They can provide information to the state of Florida, and we can then take action,” he told reporters.
Having a “broader mandate will be better for us in terms of getting the truth, holding people accountable and then making sure we’re going forward in a posture that is most conducive to public safety,” the governor said.
As the state gears up for the one-year anniversary of the Parkland shooting, DeSantis also traveled Wednesday to Brevard County to announce an executive order related to other school-safety issues.
On Thursday, a series of events, including prayer vigils, will take place throughout the state. Broward schools are planning a series of ways to commemorate the tragic anniversary, including “A Day of Service and Love” at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High.
“It will be a day to give back to the community in honor of MSD’s 17 fallen eagles, the students and staff who were lost one year ago,” the Broward County School Board said in a press release highlighting some of the Feb. 14 events.
The governor and his wife, Casey, are scheduled to take part in a moment of silence for the Parkland victims in the Capitol courtyard at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Pollack, who joined DeSantis at the both of Wednesday’s news conferences, said he and others whose children or spouses were killed don’t need a reminder of what occurred a year ago.
“As everyone knows, that year anniversary’s coming up, but I wanted everybody to know that I don’t need Feb. 14 to know that that’s the day my daughter was murdered, ‘cause I live it every day,” Pollack said at the Brevard County event.
The executive order DeSantis issued Wednesday in Brevard County followed up on some of the recommendations made by the state commission.
He ordered the state Department of Education to give sheriffs another chance to ask for money to carry out the school “guardian” program, which allows certain school personnel to be armed. Many counties have declined to take part in the program, leaving money unspent.
The executive order, among other things, also requires the education department to conduct an audit of all school districts to identify school-based discipline diversion programs, such as the controversial “PROMISE” program used in Broward, “to ensure that dangerous individuals don’t slip through the cracks.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Arrest Made In Fatal Hit And Run Crash On Nine Mile Road
February 13, 2019
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
A man has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit and run early Wednesday morning on Nine Mile Road.
About 1:47 a.m., 42-year old James Alan Champitto was westbound on Nine Mile Road near Plainfield Avenue in a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado when he struck a pedestrian that was crossing the road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“Champitto left the scene without leaving any information as required by law. Investigators received information regarding the location of the vehicle and owner who then identified the driver to investigators,” according to FHP Lt. Eddie Elmore. The information led to Champitto’s arrest later in the morning.
Champitto was charged with leaving the scene of a traffic crash with a fatality and two counts of driving with a suspended license with a fatality. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The name of the pedestrian has not yet been released by FHP.
Shots Fired At Molino Mobile Home; Occupant Was Also Shot Last Week
February 13, 2019
Shots were fired at a home in Molino late Tuesday night, less than a week after the occupant was shot in the finger.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a mobile home in the 1000 block of Barth Road about 11:40 p.m. Shots hit at least one vehicle in the front yard of the mobile home, including a rear passenger side window (pictured below) that was shattered.
The victim told deputies that he smelled smoke and went outside investigate. He said someone opened fire once he got outside, but he was unsure if the gunfire came from the road or a nearby wooded area, according to ECSO Maj. Andrew Hobbs. Multiple shell casings were recovered at the scene.
No one was injured, and the man was uncooperative in the investigation, Hobbs said.
Last Friday morning, the same man called an ambulance to the residence because he had been shot in the finger some period of time before the call. Hobbs said he was also uncooperative in that investigation.
In an unrelated incident, two women were shot at a Barth Road home a short distance away on January 1. Both survived, and the suspect is awaiting trial on two counts of attempted first degree murder. [Read more ...]
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Arrest Made In Century Shots Fired Incident
February 13, 2019
An Alabama man was jailed for allegedly shooting at a Century man.
Johnny Lee Biggs, 42, was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a shots fired call Sunday night at the intersection of West Pond Street and West Highway 4 to find the victim on top of Biggs.
The victim said he was at his Pond Street home when Biggs came to the home uninvited. He said a verbal altercation followed, and Biggs pulled a firearm from his pocket and fired. A witness said the victim tackled Biggs to the ground, according to an arrest report.
