Atmore Woman Charged In Double Stabbing
August 19, 2023
One person was charged after two people were stabbed in Atmore.
Darianna Mona Seltzer, 21, is charged with two felony counts of assault second degree.
The Atmore Police Department responded to a reporte disturbance at Houston Avery Park, but arrived to find that there was no ongoing disturbance. Officers then located a disturbance about a mile away at the intersection of Sunset Drive and Harris Street.
Several vehicles began to leave the area. An officer conducted a traffic stop on one of the vehicles and discovered that two people had been stabbed.
According to the Atmore Police, both victims told police that Seltzer was the person that stabbed them and provided a description of her vehicle. Seltzer was located by officers a short time later and taken into custody.
Atmore police did not identify the victims or provide more information on their conditions.
Escambia Children’s Trust Names New Executive Director During Emergency Meeting
August 18, 2023
The Escambia Children’s Trust (ECT) named Tammy Abrams as interim executive director during an emergency meeting Thursday.
Abrams was serving as ECT finance director. Before ECT, she was chief financial officer at the Community Action Program Committee, which runs Escambia County Head Start.
The board also voted to accept the resignation of Tammy Greer and relieve her of he duties as executive director effectively immediately. She will be paid through what would have been her final day of October 15. Greer submitted her resignation Tuesday evening, citing how “unbelievably political” the job was.
RELATED: Escambia Children’s Trust Director Tammy Greer Submits Resignation
In November 2020, 61% of participating voters in Escambia County supported the creation of the Children’s Trust to be funded by an increase in ad valorem taxes of up to a maximum of 0.5 mil. The Children’s Trust will provide early childhood education, safety, developmental, preventative, health, and well-being services, including after school and summer enrichment programs.
Molino Man Charged With Assault, Child Abuse In Family Altercation
August 18, 2023
A Molino man is facing assault and child abuse charges after an alleged altercation with his family.
Brandon Sharef Spencer, 44, is charged with child abuse, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault.
Specere allegedly was drinking and became upset with his wife and their child. The wife said he hit her in the face with a liquor bottle before swinging “a pole” at her and the child, according to an arrest report.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report notes there was another possible victim that left the scene before they arrived; family declined to provide the individual’s name.
Deputies reported finding a liquor bottle in the front yard, an orange Black & Decker pole that appeared to have blood on the shaft, and blood leading from the front porch into the residence and down a hallway.
An ECSO K-9 located Spencer, who was aggressive and appeared to be intoxicated, the arrest report states.
The victims refused transport to the hospital.
Spencer remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $25,000.
10,000 Pound Food Giveaway Next Tuesday Afternoon In Cantonment
August 18, 2023
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a drive-thru 10,000 pound food giveaway next Tuesday afternoon, August 22 at Carver Park on Webb Street.
The food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. People should line up their vehicles, single file on Webb Street facing north; food will be loaded into vehicles. Identification is required.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Cantonment Woman Charged After Throwing Rocks And Bricks At Three People, ECSO Says
August 18, 2023
A Cantonment woman is facing felony charges after allegedly throwing brings and rocks at three people “placing them all in fear for their lives”.
Lea Ann Mathis, 33, was charged with three felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
One victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she was inside her home with her boyfriend when they heard a loud banging outside where they found Mathis screaming obscenities and hitting the home with a stick. Mathis then threw multiple bricks at the victims while they were on the porch. She then went next door, retrieved various sized rocks and returned. She threw those rocks at the two victims, plus a neighbor that had arrived, according to an arrest report.
There were no injuries reported.
The ECSO report does not indicate what prompted Mathis in her alleged actions.
Bond for Mathis was set at $12,000.
Tate’s Got Players: Aggies Top Washington In Kickoff Classic (With Photo Gallery)
August 18, 2023
“Tate’s got players.”
That was the word from Tate Aggies head coach Rhett Summerford following a kickoff classic game on a hot Thursday night against the Washington Wildcats in Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment.
Officially, no score was kept for the preseason game on Tate’s new video scoreboard. But unofficially, Tate doubled up on Washington 36-18.
“You know, in normal times, Tate has not had players. We want our athletes to play, and that’s the brand we are going to play with is to get our athletes the ball and see what they do. I thought they had a great night tonight, and we’re going to continue to do that. It does not matter who we play, and our kids are excited about the change.”
“We’ve worked really hard in our weight room,” he continued. “There’s things we got to work on; it was evident really in the first drive.
“I was really proud of our defense tonight,” Summerford added. “The community coming out was awesome, just really proud of our kids.”
The Aggies will host the Pine Forest Eagles next Friday night to start the regular season.
“We’ve got a tough one next week,” the coach said. “Here comes a good team; we know that. I mean Pine Forest is a really good team, but we’re up for the challenge. You know in college football they play those big games early. I love that; I’m going to love the atmosphere.”
For a photo gallery from the varsity, junior varsity and freshman scrimmages, click or tap here.
For a gallery with cheerleaders, fans, student life and more, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mom Of Alleged Home Depot Shooter Now Behind Bars In Escambia County
August 17, 2023
The mother charged with helping her son in last week’s Home Depot murder is now in the Escambia County Jail.
Sheila Agee, 50, is being held without bond on a charge of principal to first degree murder.
She is accused of helping to coordinate the murder of 18-year old Brooklyn Sims by her 20-year old son, Keith Agee last Friday inside the Home Depot on Davis Highway. Sheila Agee reportedly gave Sims a ride to work at the store.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the mother and son collaborated in the hours leading up to the murder in a series of text messages. She was arrested Monday in Washington County, Alabama, and extradited to Florida to face charges.
Read the text messages is this previous story.
Mosquito Borne Illness Alert Issued After Two Confirmed Escambia County West Nile Virus Cases
August 17, 2023
Two confirmed West Nile virus cases have been reported in Escambia County, prompting a mosquito-borne illness alert from the Florida Department of Health.
There was only a single case reported in Escambia County in 2022.
The DOH is reminding residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take basic precautions to help limit exposure.
To protect yourself from mosquitoes, the health department said to remember to “Drain and Cover”:
Drain standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or any other containers where sprinkler or rainwater has collected.
- Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren’t being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pet’s water bowls at least once or twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that do not accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
Cover skin with clothing or repellent.
- Clothing - Wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long-sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.
- Repellent - Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, and IR3535 are effective.
- Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
Cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house.
- Repair broken screening on windows, doors, porches, and patios.
Tips on Repellent Use
- Always read label directions carefully for the approved usage before you apply a repellent. Some repellents are not suitable for children.
- Products with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are generally recommended. Other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellents contain picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or IR3535. These products are generally available at local pharmacies. Look for active ingredients to be listed on the product label.
- Apply insect repellent to exposed skin, or onto clothing, but not under clothing.
- In protecting children, read label instructions to be sure the repellent is age appropriate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mosquito repellents containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of three years. DEET is not recommended on children younger than two months old.
- Avoid applying repellents to the hands of children. Adults should apply repellent first to their own hands and then transfer it to the child’s skin and clothing.
- If additional protection is necessary, apply a permethrin repellent directly to your clothing. Again, always follow the manufacturer’s directions.
County Settling Lawsuit For $300K With Family Of Cantonment Murder Suspect That Killed Himself In Jail
August 17, 2023
Escambia County is settling a lawsuit with the family of a Cantonment murder suspect that took his own life in the county jail.
Lukas MacKenzie Snelson, 24, was charged with second degree homicide, grand theft of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest for the death of his grandmother, 75-year old Fran Fournier.
On December 30, 2021, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the end of Candy Lane in Cantonment for a death investigation. Fournier was found deceased, seated in a recliner with two dog leashes wrapped around her neck, according to an arrest report. Snelson was arrested hours later.
A few days after his arrest, Snelson was found hanging in his cell and later died at a local hospital.
The county will settle the lawsuit against the county and two corrections officers for $300,000. The full amount will be paid by the county’s insurance carrier, but the county will be responsible for a deductible of $86,241.17.
The lawsuit claimed Snelson was not provided proper mental health care and was not protected from self-harm.
“Escambia County and its corrections staff were deliberately indifferent to the medical needs and constitutional rights of Mr. Snelson who left behind a 2-year-old son at the time of his death,” the lawsuit stated.
“His death could have been prevented if Jail staff assisted him during the 40-minute period when the make-shift rope was tied around his neck, or if someone had changed the broken lights in his cell, used a flashlight during the visual checks, or actually confirmed that he was breathing during the visual checks,” the suit contended.
The county said, “the decedent attempted suicide, and his actions were not discovered by jail staff for a period of time during the attempt. The decedent ultimately passed away at a local hospital after being transported from the Jail.”
According to the settlement document, the “payment is not to be construed an an admission of any liability”.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Two Felonies For Failed Burglary
August 17, 2023
A Cantonment woman has been charged as an accessory in an unsuccessful burglary.
Lisamarie Jene Perkins, 36, was charged with accessory attempted burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and accessory to attempted grand theft. Both charges are felonies.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a prowler complaint on Bridgedale Road where a homeowner was holding a suspect, later identified as Perkins, at gunpoint.
The victim was inside his residence when he heard an odd noise coming from his new home under construction across the road. He checked his cameras and observed a white male dragging a suitcase and a gold pickup parked nearby with the headlights off. The victim exited his home armed with a rifle. He told deputies that he found Perkis dressed in all black coming from behind his house and held her at gunpoint.
Surveillance video showed an unknown white male try and fail to kick in the front door and unsuccessfully attempt to steal a utility trailer, according to an arrest report.
The male fled the scene prior to the arrival of deputies, but the unoccupied gold pickup was located at a gas station on Mobile Highway.
Perkins remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $15,000.