Former Flomaton Cop Arrested In Molino For Drug Trafficking Enters Plea On Alabama Ethics Charge
December 8, 2022
A former Flomaton Police officer has entered a plea on an Alabama ethics charge, but is still awaiting trial on Florida drug charges that followed a traffic stop in Molino.
Isaac R. Lopez pleaded to a charge of felony use of official position or office for personal gain, and adjudication was withheld in Escambia County (AL) Circuit Court.
According to authorities, Lopez used a cellphone belonging to the Town of Flomaton to arrange a narcotics deal for methamphetamine from an Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office investigator by phone and text messages.
When he arrived at a predetermined location in Molino on December 7, 2020, he was arrested by the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, SWAT team and Patrol Division. He was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. A trial date has not been set.
The ECSO received information that Lopez was trafficking methamphetamines and set up an operation to catch him in the act, according to the agency.
Lopez arranged a narcotics deal for two ounces of methamphetamine from an Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office investigator and accepted the narcotics in the 5800 block of North Highway 29 in Molino. He was not on duty at the time.
After his arrest in Florida, Lopez was terminated by the Flomaton Police Department.
In February 2022, he was charged by Flomaton Police with reckless endangerment of a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor following a Christmas 2021 incident in which a minor was reportedly found under the influence of alcohol. The charge is still pending.
Lopez remained in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center Thursday where he was being held without bond.
The original drug arrest was the result of a partnership between the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Flomaton Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Cantonment Woman Charged With Exploitation Of Her Former In-Laws, Grand Theft
December 8, 2022
A Cantonment woman is charged with stealing from her former in-laws by opening and using fraudulent credit accounts.
Samantha A. Perea, 35, was charged with grand theft, exploitation of the elderly, criminal use of personal identification information, and uttering a forged instrument. All of the charges are felonies.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Perea opened multiple credit lines using the personal information and names of her ex-husband’s parents at Pen Air Federal Credit Union, Chase, Citi, Capital One and Mariner Finance. Total charges to the credit accounts ranged from $30,000 to $80,000, according to an arrest report.
Perea allegedly took two $3,500 checks from a finance company and deposited them into own bank account. She also had the victim’s military retirement check, Social Security and Veterans Administration checks sent directly to her account, the arrest report states.
The victims are ages 71 and 75, according to the sheriff’s office.
The arrest report states before the couple’s separation, Perea had “been ‘in charge’ of the finances and accounts for the family.
Perea was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $32,500 bond.
Bonus Photos: Northview Cheerleaders, Fans, Band And More
December 8, 2022
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Union County Tigers last Friday night to earn a trip to the state championship game this Saturday night.
Click here for a photo gallery from last Friday night with the cheerleaders, band, fans, NJROTC and more.
Click here for a game action story, or click here for action photos.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony Held At NAS Pensacola
December 8, 2022
The Pensacola Area Chief Petty Officer Association along with several Veteran Services Organizations hosted a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony Wednesday at Barrancas National Cemetery onboard NAS Pensacola.
Sailors, retirees and civilian employees attended the event to honor the 2,403 sailors, soldiers and civilians killed and estimated 1,000 wounded during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. The attack also crippled or destroyed 20 American ships and more than 300 airplanes and destroyed dry docks and airfields.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Infinitely Big, Infinitely Small: Jim Allen Elementary Visits Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
December 8, 2022
Fifth graders from Jim Allen Elementary School visited the Escambia County Public School’s Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in Cantonment Wednesday.
The students took part in the “Infinitely Big! Infinitely Small!” program. They entered the inflatable planetarium blasting off into space studying the infinitely big planets found in our solar system and all the cool things found in deep space.
They also entered the microscope lab learning about the flow of energy through an ecosystem while studying the infinitely big blue whale who eats tiny shrimp-like creatures called krill, who in turn each tiny microscopic plankton.
Finally the Jim Allen Elementary student scientist peered into the infinitely small world of plankton observing a food chain in action while using microscopes.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Search Warrant Leads To Arrest Of Cantonment Man On Gun Charge
December 7, 2022
A Cantonment man is facing a gun charge after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant.
