ECSO: Man Shot In Cantonment During Drug Deal Gone Bad
March 13, 2018
One person was shot in Cantonment Tuesday afternoon during what the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said was a drug deal gone bad.
An adult male was shot about 3:45 p.m. at a home in the 400 block of Well Line Road, near Lakeview Avenue.
“It appears he was involved is some type of drug transaction,” Major Andrew Hobbs of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said shortly after the shooting. “Deputies on scene were working to determine a possible suspect.”
The victim was transported by ambulance to a Pensacola hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
Pictured above: One man was shot at a home on Well Line Road in Cantonment Tuesday afternoon. Pictured below: Deputies and K-9 search for a suspected near the Harvester Home Park, located just behind the shooting location. There were no apparent arrests at this location. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
No Injuries As Fire Destroys Atmore Home
March 13, 2018
A Tuesday morning fire destroyed a home in Atmore.
Working smoke detectors are being credited for allowing the homeowner to escape the home on 12th Avenue without injuries. The exact cause of the 7:15 a.m. fire has not been released
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Dead, Multiple Injuries When Charter Bus Crashes Into I-10 Ravine
March 13, 2018
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo.
A bus driver was killed early Tuesday morning when a charter bus loaded with high school students from Texas plunged about 60-feet into an Alabama ravine on I-10 between Wilcox Road and the Florida state line.
About 45 band members and adults from the Channelview High School Falcon Band from northeast Houston were on the bus, returning from a trip to Disney World in Orlando. A second bus with band students was not involved.
It’s not yet known whey the bus traveled into the median and crashed into the ravine near a creek about 5:30 a.m.. Rescue efforts were completed about three hours later. Multiple people were transported by ambulances and helicopters to about 10 hospitals from Pensacola to Mobile. Multiple people were taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. The last victim airlifted to the hospital just before 9 a.m.
Bus driver Harry Caligone was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was a longtime employee of First Class Tours.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The scene of an early morning bus wreck on I-10 early Tuesday morning. Pictured bottom: The Channelview High School Falcon Band at Disney on Monday. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos by Kristi Barbour, and photos by Jesus Tejeda and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo.
Fire Destroys Beulah Home
March 13, 2018
A Tuesday morning fire destroyed a home in Beulah.
The fire in the 9000 block of Windy Hill Drive off Frank Reeder Road was reported just before 8:30 a.m. The home was fully involved in flames as firefighters arrived just minutes later.
There was no immediate report of any injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Beulah, Bellview, Ensley, Cantonment and Ferry Pass stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Navy Fire and Escambia County EMS responded to the call.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Convicted Of Burglary Of An Occupied Home
March 13, 2018
A Century man is facing up to 30 years in prison after being convicted in connection with a burglary in the Wawbeek community.
Curtis Matthew Capers was found guilty of burglary of an occupied dwelling. He will be sentenced in early April by Judge Gary Bergosh.
Capers was the alleged getaway driver for Vernon Lambeth of Century in the burglary of a home on Highway 168. Lambeth was previously sentenced to 17 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years.
In October 2016, a woman returned to her home on Highway 168 near Wawbeek Road in the Wawbeek community west of Century and found Lambeth inside.
“I noticed some things were out of place, and then there he (Lambeth) was, standing in the hallway looking at me,” the victim told NorthEscambia.com on the day of the incident. She said she returned quickly to her 21-month old child, who was outside in a vehicle. Lambeth ran outside with the woman giving chase in her vehicle until he entered a nearby wooded area.
A K-9 team from Century Correctional Institution was able to track the Lambeth down and take him into custody near Wawbeek Road
Capers was seen leaving in the area in an older model green SUV with bullet holes. The vehicle was located in Alabama just north of the state line on Sam Jones Road, about two miles from the burglary. A K-9 was able to track Lambeth down; he had attempted to conceal himself with roofing tiles in an abandoned barn. A pillowcase that contained stolen items from the home on Highway 168 was also located. And Capers was positively identified by the burglary victim.
Capers was taken into custody in Alabama and later extradited back to Florida.
Lambeth was also convicted of charges related to burglaries on Rockaway Creek Road in Escambia County, FL, and a home on North Pineville Road.
