FWC Law Enforcement Report: Illegal Buck Posted On Facebook; Mushrooms, Heroin And Pills
March 11, 2018
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement recently reported the following activity during the period ending February 22 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Land was on patrol at Pensacola Beach conducting resource inspections and approached an individual who was surf fishing on the beach. A large tail was protruding from a five-gallon bucket filled with water near the subject. The red drum was over the maximum size of 27 inches. The fish was released to the water and the subject was issued a citation for the violation.
Officer Pettey received information that an individual shot an illegal short horned buck and posted it on Facebook. During an interview, the individual admitted killing the deer. The deer antlers measured 8 inches, short of the 10-inch minimum. The deer was seized and donated to a local charity. The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for the violation and for not having a hunting license.
Lieutenant Hahr was patrolling the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he observed two campers at the Mystic Springs Campground. While talking to them, he smelled the odor of cannabis and subsequently discovered a small amount of cannabis and a pipe. While detaining both subjects, they became uncooperative. While Lieutenant Hahr was handcuffing the man, his girlfriend ran to the truck and locked herself inside after being told to stop several times. The woman was removed from the truck and arrested for resisting arrest without violence. A search of the truck revealed more cannabis and paraphernalia along with to two forms of heroin, psilocybin mushrooms, unknown pills, and another unidentified substance. Both subjects were charged with possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Investigator Livesay was dispatched to a mobile home park regarding trespassing and illegal trapping. A subject admitted to trapping on the vacant property adjacent to the mobile home park. The property is owned by the U.S. Navy and the subject stated he did not have permission to set up traps on the property. The subject admitted to trapping two raccoons, a beaver, and a fox using steel leg hold traps. Two traps were removed from the Navy property and one from the mobile home park. The subject did not possess a trapping license and was issued two citations for possession of a fox without a permit and taking nuisance wildlife using steel leg hold traps.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Jones and Mullins were on foot patrol in a closed area of the Eglin Reservation. The officers encountered a subject dressed in camouflage and armed with a muzzle loading deer rifle. The subject was issued a notice to appear in criminal court for the offense of hunting in a closed area. The subject’s information was also referred to Eglin Range Patrol for action on his Eglin permits.
Officer Lewis was on forest patrol near Blackwater River State Forest when he observed a truck with a dog box parked at the gate where he had checked subjects in the past. He approached the vehicle and observed a man in the driver seat and a woman in the passenger seat. The man appeared to be trying to conceal something between the seats. Officer Lewis asked the man if they owned the property they were on, or if they knew who the owner was, and he said they did not. Officer Lewis searched the truck and subsequently found a medicine bottle containing three small baggies that appeared to contain methamphetamine, a glass smoking device with methamphetamine, and prescription narcotics. The man told him that the bottle contained methamphetamine, Percocet, and Hydrocodone, and that he smoked meth earlier that day. Officer Lewis arrested the man and charged him with three felony counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail without incident.
Officer Lewis was on forest patrol at Bear Lake when he observed a subject fishing from a pier. The subject had kept a variety of fish. Upon request, the subject could not produce a valid freshwater fishing license. While the officer was copying the man’s vehicle tag number, the man stated that the tag did not belong on the vehicle, and he had attached it to the vehicle. While conducting his inspection, Officer Lewis observed a backpack in the truck that the man stated was not his. When asked about it, the man stated that it contained methamphetamine. Officer Lewis searched the backpack and discovered a soda bottle that had methamphetamine cooking inside of it, known as a one-pot. Officer Lewis contacted the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office narcotics unit to safely handle the substance. The narcotics unit arrived on scene and neutralized the substance. Officer Lewis arrested the man and charged him with manufacturing methamphetamine. He transported him to the Santa Rosa County Jail. The subject was also issued a citation for fishing without a license.
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.
Subcontractors Sought For Construction Of New Escambia County Jail
March 11, 2018
Whitesell-Green/Caddell, the design-build entity selected to build the new Escambia County correctional facility, will host a public Escambia County Corrections Project kickoff to prequalify subcontractors and vendors who want to participate in the construction of the new jail.
The kickoff will take place Wednesday, March 21 from 3-6 p.m. at the Brownsville Community Center, 3200 West. De Soto Street, Pensacola.
Whitesell-Green/Caddell will be looking for qualified subcontractors and vendors to perform and supply the following:
- Earthwork
- Utility work
- Landscaping
- Fencing
- Foundations
- Concrete
- Masonry
- Carpentry
- Insulation
- Roofing
- Framing and drywall
- Equipment
- Painting
- Plumbing
- Air conditioning
- Controls
- Communications
- Waterproofing
- Electrical
Project team members from local agencies will be available to discuss employment opportunities for qualified individuals.
