FWC Law Enforcement Report
April 19, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending April 13 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Clark attended the Annual Kid’s Fishing Clinic in Pensacola. There were approximately 400 kids in attendance, making it one of the largest in the state. The kids were taught the basic techniques of fishing and were given a rod and reel. Officer Clark answered many fish and wildlife questions from the parents.
Officer McHenry attended the Annual Firefighters Challenge at Pensacola Beach. He displayed a marked patrol truck in a first responder’s area that was set for kids. He also handed out brochures and answered many questions.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Ramos received information that several men were fishing in Escambia Bay and keeping red snapper. After making his way to the area, the officer saw men actively fishing. When he asked the men if they had caught any fish, they replied that they had not. License and resource inspections revealed that one of the men had caught and kept two red snapper. The fish measured 11 and 10 inches, respectively. One of the men admitted he caught both fish. The fish were seized and the man was charged accordingly.
Officers Mullins and Hutchinson were patrolling the Yellow River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), when they saw a truck damaging the road by spinning out. They stopped the truck and approached the man driving it. While speaking with him, three more trucks with large mud tires pulled up to them covered in fresh mud. The officers discovered that they were all together. During interviews, the men driving the trucks admitted to riding along closed roads and mud riding in a closed clay pit. While the officers were driving back to the pit to access the damage to state lands, they saw more damage to the roadways that was caused by the four trucks. The officers issued each man a notice to appear citation for damage to public lands by a motor vehicle. They were also issued warnings for driving on closed roads.
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.
B-I-N-G-O! Century Approves Bingo Hall Operation
April 18, 2017
Monday night, the Century Town Council gave the approval needed for a bingo hall to open.
Within a few weeks, Larry Segebarth plans to open “Century Bingo” in a leased 5,000 square foot building at 9420 North Century Boulevard, the former location of the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.
The Century Town Council was not tasked with approving any issue regarding bingo games, but rather with determining if a bingo facility was allowable under the general use categories of the town’s Land Development Code. With their vote, the council determined that bingo games met the criteria as an “indoor recreation center”.
The bingo games are regulated by the state. All games will be played under the name of a legal Florida charity, with the charity receiving proceeds minus expenses. The games will be staffed by volunteers paid by tips only with the bingo hall hiring local employees for jobs such as maintenance.
The council approval did not come without opposition from at least one local citizen.
“Do you think Century will benefit from local income residents spending at a bingo hall,” asked Mary Bourgeois. “Gambling is a problem.”
File photo.
Herrington Pitches Northview To Win Over Central; Aliff Homers In Baseball
April 18, 2017
SOFTBALL
Northview 3, Central 2
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat state-ranked Central 3-2 Monday.
The Chiefs, 11-4 in Class 1A, hosts Chipley Tuesday night to decide if the Chief see second or third seed in upcoming district play.
“We struggled offensively and defensively coming off of a three-day weekend but we had players to step up and drive in three runs when needed to give us the win,” Northview Coach Amy Holland said. “Our team is still very young with only two seniors and the rest mostly ninth and tenth graders…Tori Herrington has 140 strikeouts this year — very impressive for a 10 grader.”
Herrington pitched a complete game for the Chiefs allowing six hits, three runs, two errors and striking out four. She was 1-3 at bat for the Lady Chiefs.
For Northview – Jamia Newton 2-4, R, RBI, 3B; Kendall Enfinger 1-2, RBI; Peighton Dortch 1-3, 3B; Teriana Redmond R.
The Chiefs host Chipley at 6:00 Tuesday in Bratt. Senior Night activities begin at 5:30.
BASEBALL
Northview 12, W.S. Neal 11
The Northview Chiefs beat W.S. Neal Tuesday 12-11. Jared Aliff homored for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs will cross the Escambia River to play Jay’s Royals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Tate 8, West Florida (9th grade)
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Century Hikes Garbage Rates By 36 Percent
April 18, 2017
The Century Town Council officially voted Monday night hike residential garbage rates by 36 percent.
Century’s 545 garbage customers currently pay $16.98 to per month. In order to stop financial losses in the garbage department, Mayor Henry Hawkins proposed the increase $6.21 per month, for a total bill of $23.19. The increase will allow the town to continue to collect bulk items such as furniture and appliances and vegetative waste.
