‘Armed And Dangerous’ Century Bar Brawl Suspect Arrested In South Dakota
August 11, 2022
One of the seven suspects in a bar brawl in Century has been arrested in South Dakota.
Preston David Perry was taken into custody on a violation of probation warrant from Escambia County, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. ECSO said Perry was considered armed and dangerous.
He is expected to be extradited back to Escambia County after a hearing in South Dakota.
Perry, 31, was charged with principal to aggravated assault with a firearm, principal in the first degree to aggravated battery with a firearm, felony battery with a previous conviction and aggravated battery in connection with the bar brawl left the victim with a broken arm, broken nasal cavities and lost feeling in his lower back and leg after he was allegedly attacked outside Odom’s Bar on May 7.
For an earlier story about the bar brawl, click here.
Escambia To Hire Wes Moreno As Permanent County Administrator
August 11, 2022
Escambia County will offer the permanent county administrator position to current interim Wes Moreno.
A total of 28 people applied to be Escambia County’s next administrator. The applicants ranged from numerous governmental leaders to a current part-time funeral director assistant.
After the commission terminated Janice Gilley from the administrator position in June 2021, deputy administrator Moreno was named interim.
Commissioner Steven Barry said he’s not interested in bringing candidates to Pensacola for an interview.
“To be candid, I think I’ve had a 13 or 14 month interview with the gentleman serving in the position now and have been extremely pleased and extremely happy with the performance,” he said of Moreno.
“I stepped into the role in an extremely tumultuous time,” Moreno said. Several key employees and directors had resigned, and there were “massive” vacancies. “At that time, I did the only thing I knew how to do. And that’s just show up and go to work.”
“I didn’t do it by myself,” he said. “I’ve had good people around me.”
Bergosh said while there were a few good applicants, there were many who work at cities and counties much smaller than Escambia County.
“You’ve even got a person that used to work at Waffle House,” he said
The former Waffle House employee, however, did not make the list of 13 finalists. But a former parks and recreation director that’s now a part-time funeral home director assistant did.
“I would be leaning much more heavily toward getting a contract with who we know,” Bergosh said. “We know Wes Moreno. He’s been here more than 30 years. I don’t want to use an expletive, so I won’t. But he’s kicked butt. That’s not the word I’d normally say…He loves this county, and I think he’s doing a great job.”
County Attorney Alison Rogers will negotiate a contract with Moreno and present it to the board next week for final consideration. The negotiable salary range for the administrator position is $173,000 to $195,000.
Commissioners decided in July 2021 not to hurry in finding a permanent replacement. Earlier this year, they hired search firm GovHR USA of Illinois.
Commissioner Doug Underhill stated that he believes the county should move forward with interviewing candidates from the GovHR list.
The county will consider GovHR’s work complete and pay them for their services.
GovHR’s report to the commission divides 13 top candidates into two tiers for consideration.
The top 13 candidates, as determined by GovHR, were:
TIER 1
- Dale (Doc) T. Dougherty — city manager, City of Garden City, Michigan
- Brian J. Geoghegan — former township manager, Howell Township, New Jersey
- Joseph M. Kerby — county administrator, Benton County, Oregon
- Christopher R. Miller — county administrator, King George County, Virginia
- Rick J. Rudometkin — deputy city manager, City of Huntsville, Texas
- Stanley (Stan) Z. Sunday — former deputy county administrator, Walton County (FL) Board of County Commissioners
- Carlos F. Tobar — county manager, Baldwin County, Georgia
TIER 2
- Sharon Hall — CFO, The Housing Authority for the City of Fort Myers, Florida
- Don A. King, Jr. — chief of staff, Special Operations Command Europe, U.S. Army
- John D. Manning — former assistant city administrator and director of community development, City of Branson, Missouri
- William (Scott) S. McCord — former director, McMinnville Parks and Recreation Department, McMinnville, Tennessee*
- Joshua (Josh) W. Ray — former city manager, City of Shelbyville, Tennessee
- Jane K. Shang, former city manager, City of Deltona, Florida
*McCord is the candidate who is currently working as a part-time funeral director assistant.
Two Escambia County residents applied but were not named to the recommended tiers by GovHR. One is a consultant, and the other is employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Century Man Caught With Fentanyl And Weapons, ECSO Says
August 11, 2022
A Century man is facing multiple drug and weapons charges, and a homeless woman is facing drug charges, after they were found with fentanyl in a van by an Escambia County Roadway, according to the sheriff’s office.
Keith Aaron Roads, 42, was charged with possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, unlawful carrying a weapon without a license, unlawful carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a concealed weapon while committing a felony, and carrying a concealed firearm while committing a felony.
Mary Katherine Sames Mundy, 47, was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Pine Forest Road and Sharon Lane to check a reported suspicious van parked on the side of the road. They reported finding Roads in the driver’s seat with Mundy in the front passenger seat.
Roads allowed a deputy to look for his identification inside his backpack. The backpack did not contain his identification, but deputies did find a loaded .38 revolver, a loaded .22lr pistol and brass knuckles, according to an arrest report. Roads’ ID was ultimately found in his pants pocket.
The vehicle was searched after a K-9 alert. Inside the van, deputies found a substance that field tested positive for fentanyl, along with a marijuana pipe, another broken pipe, cut plastic straws and smoking devices, the report states.
Roads remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $115,500, and Mundy was jailed with a bond amount of $2,000.
