Escambia Woman Charged With Setting Another Woman On Fire
June 13, 2023
An Escambia County woman has been charged with setting another woman on fire.
On June 6, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 9000 block of Holsberry Road of Nine Mile Road in reference to an armed disturbance.
Deputies located a female victim with significant burns on her arms, neck, and back. The victim was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Darneque Darshay Jones, 24, had been in an argument with the victim when Jones poured lighter fluid on the victim and lit her on fire, according to the ECSO.
Jones was arrested Monday for aggravated battery and criminal mischief. She remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $252,000.
NWE Little League Treasurer Now Facing 11 Felony Charges In Alabama
June 13, 2023
The former treasurer of Northwest Escambia Little League in Walnut Hill has been arrested on multiple felony charges in Alabama, days after Florida prosecutors dropped all charges for “jurisdiction reasons”.
Atmore Police have charged 48-year old Paula Star Pugh with nine counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument third degree, and one count each of theft by deception first degree, and theft by deception second degree. All of the charges are felonies.
Pugh surrendered at the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center on Tuesday and later released.
According to court documents, the Office of the State Attorney First Judicial Circuit of Florida dropped prosecution in the case for “jurisdiction reasons”. The Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office then turned their investigative files and evidence over to the Atmore Police Department late last week.
According to the ECSO, Pugh was the elected treasurer/bookkeeper since 2017 for Northwest Escambia Little League with the alleged thefts taking place from July 26, 2021, until December 9, 2022.
“During this time Pugh wrote checks on NWE’s account which she cashed for personal use, completed unauthorized debit transactions for personal use, and completed numerous ATM withdrawals for personal use,” the ECSO investigator wrote in his report, adding that Pugh had no receipt or explanation for the transactions.
According to the Florida warrant affidavit, many of the allegedly fraudulent transactions included numerous transactions on the NWE account at the First National Bank and Trust in Atmore. It is those offenses for which Atmore Police brought charges.
NWE first reported the misuse of funds to law enforcement on December 20, 2022, and an investigation was launched by the ECSO. Over the next several weeks, an ECSO investigator and ballpark officials examined the league’s financial records and built a ledger of transactions attributed to Pugh with no receipt or explanation, the report states. Deputies said the NWE board attempted at least twice to meet with Pugh and obtain receipts, but the attempts were unsuccessful.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said numerous attempts were made by phone and in person by the investigator to contact Pugh with no result, until she returned contact on March 7, 2023
Florida authorities alleged the following transactions were fraudulent, according to court documents. Pugh is not currently charged with all of these transactions.
Residential Recycling Is Back. Here’s What To Recycle (And Not).
June 13, 2023
Recycling is back for ECUA customers for the first time since it was temporarily halted back in April due to a “staff turnover”.
So that brings up the question: What can I recycle?
A list of what can, and what cannot, be recycled below. ECUA also offers the Recycle Coach app.
What Can I Place in My Recycling Can?
- Glass; any color
- Paper newspaper & Inserts
- Cardboard
- Boxboard (cereal, cake & cracker boxes, etc.)
- Plastic bottles
- Plastics No. 1 & 2
- Plastic Milk Jugs; 2-Liters
- Aluminum Cans & Lids
- Tin and Steel Cans & Lids
- Metal Pots, Pans & Cookie Sheets
- Pet food cans (no plastic liner)
What Can I NOT recycle in my can?
- Plastic bags
- Polystyrene products (Styrofoam)
- Pet food cans that have a plastic liner
- Pet food bags
- Ice cream cartons
- Waxy/paper milk cartons
- Aerosol cans
- Juice boxes or bags
- Garbage or yard waste
- Garden hoses
- Window blinds
- Tarps
- Bedding or linens
- Carpeting or rugs
- Construction materials
- Tin foil or foil baking pans
- Plastic chairs
- Residential Medical Waste
- Bubble Wrap
- Food Waste
- Propane Tanks
- Plastic or metal hangers
Bulk Recycling Available
Current customers can call ahead (850) 476-0480
- Car or truck batteries
- Tires (no commercial equipment tires)
- Limit of 5 tires
- 20 lb. propane tanks
- Large Appliances/White Goods
- Refrigerators
- Dishwashers
- Stoves
- Washers & Dryers
- Large amounts of cardboard (please empty and flatten all boxes)
Driver Crashes Into A Field Along Highway 97 Near Walnut Hill
June 13, 2023
A driver was transported to the hospital following a crash Monday afternoon on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
Authorities said a medical emergency may have led to a man crashing his van into a field near Howell Road. The side of the van had significant damage, but it was not immediately clear when or how it occurred; it did not appear that the damage happened as the van traveled off the road and into the field.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
The crash was not believed to be related to another nearby wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
About 900 Lose Power During Monday Evening Storms
June 13, 2023
About 900 Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers lost power in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties as a line of storms moved through the area Monday night.
Approximately 400 of those without power were in Escambia County, including 235 in the Bratt area and 161 in McDavid.
The McDavid outage, which lasted over three hours, started about 7:20 p.m. when a tree fell onto a power line in the area of Highway 29 and Welch Road (pictured above). The McDavid Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue was dispatched as a precaution.
There were no damage reports from the North Escambia area.
Pictured: A semi-truck passes on Highway 29 in McDavid as a power line arcs due to a fallen tree Monday evening. NorthEscambia.com reader submitted image by Terry Coyne, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Participates In Mass Casualty Drill On Guided Missile Cruiser
June 13, 2023
A Tate High School graduate participated in a drill on a guided missile carrier recently. Pictured above, sailors secure Seaman Jayden Owens, from Cantonment, to a rescue sleeve as he simulates a casualty during a mass casualty drill aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) in the Philippine Sea on June. Antietam is assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70, and is forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, to support the security of the U.S. and its Allies in the Indo-Pacific. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryre Arciaga for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries Reported In Highway 97 Wreck
June 13, 2023
There were no serious injuries reported in a single vehicle crash on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill Monday afternoon.
The driver of an older model Hyundai Elantra lost control, ran off the roadway and struck a culvert.
The driver and passenger were not seriously injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
The crash was not believed to be related to another nearby wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino 12U Teams Take First And Second At All Star Tournament
June 13, 2023
Molino Ballpark 12U teams brought home first and second places in this past weekend’s All Star Tournament. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Several Injured In Sunday Molino Wreck
June 12, 2023
Several people were injured in a two vehicle crash midday Sunday near Molino.
The crash happened at the intersection of South Highway 99 and Molino Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a Dodge Ram 3500, driven by a 74-year man, and a SUV, driven by a 28-year old female, collided about 11:40 a.m.
There were three passengers in the SUV — another 28-year old female, a 12-year old girl and a 12-year old boy.
The female driver of the SUV was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital, while others were transported by Escambia County EMS. None of their injuries were considered life-threatening.
FHP is investigating the cause of the crash. The Molino, Cantonment and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia, FL, Man Arrested On Multiple Drug Charges After Atmore Tag Violation
June 12, 2023
An Escambia County, Florida, man was arrested on drug charges after being stopped for a tag violation in Atmore.
The Atmore Police Department said they stopped 57-year old Clifford Alan Lewis for driving a vehicle displaying a license plate that was registered to another vehicle. Police said he gave consent to search the vehicle.
During the search, officers reported finding about 9.1 grams of a green leafy substance that field tested positive for marijuana, approximately 13.5 grams of a crystal-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, .05 grams of a brown grainy substance that field tested positive for heroin, approximately 2.4 grams of a white powdery substance that field tested positive for cocaine, a glass pipe with residue, and digital scales.
Lewis was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana first degree. Monday, he remained in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.