Tax Collector Introduces ‘Express Lane’ Same-Day Pickup
March 11, 2018
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford has announced a new Express Lane service that allows for online renewal and same-day pickup of vehicle, boat or mobile home registration.
Residents who renew online before 3 p.m. Monday through Friday can pick up their registration the same day. Renewals after 3 p.m. can be picked up the next business day.
“This is just another service we offer to decrease the time residents spend on renewing their registrations. They can renew online and pick it up at their convenience,” Lunsford said. “Our office set a goal of increasing the number of renewal transactions using Express Lane. This service will help offset the number of walk-in customers seeking to renew their vehicle registrations. So far, we have received extremely positive responses from citizens using this convenient time-saving service.”
Students Learn About Ag During Fresh From Florida Event (With Gallery)
March 10, 2018
About 700 students attended the annual Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” agricultural advocacy program Friday morning at the school in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Formerly known as the “Food For America program”, the event gave students a chance to learn about agriculture first hand, up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more to learn how food gets from the farm to their tables. Students were even able to make and enjoy eating their own fresh butter.
The Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” program has been honored as the number one program in the state multiple times, and the chapter was recently name one of the best in the United State by the National FFA Organization.
The Ernest Ward Middle School FFA also participated in the event.
The program was dedicated to Northview graduate Mitchell Singleton, Florida FFA Area 1 vice president.
Pictured top: Checking out a John Deere tractor during the Fresh From Florida agricultural advocacy program Friday morning at Northview High School. Pictured below: Northview FFA President Cody Kite with a future FFA member, students pet a horse and cows, and an educational program. Pictured below: A kid (baby goat) that was born just moments before the photo. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs School Safety Bill; NRA Launches Challenge
March 10, 2018
Flanked by the parents of Broward County teenagers slain in the nation’s second-worst school shooting, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed into law a sweeping package addressing mental health, school safety and guns.
Immediately, the National Rifle Association filed a lawsuit in federal court to challenge the new law, which raises the age from 18 to 21 and imposes a three-day waiting period for the purchase of rifles and other long guns. The age and waiting-period requirements already apply to buying handguns, but the NRA contends that the new restrictions on rifles are unconstitutional.
Scott’s signature came after weeks of intensely emotional advocacy by students, educators and families of the 17 people shot dead by 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
The parents accompanying Scott on Friday praised the governor and lawmakers for the unprecedented speed in passing the legislation, just three weeks after the Feb. 14 massacre.
“To everyone that’s watching out there, I wish I could tell you that I’m happy. But how could we be happy? He buried his sister, and I buried my daughter. To me, this is a start for us,” Andrew Pollack, accompanied by his son Hunter, told reporters after Scott signed the school-safety package (SB 7026).
Pollack, whose 18-year-old daughter, Meadow, was among the 14 students killed, said he and other parents plan “on moving forward and hitting every other state to make sure they follow the lead of Florida.”
Speaking on behalf of the 17 families, Tony Montalto, whose 14-year-old daughter, Gina, was killed, called the new law the “beginning of the journey” to prevent “future acts of horrific school violence.”
“We have paid a terrible price for this progress. We call on more states, to follow Florida’s lead, and create meaningful legislation to make all schools safer. This time must be different,” he said.
Scott said the measure addressed all of the issues highlighted by the tragedy.
“Will this bill make a huge investment and dramatically improve school safety, in the hopes of never seeing another tragedy like this again? Will this bill provide more funding to treat the mentally ill? Will this bill give far more tools to keep guns away from people who should not have them? The answer to all three is yes. That is why I am signing the legislation today,” Scott, said, as media from across the nation, crammed into the governor’s office, looked on.
The $400 million package kindled political and ideological divisions for lawmakers already on edge after the heart-wrenching testimony from the shooting survivors and parents of the 14 slain students and three faculty members. The gun-related provisions in the legislation — or those left out — overshadowed other elements of the bill.
Democrats were split on what many considered a “poison pill” that allows specially trained teachers and other school personnel, deputized by sheriffs, to bring guns to school. School boards and sheriffs would have to agree to implement the program for it to go into effect. Teachers who work “exclusively” in the classroom would be excluded from the program, but those who have additional duties, such as drama coaches, would be eligible.
For some, the legislation marked an important first step toward stricter gun regulations and a vital response to the Parkland community’s demand for action.
But for others, the “school guardian” program was a deal-breaker.
Calling the program “scary,” black legislators objected that it would endanger minority children who are more likely to be punished at school. And the state teachers’ union asked Scott for a veto, saying the proposal allowing more than 200,000 school personnel to qualify to bring guns on campus would “do more harm than good.”
“We had to make a choice. Compromise is messy, especially when both chambers are controlled by Republicans,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Coral Springs Democrat who graduated from the Parkland high school and who was present for the bill signing, told The News Service of Florida.
In addition to the new restrictions on purchasing rifles and other long guns, the new law also bans the sale or possession of “bump stocks,” which allow semi-automatic rifles to mimic fully automatic weapons. And it gives law enforcement officials the ability to seek court orders to seize weapons from people who pose a danger to themselves or others.
“So, in the totality of things, the guardian program is optional. I am hoping a lot of counties don’t opt in, and I am hoping a lot of teachers also don’t opt in. At the end of the day, we’ll be left with a really good gun-control, gun-reform bill in the state of Florida,” Moskowitz said.
But many frustrated Democrats also rejected the proposal because it failed to include a ban on assault–style weapons, such as the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle Cruz used to mow down students and teachers at the school he once attended.
On the other side of the aisle, the new regulations on purchasing firearms — the first gun restrictions approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature in nearly two decades — divided the GOP caucus. The NRA’s Florida lobbyist Marion Hammer, a former national president of the gun-rights group, branded those who voted for the proposal as “turncoat Republicans” who “caved to bullying and coercion.”
“(Scott) put his hand on a bible and took an oath to support, protect and defend the Constitution,” Hammer said in a telephone interview Friday. “So Gov. Scott obviously has a hard time keeping his word.”
The federal challenge accuses the state of “violating the constitutional rights of young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 years,” Hammer said.
After the legislation was proposed, Scott repeatedly objected to the three-day waiting period and allowing teachers to be armed.
But the governor said Friday he and others had to compromise, acknowledging that the gun regulations went too far for some and not far enough for others. He said
“I know the debate on all these issues will continue, and that’s healthy in our democracy. People are passionate in their beliefs and they should be. But, we should not insult or disparage each other. We should work together to make our schools safe for our kids. We have a lot of work ahead of us in order to enact these reforms and make our schools safer. This is a time for all of us to come together, roll up our sleeves, and get it done,” he said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Tate Lady Aggies, Northview Chiefs Earn Strong Wins (With Gallery)
March 10, 2018
Tate 14, Escambia 4
The Tate Lady Aggies beat the Escambia Lady Gators Friday night, 14-4.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Hannah Brown earned the win for the Aggies in six innings. She allowed four runs, four hits and recorded four strikeouts. Brown was 1-3 with two RBIs at the plate.
Also for the Aggies: Belle Wolfenden 1-4; Shelby Ullrich 2-3, 2B, 2R, RBI; Bailyn Murdey 2-3, 3R, 2RBI; Kyndal Bray R; Ryleigh Cawby 3-3, 2B, 3R, 2RBI; Katie Synder R; Shelby McLean 2-4, RBI; Gabby Locke R.
Tate 14, Escambia 0 (JV)
The wining pitcher for the Tate Aggies JV was Abbie Burks.
Northview 5, Freeport 1 (Thursday night)
Tori Herrington had 10 stikeouts while batting 2-4 as the Northview Lady Chiefs beat Freeport 5-1 Thursday night.
Kendall Engfinger RBI; Aubree Love 3-4, RBI; Valen Shelley 2-3; Heather Knowles 2-4, RBI; Rylee Huskey RBI; Sullivan RBI.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jared Sigler, click to enlarge.
New I-10 To Highway 29 Exit Ramp To Open, New Traffic Signal
March 10, 2018
A new I-10 exit ramp onto Highway 29 is opening this weekend, and a new traffic signal will be activated.
I-10 westbound drivers destined for Highway 29 North (Cantonment exit) Highway 29 south (Pensacola exit) will begin using the new Exit 10 on Sunday A new Highway 29 traffic signal, located at the bottom of the exit ramp, will manage traffic exiting I-10 in addition to Highway 29 north and southbound traffic.
There will be alternating lane closures on I-10, Highway 29 and associated ramps from 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. as crews prepare the exit ramp for traffic.
The current I-10 Exit 10A, will be permanently closed.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Northview Beats Snook Christian
March 10, 2018
The Northview Chiefs swept a doubleheader against Snook Christian Academy of Foley Friday in Bratt.
Northview run-ruled both games, taking the second 16-0.
The Chiefs were coming off a 10-3 win district win over Baker on Tuesday.
The Northview Chiefs will host East Webster, MS, on Saturday — junior varsity at 1:00, varsity at 3:30.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Fall To The Pine Forest Eagles
March 10, 2018
The Tate High School Aggies lost to Pine Forest Friday night, 6-5.
The Aggies were coming off a District 1-7A win over Pine Forest Thursday night.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jared Sigler for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Student Arrested For Making Statements About Taking A Gun To School
March 10, 2018
A Bellview Middle School student was arrested Friday for allegedly making statements about bringing a gun to school and harming classmates.
Dakota Hamrac, 12, was charged with a felony for a false report concerning the use of a bomb, an explosive, or a weapon of mass destruction, or concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said his belongings were thoroughly searched and no weapons were found.