Biggs told deputies a different story. He said he was dropped off at the victim’s home, and the two got into an argument over a woman. Biggs said the victim retrieved a firearm and threw it at Bigg’s feet, stating “pick the gun up and shoot me if you think you’re tough,” the arrest report states. Biggs said the victim lunged at him, and the firearm accidentally discharged.
The victim was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment of an injury he received during the fight. He was not hit by gunfire.
Biggs was later released from jail on a $5,000 bond.
Barry Molino Town Hall: Rural Development, Roads, More
February 13, 2019
About 100 people attended a town hall meeting Tuesday night with Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry.
Discussion touched on numerous issues, including recent rural development changes.
Last week, the Escambia County Commission voted to remove a section of the county comprehensive plan that restricts the development of agricultural and forestry areas. “If I held property in agricultural areas, I would view what happened as a very good thing,” Barry said. Deleting the provision, he said, would allow the board to consider rezoning on a case-by-case basis.
“Addressing this at least will allow us to hear a future land use amendment.” He said it the change will allow applications for one dwelling per four acres instead of the previous one dwelling unit per 20 acres.
“I don’t think one per every four acres is very dense. I don’t think that is an inappropriate way to develop,” Barry added.
Escambia County residents also asked questions about roads, dirt road paving, code enforcement and more.
For additional photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Go Inside Shakedown At Escambia (AL) Jail; Knives, Phones, Tattoo Gun Found
February 13, 2019
A shakedown at the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton turned up a long list of contraband.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and Brewton Police conducted the search. Officers located four homemade knives, 13 cellphones, six phone chargers, a quantity of tobacco, a bag of spice, four cigarette lighters, six books with hidden compartments and one tattoo gun, according to Sheriff Heath Jackson.
Jackson said the case is still under investigation, and numerous inmates will face additional charges.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
HS Basketball Playoffs: Win For Tate; Losses For Jay, Atmore
February 13, 2019
District 1-8A
The Tate Aggies advanced in district play Tuesday night with a win over the Navarre Raiders.
Top seed Tate beat Navarre 52-40 in the District 1-8A semifinals, and Niceville defeated Gulf Breeze 52-42. Love Bettis led the Aggies with 25 points.
The Aggies will face Niceville at 7 p.m. Friday in Niceville.
District 3-1A
In the District 3-1A semifinals Tuesday night, Chipley got past Jay 63-51, and Baker beat Freeport 44-39.
Baker will be at Chipley Friday at 7 p.m.
ALABAMA
In Alabama playoff action Tuesday, Clark County defeated Escambia County High School 54-47 in Atmore.
City Of Atmore Won’t Accept Ownership Of Former YMCA Property
February 13, 2019
The Atmore City Council has voted to reject ownership of the South Pensacola Avenue property recently occupied by the now defunct Atmore YMCA.
Mayor Jim Staff said it would take an estimated $3.4 million to bring the 93-year old building into good repair.
With a reversion clause in the property deed, Staff said the property would either go to the Atmore Lions Club or the Escambia County (AL) Board of Education.
The building was the location of the first public county high school in Alabama. Plans for the school began in the last 1800’s with the school completed in 1909. That building later burned.
The current 1926 building was acquired from the school board by the Atmore Lions Club in 1989 and later dedicated as the Atmore Lions Community Center in 1991. In 2004, the building was donated to the Atmore Area YMCA.
As we previously reported, the YMCA closed in late November 2018.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Four Northview Chiefs Named To 1-A All State Football Teams
February 13, 2019
FloridaHSFootball.com has named four Northview Chiefs to their 1A All-State football teams. They are:
Pictured top: Lance McLaughlin. Below, descending order: Seth Killam, Jaheem Durant. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Rep. Mike Hill Tees Up 2020 House Campaign
February 13, 2019
Rep. Mike Hill has opened an account this week to seek another term in Escambia County’s House District 1, according to the state Division of Elections website.
Hill received 60.8 percent of the vote in November as he defeated Democratic challenger Vikki Garrett for a seat left open by the departure of term-limited Clay Ingram.