Flomaton Murder Suspect Now Behind Bars Locally; Also Wanted For Wisconsin Murder
August 11, 2022
A Michigan man wanted for murdering a Flomaton man last week is now behind bars locally.
Caleb Scott Anderson, 23, was arrested August 3 in Shelby County, Alabama, on charges related to a murder in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, August 2. According to reports, he signed an extradition waiver last Friday for his return to Wisconsin. He remained in the Shelby County Jail until Wednesday, when he was transferred back to Escambia County, Alabama.
He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton without bond Wednesday night, formally charged with murder and first degree burglary.
Dwight Dixon, 52, was found deceased when officers from the Flomaton Police Department responded to an emergency medical call on Dixon Road about 8:30 a.m.
Last week, Intelligence Analysts within the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Fusion Center received information and created a statewide law enforcement bulletin on behalf of the Green Bay Police Department and the United States Marshals (USMS) Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force of a possible murder suspect traveling in Alabama.
Once the bulletin was released intelligence analysts quickly began receiving tips from local police departments which assisted ALEA special agents in identifying Anderson as the suspect and led to the discovery of evidence which
linked him to murders in both states.
Anderson was located while operating a stolen vehicle and was arrested by the U.S. Marshals and officers with the Helena Police Department in Helena.
Authorities have not released any further details about the Flomaton murder or any possible motive. ALEA said their findings will be presented to the Escambia County (AL) District Attorney’s Office.
Dwight Dixon
Escambia Firefighters Working To Help Keep School Zones Safe
August 11, 2022
Escambia County Fire Rescue trucks are in school zones across the county during this first week of school with lights flashing as a reminder to drivers to slow down. Pictured above: Engine 6 from the Ensley Fire Station outside Ensley Elementary School on Wednesday. Pictured below: Engine 219 from the Beulah Fire Station at Beulah Elementary School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Application Deadline Is Friday For Florida Forest Service Carbon Sequestration Program
August 11, 2022
The application deadline is August 12 for the 2022 Sequestering Carbon and Protecting Florida Land Program, a state-funded grant aimed at establishing and protecting robust forest lands in Florida by providing incentive payments to landowners.
Now in its second year, the state-funded Sequestering Carbon and Protecting Florida Land Program is open to non-industrial, private landowners, a county or local government, or a legally organized and registered nonprofit organization, entity, or institution. Applicants may request funding for tree establishment practices on a minimum of 20 acres up to a maximum of 250 acres. The grant covers site preparation, purchasing seedlings, and tree planting.
“The initial investment of site preparation, seedlings, and planting is costly,” said Erin Albury, State Forester and Florida Forest Service Director. “The Sequestering Carbon and Protecting Florida Land Program helps landowners overcome the hurdle of establishment costs and works toward our mission of ensuring our state’s forest lands are available for future generations.”
To obtain an application or to learn more about the Sequestering Carbon and Protecting Florida Land Program, visit FDACS.gov/CarbonProgram.
Photo Gallery: First Day Of School In Escambia County
August 11, 2022
Wednesday was the first day of school in Escambia County.
For a gallery of parent submitted photos, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barons Exact Revenge With Late 5-2 Win Over Blue Wahoos
August 11, 2022
One night after rallying late to steal a win from the Birmingham Barons, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos suffered a similar fate on Wednesday in a 5-2 defeat.
Marlins rehabber Tommy Nance pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in relief for Pensacola, but three late Birmingham runs helped the Barons even up the series one game apiece.
J.J. Muno put Birmingham ahead 2-0 in the second inning with a two-run homer against Pensacola spot starter Jefry Yan. The Blue Wahoos couldn’t solve Barons starter Sean Burke, who delivered 5.0 scoreless innings, but kept the game within reach thanks to effective relief from Tyler Mitzel and Nance.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Blue Wahoos tied the game 2-2 thanks to a walk, a catcher’s interference call, a throwing error and a safety squeeze bunt from Thomas Jones against Luke Shilling (W, 1-0). Just moments later, the Barons took a 3-2 lead in the eighth as Andrew McInvale (L, 2-2) uncorked a wild pitch to score Oscar Colas from third base.
In the ninth, the Barons got a pair of insurance runs on a Jose Rodriguez double, Raudy Read sacrifice fly and a solo homer from Colas against Josh Simpson. Theo Denlinger (S, 5) got the final six outs to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Barons on Thursday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
One Charged After Man Hit Repeatedly In The Head With Tire Iron
August 10, 2022
One person has been charged after allegedly hitting a man repeatedly in the head with a tire iron.
Lew Christopher Lansdon, 36, was charged with second degree felony aggravated battery causing bodily injury.
Lansdon allegedly pulled a knife on the victim during a dispute that originated over a set of tools. He then hit the victim in the head repeatedly with a tire iron while he was on the ground, according to an arrest report.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrived to find the victim with a noticeable head wound. He was conscious but not alert and seemed dazed from his injury. Deputies said he was unable to provide his side of the story due to his condition. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Lansdon’s statements were redacted from the arrest report, including his explanation about his own head injury.
Lew remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $19,500.
Restaurant Honors Legacy Of Fallen Marine “J.R.” Spears Of Molino
August 10, 2022
A shadow box was presented to a Pensacola restaurant Tuesday to help keep alive the legacy of Cpl. Jonathan Ross “J.R.” Spears (USMC) of Molino. He was killed in action, Ramadi, Iraq, on October 23, 2005.
The Marine Corps League Pensacola presented the shadow box to Bubba’s 33 on Davis Highway.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