William Ashton Cook, 21, was charged with possession of a firearm with an altered or removed serial number.
Acting on information that Cook “was in possession of a firearm possibly utilized in a murder,” the search warrant was served in the 3000 block of Vantage Road, according to an arrest report.
Deputies found Cook hiding in a bedroom closet. They located a Ruger 9 mm semi-automatic handgun with the serial number completely removed in a pickup truck next to the trailer home, the ECSO said. A stolen diesel air compressor was located in the wood line adjacent to the residence.
Cook was not charged with the alleged murder and not named as a suspect in a redacted arrest report. The ECSO said charges are pending for the stolen air compressor.
Further details on the alleged murder were not provided.
Cook was released from jail on a $5,000 bond.
Escambia Man Charged With Attempted Murder For Allegedly Choking Cab Driver
December 7, 2022
An Escambia County man is facing multiple charges after allegedly attacking a female cab driver and other individuals at a Highway 29 hotel on Monday.
Rickey Allen Wiggins, 42, was charged with attempted murder, two counts of felony battery, two counts of misdemeanor battery, resisting an officer with violence and felony battery on a law enforcement officer.
Wiggins was a guest at the Hotel Del Sol. He became involved in an argument with a manager and started kicking on a door before before grabbing the victim by the neck, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Wiggins got into a Lucky Cab that had arrived for another customer. The driver told him to exit the vehicle and wait for another cab. That caused him to become upset, grab her around the neck and choke her, according to the report. She broke free with Wiggins giving chase and tackling her as she fled.
The ECSO seized a camera from the cab that was recording during the incident.
An ECSO deputy said that when he arrived on scene, Wiggins was trying to kill a woman by choking her. Wiggins allegedly grabbed the deputy’s leg and would not comply when ordered to release his grip.
Wiggins remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman Charged With Battery Of A Man Over Age 65
December 7, 2022
A Molino woman allegedly struck a 70-year old man in the face in his home.
Jessica Anne Lewis, 40, was charged with felony battery on a person age 65 or older in a domestic violence situation. She remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday with bond set at $2,500.
The victim told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that Lewis came over to his property and wanted to see her kids. After a discussion in the yard, Lewis followed him inside and demanded to take a shower, an arrest report states.
The victim told Lewis to leave because she was high on drugs, but she hit him in the nose with an open hand, according to the report.
A deputy made contact with Lewis as she was walking down Cedartown Road, and she was placed under arrest.
According to the sheriff’s office, she had been trespass warned from the property in 2019.
The exact domestic relationship between Lewis and the victim was not specified in the redacted arrest report.
FPL Completes Day Of Caring Project At Jim Allen Elementary
December 7, 2022
The United Way Day of Caring happened a little later this year at Jim Allen Elementary School.
On the originally scheduled Day of Caring in October, Florida Power & Light team members were in south Florida supporting Hurricane Ian restoration efforts. Instead of canceling, FPL team members rescheduled and completed their Day of Caring just recently.
FPL team members assembled workbook pages to take the load off Jim Allen teachers.
“Jim Allen Elementary appreciates the FPL team making time in their schedules to come and complete our project,” Jim Allen Elementary Assistant Principal Susan Dorman said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
First Two Red Bulbs In Keep The Wreath Green Safety Campaign
December 7, 2022
On Tuesday, Escambia County Fire Rescue placed the first two red bulbs in the “Keep the Wreath Green” safety campaign following two residential fires.
At 12:38 a.m. Tuesday, ECFR responded to a residential structure fire on West Jackson Street. A small fire was located at the electrical meter along the outside of the home and a smoldering fire on the inside. Both fires were quickly extinguished, and there were no injuries. One occupant was temporarily displaced until power could be restored.
A second residential kitchen fire was reported at 10:05 a.m. on Georgia Drive. The cooking fire was quickly extinguished, and damage was limited to the kitchen area in the single story home. There were no injuries.
Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one in wreaths at fire stations across the county to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in homes.