Pictured above and below: The manhunt following burglary on Highway 168 in October 2016. Pictured immediately below: Vernon Lambeth is taken into custody. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Road 97A Bridge Nearing Completion (With Aerial Photos)
March 13, 2018
Construction is nearing completion on a $3 million bridge replacement project on County Road 97A over Boggy Creek near Enon in Escambia County. The new modem bridge features 12-foot travel lanes, eight foot shoulders, a solid concrete barrier railing and new bridge approaches.
The bridge being replaced was constructed in 1969.
Traffic will transition to the new bridge about noon Wednesday. Motorists may encounter minor delays as crews make final preparations to switch traffic Once traffic has been moved, crews will begin disassembling the temporary bridge and completing miscellaneous work items. The entire project is anticipated to be complete around the end of April, weather permitting. Work started in January 2017.
Editor’s note: This story originally stated that the project was set for competition by March 24 based upon erroneous information provided by the Florida Department of Transportation. The story has been updated with correct information.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Claims Over $100K For Molino Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket
March 13, 2018
A woman has claimed her prize for a winning lottery ticket sold last week at a local store.
The Florida Lottery says the March 6 Fantasy 5 ticket worth $103,970.74 was sold to Cynthia K. Williamson of Pace. She purchased the ticket at the Molino First Stop on Highway 95A. It was one of two winning tickets sold for the drawing; the other winning ticket was sold in Merritt Island.
There were 277 tickets matching four numbers that won $121 each. Another 9,006 tickets matched three numbers and are worth $10 each, and 92,072 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
The March 6 winning Fantasy 5 numbers were 2-4-13-19-33.
TSA PreCheck Enrollment Available This Week At Pensacola Airport
March 13, 2018
Travelers can register for the TSA PreCheck expedited screen process at the Pensacola International Airport through Friday.
TSA PreCheck provides identified low-risk air travelers a chance to take advantage of a more efficient screen experience. For TSA PreCheck travelers, there is no need to remove shoes, liquids, laptops, light outerwear or belts. There are more than 450 TSA PreCheck lanes at over 180 U.S. airports, including Pensacola.
To register for TSA Precheck, click here and fill out the form, choosing “Pensacola” and “Pensacola International Airport”.
Individuals most make an appointment to complete the enrollment process in person at the airport. Applicants will need proof of identity and U.S. citizen documentation (such as a U.S. Passport or a birth certificate and a driver license).
The application process is completed on site where fingerprints are captured for a background check. The application fee is $85 and is good for five years of service. The fee can be paid by credit card, money order, company check, or certified/cashier’s check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.
For more information, click here.
Pictured: The TSA Precheck line at the Pensacola International Airport, and (below) travelers move through security Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Tax Preparer Indicted For Filing False Federal Tax Forms
March 13, 2018
An Escambia County man has been indicted for allegedly filing false federal tax forms.
Benell English, 57, was arraigned in U.S. District Court on 18 counts of filing false returns.
The indictment alleges that English, a tax return preparer at Select Tax Service in Pensacola, prepared and filed false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for various individuals between 2013 and 2017. The indictment alleges that English falsely represented the taxpayers’ Schedule A itemized deductions, Schedule C business losses or profits, or household employee income.
The maximum penalty for each count of preparing false tax returns is three years in prison. The trial is scheduled for April 19, 2018, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola. This case resulted from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation and the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes is prosecuting the case.
Legislative Dead Bills – Fracking, Gambling, Guns At Church, Text And Driving
March 13, 2018
Banning “sanctuary” cities, revamping gambling laws, approving new sexual-harassment rules and even creating a license plate to commemorate the University of Central Florida’s undefeated football season were among numerous issues that died when the 2018 legislative session ended Sunday.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, was quick to praise the new budget for including $100.8 million to revive the Florida Forever land-preservation program after a decade of neglect.
But his effort (SB 370) to put into law an annual $100 million amount for Florida Forever, along with a separate bill to hike funding for the state’s natural springs and to restore the St. Johns River, are measures he will have to pursue again next year.
“The House version of the legislation put off spending on Florida Forever until later years, and that was not acceptable,” Bradley said after the Senate concluded most of its business Friday night. “I wanted to do it now.”
Overall, 2018 was not a stellar year for passing bills, with the House and Senate agreeing on 195 bills, four resolutions and one resolution-like “memorial.”
