Third Suspect – The Alleged Gunman – Arrested For Escambia County Murder

November 5, 2022

The alleged gunman in an October 29 murder was arrested Saturday.

Jacob Monroe Colville, 29, was wanted for first degree premeditated murder.

Alyssa Marie Blackburn, 22, and Lawrence Bonner, Jr., 44, were both previously charged with principal to first-degree premeditated murder.

The victim was identified by family members as 22-year old Jesse Allen Geoghahan.

On October 29, the ECSO responded to the 1000 block of Medford Avenue where they found Geoghahan. with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Blackburn contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to report that he had been shot inside the residence.

Bonner allegedly gave Colville the gun used in the murder. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Colville shot Geoghagan twice inside a closet, before shooting him a “few more times” as he limped out of the bedroom.

They fled in a stolen 1996 Toyota Avalon, which was later found burning under the Mobile Highway Bridge over Eleven Mile Creek.

A security system in the residence captured the murder, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Man Pleads Not Guilty To DUI In Crash That Killed Escambia County Deputy

November 5, 2022

The man accused of a DUI in a crash that killed an off-duty Escambia County deputy last month has entered a plea of not guilty.

Tristen Cole Parker, 26, failed to stop at a stop sign, and his bucket truck struck an oncoming silver Jeep driven by the deputy, according to an arrest report. He is charged with negligent DUI vehicular manslaughter, DUI with serious bodily injury and driving with a suspended license habitual offender. He remains in the Okaloosa County Jail with bond set at $500,000 and is due back in court December 1 as he seeks a bail reduction.

Master Deputy Kevin Ray of Cantonment and his 15-year old daughter were traveling from Troy, Alabama, when the crash occurred on Highway 85 just east of Laurel Hill, Florida, at 8:40 p.m. on October 15.

Ray was pronounced deceased at the scene and his daughter was airlifted to an area hospital where she continues to recover. The 2012 white Dodge bucket truck driven by Parker overturned multiple times, destroying utility poles before coming to rest in a field in the southwest corner of the intersection.

“There were beer cans near the passenger door of the Dodge truck that were in the pickup and thrown while overturning,” the investigating trooper wrote in an arrest report obtained by NorthEscambia.com.

“When the witness rolled up on the crash, Tristen Cole Parker had self-extricated from his vehicle but identified himself as the sole occupant and operator of the suspect vehicle,” the report states. “While being treated on scene by Okaloosa County Fireman Paramedic (redacted), Tristen Cole Parker admitted to consuming 3 to 4 alcohol beverages prior to the collision. (The paramedic) also smelled an odor of alcohol coming from Tristan Cole Parker while he was speaking.”

Parker was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

“During conversation with Tristen Cole Parker, Mr. Parker spontaneously uttered to (the trooper) that he had 2 or 3 ‘beers’ prior to the collision’,” the report continues. Despite initial consent for a voluntary blood draw, Parker refused to provide the blood sample when hospital staff arrived in his room.

A FHP traffic homicide investigator also noted that Parker had bulged eyes, slurred speech, a dry mouth, thick tongue, flushed face and smelled of alcohol in the emergency room. The investigator said Parker had labored breathing, slow deliberate movements and repeated himself.

FHP said Parker’s certified driving record from Texas showed multiple convictions for driving with suspended license in that state.

Ray had been a member of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office family for over 20 years. He had been assigned to courthouse security for over a decade.

A Perfect 10: The Northview Chiefs Finish Undefeated Season With Win Over Bay (With Gallery)

November 5, 2022

A perfect 10.

The Northview Chiefs finished their regular season at 10-0 with a 41-6 rout of the Bay Tornadoes Friday night in Bratt.

It’s the first perfect regular season for the Chiefs since they won nine straight in 2006 before losing at home 20-14 to Chipley in round one of the playoffs for a 9-1 record that year.

For a photo gallery, click or tap here. (Band, cheerleaders, student life and more coming by Tuesday.)

“Just look at these players that have been driving for three years, and they accomplished it,” third year Northview head coach Wes Summerford said. “I think I imagined this three years ago, but you don’t think it’s going to happen. It takes a special group of kids first and foremost, and then coaches support it. And we’ve got both.”

The Chiefs headed into Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium Friday night in Bratt at 9-0, hosting one-loss Panama City Bay, a school twice the size of NHS.

“We knew that they had speed,” Summerford said. “Their game is a quick game, get it to their athletes, and they’ve got a bunch of them. They’ve got some good players that can really play.”

The first quarter was scoreless, but the Chiefs outscored Bay 21-6 in the second quarter on the way to a win behind an unstoppable offense and a defense that proved to be unwavering.

Coach (Jace) Gandy really put a game plan together this week,” he said. “Unbelievable. That’s the thing about a great defense; it’s characteristic of them. It’s been building all year. It doesn’t happen overnight,” Summerford said. “I’ve challenged them all year. They stepped up in a big way. I don’t know if I’ve got words to express how well we played defensively.”

Northview and Chipley will sit out the first round of the playoffs next Friday. Beyond that, the games and second round home field advantage remain to be seen until the FHSAA computers crunch the numbers.

“I couldn’t be more excited,” Summerford said.

Jamarkus Jefferson had three touchdowns on the night of 4, 2, and 14 yards. Quarterback Kaden Odom tossed to Luke Bridges for passing touchdowns of 24 and 76 yards, and found Malaki Hayes from 22 yards. And kicker Brandon Ferguson was 5 of 6 on point after attempts.

For a photo gallery, click or tap here. (Band, cheerleaders, student life and more coming by Tuesday.)

Pictured top: Maliki Haynes catches a Kaden Odom pass for a Northview touchdown Friday night in Bratt. Pictured top inset above: Luke Bridges with one of two touchdowns. Pictured bottom inset: QB Odom dumps a color of ice and water on NHS head coach Wes Summerford seconds before time expired on a perfect 10-0 season for the Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.

U.S. Marshals Arrest Escambia County Bank Robbery Suspect In Key West

November 5, 2022

A man wanted for an October 21 bank robbery in Escambia County was arrested by U.S. Marshals Friday night in Key West.

Tanner Richard Morgan, 36, was wanted for the robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank on Bayou Boulevard.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in Key West,  he was also charged with possession of a weapon and resisting arrest.

He will be transported back to Escambia County to face the bank robbery charge.

Tate’s Season Ends With 36-20 Loss To Washington

November 5, 2022

The Washington Wildcats defeated the Tate Aggies 36-20 Friday night on Tate’s Carl Madison Field.

Sophomore quarterback Taite Davis found Carmelo Campbell  to give the Aggies a 7-0 lead with 8:46 on the clock in the first.

Washington added a couple of touchdowns to hold a 14-7 lead by the first minute of the second quarter. The Wildcats snapped out of the endzone for a safety to give the Aggies a couple and cut their lead to 14-9.

Caleb Westergreen put the pigskin through the uprights for a Tate field goal, making it a 14-12 ballgame.

Davis hit Campbell in the endzone and 13 Edward O’Brien made the 2-point conversion to put the Aggies on top 20-14 in the third.

The Tate Aggies finished their season at 1-9.

For more photos, click or tap here.

NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.

5,000 Pound Food Giveaway Held In Walnut Hill

November 5, 2022

A 5,000 pound food giveaway was held Friday morning in Walnut Hill.

Justified Incarcerated Ministries hosted the Feeding the Gulf Coast drive-thru distribution at Bradberry Park, near Ernest Ward Middle School.

The event was sponsored by Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry. Escambia County Corrections Director Rich Powell, Jail Security Operations Commander Scott Nash and county corrections officers assisted with the food distribution.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.


High School Football Scoreboard

November 5, 2022

Here are Friday night football scores from around the North Escambia area:

FLORIDA

  • Northview 41, Bay 6 [Story, photos...]
  • Washington 36, Tate 20 [Story, photos...]
  • West Florida 14, Gulf Breeze 7
  • Wewahitchka 16, Jay 10
  • Escambia 35, Pensacola High 6
  • Milton 56, Godby 32
  • Niceville 35, Navarre 14
  • Pace 48, Hollis Christian Academy 0
  • Byes: Pensacola Catholic, Pine Forest

ALABAMA – Playoffs

  • Chambers Academy 56, Escambia Academy 12
  • T.R. Miller 41, Montgomery Academy 7
  • W.S. Neal 27, Opp 13

Pictured: Northview Chiefs quarterback Kaden Odom hands off to Jamarkus Jefferson Friday night as the Chiefs routed Bay, 41-6. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Highway 4 Canoe Creek Bridge Set For Replacement; Detour Planned For 330 Days

November 4, 2022

Work is expected to begin in early 2023 to replace the Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek, about halfway between Byrneville and Bratt, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. A detour will be in place for nearly a year.

This year’s 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.

Thursday night, the Escambia County Commission approved a resolution to support a temporary road closure for Highway 4 and establish a detour for an estimated 330 days. The detour 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 start date has not been determined; we’ll update you here on NorthEscambia.com when it is announced.

A smaller 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.

Cantonment Man With Violent Past Accused Of Beating, Kidnapping Woman

November 4, 2022

A Cantonment man with a violent past is facing felony charges for allegedly beating a woman and holding her down to force her from running out of the house for help.

Thomas Kevin Allen, 37, was charged this week with battery domestic violence second or subsequent offense and false imprisonment.

The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Allen had been drinking the night before the incident.

“He became enraged and began striking her in the face, head, torso, and legs with his fists against her will for several hours. She tried to run away to get help, but he held her down and continued striking her,” an arrest report states.

“I observed massive bruising to her torso and leg area along with a great deal of swelling to her head along with dried blood that had been partially wiped off,” the deputy noted in the report. The deputy said Allen smelled strongly of alcohol and marijuana and had what appeared to be dried blood on his shirt and hands.

The Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident due to a child in the home.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Allen was convicted of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in 2014 and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 2019. He was released from state prison in February 2021.

Allen remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $10,000.

Tate High School Names Students Of The Month

November 4, 2022

Tate High School has named their Students of the Month for August and September.

For September, they are Anthony Neptune, Jr. and Jordyn Banks.

For August, they are Ryker Knudsen and Claire Diamond (photo not available).

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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