The council rejected the idea of offering a discount for low income senior citizens as recommended by Council President Ann Brooks.
Pictured top: Century Mayor Henry Hawkins discusses garbage rates at a Monday night meeting of the town council. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
House, Senate Begin Trying To Reach Gambling Deal
April 18, 2017
House and Senate leaders met briefly Monday afternoon to lay the groundwork for negotiations on the two chambers’ vastly different approaches to gambling policy.
Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who will chair the conference committee on gambling, said the panel won’t meet again before Thursday but could work over the weekend hashing out differences between the plans. Lawmakers are trying to reach consensus on a new deal with the Seminole Tribe after a portion of an agreement with the tribe expired in 2015.
That component of the 20-year deal gave the tribe “exclusive” rights to operate banked card games, such as blackjack, at most of its casinos. The tribe sued the state over the games, and a federal judge gave the Seminoles permission to continue to conduct the games.
The House is backing what is essentially a status quo proposal that would give the Seminoles permission to operate the banked card games, such as blackjack, for another 20 years. The Senate, in contrast, has endorsed a pari-mutuel friendly plan that would allow slot machines at pari-mutuels in the eight counties — Brevard, Duval, Gadsden, Hamilton, Lee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Washington — where voters have approved them.
Which pari-mutuels get slots — and where — is one of the biggest sticking points for the negotiators, according to Galvano and Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, a Miami Republican who is vice-chair of the gambling conference committee.
“Obviously, there are members from each of those communities that are looking out to make sure that one county doesn’t get new slots and their county is left out,” Diaz told reporters after the meeting.
Another point of contention involves controversial “designated player” card games operated by a number of pari-mutuel cardrooms, which are at the heart of the state’s legal dispute with the tribe.
The Senate plan would legalize the card games, while the House proposal would ban them. The tribe, which is seeking to add craps and roulette at its casinos, has maintained that the House measure — which would require a minimum guarantee from the tribe of $3 billion over seven years — would not get the requisite approval from federal authorities.
“We’re going to have to figure out what’s more important, (not) giving them those new games or getting more money for the state, because you might not be able to do both,” Diaz said. Lawmakers, who for years have been unable to reach consensus on broad gambling legislation, could be more motivated this year by a series of court decisions that could jeopardize the nearly $120 million in annual payments paid to the state by the Seminoles.
“Given what has occurred over the last several years, but especially recently with the judicial branch and the decisions that are coming out and the complexity and the ambiguity of the issues that we’re dealing with, inaction is not an option. We have to act,” Galvano said.
by The News Service of Florida
Suspect Arrested In Escambia Shooting Death
April 18, 2017
UPDATE: The suspect has been arrested per ECSO.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has named a suspect in an early Monday morning shooting.
Antuan Marques Harris, 24, is wanted for the murder of a Curtis Hodge Jr.
Just after midnight on April 17th, Harris shot and killed Hodge in the 700 block of Old Corry Field Road.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area to find Hodge with a gunshot wound to the face. He did not survive.
Anyone with information on the shooting death or the whereabouts of Harris is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pitured: Antuan Marques Harris.
Atmore Man Busted For Selling Drugs Near Elementary School
April 18, 2017
An Atmore man has been arrested with selling drugs near an elementary school after police executed a search warrant.
Dante Maurice Haynes, 38, was charged with distribution of a controlled substance, unlawful possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, narcotics sale near school campus, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton without indent.
Atmore Police Department narcotics officers executed a search warrant in the 500 block of 4th Avenue — across the streets from the A.C. Moore Elementary School campus. During the search of the residence, officers reported finding a quantity of narcotics, including powered and rock cocaine.
“Narcotics sales near and around school grounds will not be tolerated,” Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said.
The Atmore Drug Task Force will accept confidential tips by leaving a message at (251) 368-8988.
Pensacola’s Wahoos Cook The Jumbo Shrimp 3-2
April 18, 2017
The most dingers that Pensacola Blue Wahoos center fielder Brian O’Grady had in his past three seasons of minor league baseball is nine, which he hit last year for High-A Daytona Tortugas.