Here are some of the higher-profile issues that died when the session ended:
FRACKING
The effort (SB 462 and HB 237) to ban the controversial oil- and natural-gas drilling process known as “fracking” gained support from some Senate Republicans, along with Democrats. But the House never took up the issue in committees.
GAMBLING
Lawmakers made a late attempt to reach agreement on a gambling deal amid concerns about a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would give voters — not the Legislature — control of future gambling decisions. But legislative leaders abandoned the effort Friday, as negotiators grappled with issues such as a gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida and allowing slot machines in counties where voters have approved referendums.
GUNS AT CHURCH
A proposal (SB 1048) that would have allowed people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns at churches and other religious institutions that share property with schools appeared headed toward passage this year. The measure got through the Senate Judiciary Committee — where a number of gun bills have failed in recent years — and had reached the Senate floor.
But then came the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County. The church-related bill remained pending in the Senate throughout the rest of the session and did not get a vote.
INSURANCE
Neither of the big issues — to revamp laws dealing with a controversial practice known as “assignment of benefits” and to eliminate the “no-fault” auto insurance system — passed.
The House approved a bill (HB 19) to repeal the no-fault system, which requires motorists to carry personal-injury protection, or PIP, coverage. But the Senate proposal (SB 150), which included a requirement for motorists to carry $5,000 in what is known as medical payments coverage, or MedPay, couldn’t get through committees.
The insurance industry and business groups pushed for changes in assignment of benefits, an issue that involves policyholders signing over benefits to contractors, who then pursue payment from insurers. But the issue stalled early in the session in the Senate.
RED LIGHT CAMERAS
Among the first issues (HB 6001) out of the House this year was the annual effort to eliminate a law, known as the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act of 2010, that allows local governments to use red-light cameras. But as happened in past years, the idea once again failed to get the green light in the Senate.
‘SANCTUARY’ CITIES
A priority of House Speaker Richard Corcoran, the House passed a measure (HB 9) aimed at requiring local governments to comply with federal immigration laws — an issue that has become known as preventing “sanctuary cities.”
But the Senate version of the controversial measure (SB 308) stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee because of opposition from Democrats and two Republicans, Sen. Rene Garcia of Hialeah and Sen. Anitere Flores of Miami.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
One of the hot topics as the session began — with once-powerful Sen. Jack Latvala resigning after a damaging investigation — the House and Senate were unable to agree on how to prevent and punish people who engage in sexual harassment.
The House approved a bill (HB 7007) that attached anti-sexual harassment language to other ethics issues. But the Senate didn’t go along with tying the issues together.
TEXTING WHILE DRIVING
With the backing of Corcoran, a proposal (HB 33 and SB 90) to allow law-enforcement officers to pull over people for texting while driving cruised through the House and had advanced through the Senate.
But Bradley let the proposal die in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill faced concerns about issues such as minority drivers facing increased racial profiling if texting while driving became a “primary” traffic offense. Bradley was unswayed by arguments that the bill would require law-enforcement officers to record the race and ethnicity of each person pulled over for texting while driving.
TRAINS AND ‘BO’S BRIDGE’
Derailed for the second year, Treasure Coast lawmakers failed to pick up needed support from outside their region to impose state rules (SB 572 and HB 525) about passenger trains, particularly All Aboard Florida’s Brightline service, which is expected to eventually run from Miami to Orlando.
Also, lawmakers didn’t approve a proposal to acquire the financially troubled Garcon Point Bridge — known in Tallahassee as “Bo’s Bridge — near Pensacola. The bridge, named after former House Speaker Bo Johnson who championed the project, has been in default for years. Toll revenue fell well short of what was projected in the original $95 million bond agreement. Debt on the bridge has ballooned to $135 million.
UCF DEFEATED
The annual push to create a slew of new specialty license plates combined during the session with euphoria following the University of Central Florida’s perfect football season. In the end, lawmakers punted on a license plate to commemorate UCF’s season and most other specialty tags, including an attempt by Auburn University alumni to create a license plate for the Alabama school.
VACATION RENTALS
Lawmakers again waded into the controversial issue of preventing local regulation of vacation rental properties. But despite backing from industry and business groups, bills (SB 1400 and HB 773) never were heard on the Senate or House floors.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida