Deputies Seek Information On Suspect In Carver Park Shooting
June 29, 2023
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking to identify a suspect in connection with a shooting last month at Carver Park.
Three people were shot and wounded during a “May Day” gathering the night of May 27 at the park on Webb Street in Cantonment.
Thursday afternoon, the ECSO released these photos of an individual seen walking in the park “with an AR style rifle”.
Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
The shootings were reported in the area of Carver Park on Webb Street where a suspect opened fire into a crowd, striking the victims.
Hundreds of people had gathered that Saturday night in the area of the park and in the area of Muscogee Road and Highway 29 during the “May Day” event, according to witnesses. The ECSO said they estimated about 2,000 people were in attendance.
Highway 4 Bridge Set To Close July 10 For Replacement; 330 Day Detour Planned
June 29, 2023
Work is expected to begin next month to replace the Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek, about halfway between Byrneville and Bratt, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. A detour is set to start Monday, July 10 and be in place for nearly a year.
The state budget included $3,837,105 to replace the structurally deficient bridge The bridge and roadway are owned by Escambia County, but the work will be done under a locally funded agreement with FDOT.
For more photos, click or tap here.
A 330-day detour is planned from Highway 4 to Bratt Road (the eastern end of Bratt Road closer to Century) to Pine Barren Road, to Highway 4 (near Northview High School).
The county said the road closure will reduce construction time and costs, minimize the purchase of rights-of-way or construction easements, and will minimize wetland impacts.
The portion of Highway 4 to be closed is 4.14 miles; the detour will be 5.67 miles. The average daily traffic count is 1,800 vehicles per day.
The bridge constructed in 1942 is 225 feet long and has wood supports, some of which were failing and were later reinforced with steel.
A smaller Highway 4 bridge located just to the east of the Canoe Creek bridge is not set for replacement at this time.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Fire Chief Submits Resignation
June 29, 2023
Escambia County Fire Chief Jason Catrambone has submitted his resignation.
Officials say he provided a 90-day notice in a resignation letter, but gave no real reason for his decision.
Catrambone took over the ECFR chief job on June 14, 2021, after previously serving as the fire chief for the City of Williston, North Dakota.
Escambia County is expected to next name an interim fire chief before beginning the search for permanent replacemen.
Update: What Pensacola Police Said Led To An Officer Fatally Shooting A Man In Cantonment
June 29, 2023
An officer-involved shooting is under investigation in Cantonment.
The shooting occurred about 3 p.m. on Durant Lane near South Highway 97, just north of West Kingsfield Road.
A Pensacola Police Police Department officer was investigating a hit and run accident about 2:30 p.m. at Ninth Avenue and Wright Street in the city. Police learned that the vehicle that fled the scene may have been at the home on Durant Lane in Cantonment.
“The officer went to the house and was confronted by a male individual in front of the home. Words were exchanged and a fight began between the male and the officer,” PPD PIO Mike Wood Said. “The officer fired his duty weapon and struck the man. The officer immediately called for an ambulance and additional officers.”
The man was pronounced deceased in or near the driveway in front of the home. The officer received minor injuries during the fight and was treated at a hospital.
For more photos, click or tap here.
As is standard procedure in officer involved shootings, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.
Pensacola Police Chief Eric Randall said, “This is an active investigation, and the Pensacola Police Department is cooperating with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office”. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves added “Any incident that results in the loss of life is something we take very seriously. I have complete confidence in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, and I know our Pensacola Police Department is fully cooperating to help ensure a thorough investigation can be completed.”
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said deputies assisted at the scene following the shooting but were not involved in the incident.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High Cheerleaders Hold Lil Aggies Summer Cheer Camp (With Gallery)
June 29, 2023
The Tate High School cheerleaders held their three-day Lil Aggies Summer Camp this week.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
During the clinic, athletes learned proper stretch techniques, sideline cheers and chants, proper jump techniques, motion placements, as well as stunting and tumbling skill building.
The Aggies cheerleaders are planning their next clinic for the fall.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
This Is Who Had The Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
June 29, 2023
We now know who had Sunday midday’s winning Fantasy 5 ticket sold on Nine Mile Road.
The Florida Lottery says the ticket worth $14,361.68 in the June 25 drawing was claimed by Patricia Ann Lyons of Pensacola. The ticket sold at Cumberland Farms at 5901 West Nine Mile Road was one of four winning tickets in the drawing. The other winning tickets were sold in Clearwater, Miami and Tallahassee.
Sunday’s midday winning numbers were 7-18-19-28-35.
Johnston Homers In Wahoos 7-2 Loss To Biscuits
June 29, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos opened up the second half of their 2023 season with a 7-2 loss at the hands of the Montgomery Biscuits on Wednesday night.
Troy Johnston was the lone offensive bright spot, going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and his team-leading 13th home run of the season in the eighth inning.
Evan Fitterer (L, 4-2) took the loss, allowing a season-high five earned runs over 6.0 innings thanks to early homers from Diego Infante and Austin Shenton. Junior Caminero added a two-run single in the fifth inning to stretch the Montgomery lead to 5-0.
The Blue Wahoos couldn’t solve Cole Wilcox (W, 2-6), who scattered three hits and fanned eight over 5.0 scoreless innings.
Johnston’s homer in the eighth prevented just the second Blue Wahoos shutout at the hands of an opponent this year, and gave the first baseman a league-leading 53 RBI on the season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Thursday.
written by Erik Bremer
Byrneville Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Attempted Murder Of His Wife
June 28, 2023
A Byrneville man has been sentenced to 25 years in station prison for shooting his wife last year.
Joseph Anthony Franklin, 61, entered a no contest plea before being sentenced by Judge Linda Nobles.
“The defendant’s actions that day were cold, callous, and depraved. He showed no remorse for the victim he had just shot. A lengthy prison sentence is absolutely warranted,” prosecuting attorney Christopher Patter argued at the sentencing hearing.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the couple’s home on McBride Road just off Byrneville Road on October 25, 2022. Deputies arrived to find Franklin sitting on the front porch smoking a cigarette, wearing a tan t-shirt and shorts. A female was lying at his feet on the porch floor with a gunshot wound to her chest, according to the report.
The victim, later identified by the ECSO as Franklin’s wife, stated she found Franklin sitting on the couch that morning, but that led to an argument because he was supposed to be at work. During the argument, he pulled out a gun and started shooting it, according to the report. The victim told deputies that she tried to get the gun away from Franklin, and that is when he shot her.
Two other people were asleep upstairs in the home at the time but did not hear anything, deputies said.
The victim was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital and survived.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Grateful To God: Deputy Swept Under Highway By Floodwaters Recounts His Story
June 28, 2023
An Escambia County deputy is thanking God for saving him after he was swept under a highway by raging floodwaters on June 16.
As torrential rain fell, Deputy William Hollingsworth was on patrol along Highway 98 where there was a lot of flooding and stranded vehicles. Deputies were stopping to check on motorists, going car to car to make sure no one was in danger.
He found a woman inside a vehicle with an open passenger door; she said her male passenger got out.
That man was Davis Boss. He was helping another person with their nearby submerged vehicle.
“I went over to kind of shout and talk to him from across the road because the water was between us,” Hollingworth said. “I wondered if he could make his way to me, and we kind of started going towards each other, and then he was wading.
“Then he started swimming, and then he just disappeared under the surface. I went to where I saw him go under, and I jumped in. And that’s when I found out why he disappeared so quickly under the surface. The suction on the drain culvert was very strong and grabbed me by the legs and pulled me in.
“At first I thought, I’m in trouble, this is pretty bad. I kept the presence of mind to not try to stop myself, not that I could anyway just because of how fast the water was going I just kind of let it take me. And just hope and pray that it’s going to spit me out somewhere where there was some air. I just just tried to remain calm and hold my breath.”
In reality, Hollingsworth was underwater for about 30 seconds as he traveled about 100 feet under Highway 98. But it seemed more like an eternity.
“It did not not feel good being in the dark, underwater, underground.”
Hollingsworth emerged to see David a short distance away. Neither was injured.
“We were both shaken up definitively, but very grateful that God saw us through that. I’m always grateful to God for the things that he has given me, particularly a wonderful family that I get to see again. I was just extra thankful for my life that night.”
Hollingsworth has not yet watched the whole video all the way through, calling it “surreal”.
“I am just thankful that we both made it out okay. That fact that David was out there helping somebody else whenever I saw him – I think that says a lot about Escambia County residents. They are willing to help each other out whatever calamities happen.
“Two strangers willing to get out in the elements and help each other.”
The bodycam video is available on the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page.
Man Charged With Battery Of His Ex-Girlfriend
June 28, 2023
A Century man is accused of battery against his ex-girlfriend.
Jeremy Clint Hatfield, 32, was charged with felony domestic battery by strangulation.
Hatfield pushed the victim after they got into an argument over money before grabbing her by the neck and choking her, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. The victim told deputies that she scratched Hatfield before hitting him with pan on his left arm.
Hatfield remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set $7,500 on the battery charge, but jail records indicated he was also wanted in Escambia County, Alabama.