Already in his first 25 at bats in Double-A, O’Grady has ripped two homers, including a solo shot he lifted high into right field in the seventh inning that capped the scoring to give the Blue Wahoos a 3-1 victory in the series opener against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in front of 3,646 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
O’Grady, who has two homer and four RBIs in his first season with Pensacola, said his home run hitting has developed in his professional career. Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth round out of Rutgers in 2014, he ranked among school leaders in almost every offensive category, except home runs.
“In my defense, it is a big park,” O’Grady said, smiling. “I didn’t hit a ton there. I’ve developed more as a power hitter in pro ball. As soon as I hit it (tonight), I knew I got it.”
O’Grady attributed his success, so far, to playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League and his workouts in the offseason. He’s second on the team in hitting at .280 and has at least one hit in seven of the nine games he has played this year.
“I felt good coming into spring training,” O’Grady said. “I was confident in the work I put in in the offseason. The (AFL) was a really good and fun experience for me.”
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly has been impressed with O’Grady at the plate and in the field. He pointed out the 24-year-old can play first base, third base and all three outfield positions.
“We’ve been kind of hiding him in that eight spot (in the batting order),” Kelly said. “He smoked that ball today. That was impressive.”
Meanwhile, Pensacola continues to win with its pitching and defense. Blue Wahoos shortstop Blake Trahan and second baseman Josh VanMeter bailed out starter Tyler Mahle with an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
In the second inning, Devin Mesoraco, who is doing at least 20 days of rehabilitation in Pensacola, popped up quickly from behind the plate and fielded a dribbler by Jacksonville third baseman Brian Anderson down the third base line and tagged out Anderson in the batter’s box where he stood still.
Then in the eighth inning, Jacksonville left fielder Alex Glenn clobbered what looked like a homer over the right field wall but Pensacola’s Aristides Aquino reached up and grabbed it out of the air.
Mahle threw 4.1 perfect innings in the season opener and then 5.0 perfect innings in his second start and entered Monday’s game with a 0.71 ERA.
But Monday against Jacksonville, he had a shaky first inning. Mahle walked two and allowed two singles to the Jumbo Shrimp to allow Jacksonville to take a 1-0 lead when Glenn scored on second baseman David Vidal’s single that he laced to left field.
After that inning Mahle settled down and only allowed one more hit – a double to Vidal – against the last 14 Jacksonville batters he faced. On the night, Mahle threw five innings, gave up three hits and one run, walked two and struck out seven.
“That first inning he obviously struggled,” Kelly said. “He was a little out of whack mechanically.”
Pensacola, though, came right back to score two runs in the bottom of the first and go up, 2-1. Blue Wahoos catcher Mesoraco was hit by a pitch and scored when right fielder Aristides Aquino smashed a grounder down the third base line for an infield single. Gabriel Guerrero then singled on a sharp single off Jacksonville lefty Dillon Peters’ leg and was driven in by Angelo Gumbs ground ball that deflected off the glove of Jumbo Shrimp shortstop Alex Yarbrough.
Again Monday, the Pensacola bullpen then took over and did its normal thing. Four pitchers –
Jake Ehret, Brennan Bernardino, Ariel Hernandez and Geoff Broussard – combined to throw four scoreless and hitless innings, while striking out five. Broussard, who was called up from Daytona, earned the save.
Pensacola’s bullpen now is 3-1 with a 1.65 ERA and seven-for-seven in save opportunities.
“I’m very pleased,” Kelly said about the bullpen’s development. “Mez (Mesoraco) has led the way. He’s done a lot of work with them in the pen.”
Rubio Talks Opioid Abuse With Local Officials
April 18, 2017
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio met Monday with Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan, Pensacola Police Chief David Alexander, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward and other local officials to discuss combating the opioid crisis in Florida. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Marshal Investigating Fire On Ransom Middle Campus
April 17, 2017
Fire damaged a portable building on the Ransom Middle School campus this afternoon.
The fire was contained to one portion of a detached portable building used as restrooms on the rear of the campus. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
There were no injuries reported and no damage to any other structures.
Pictured above and below: Fire burns through a wall on a portable building on the Ransom Middle School campus. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
