Cantonment Man Accused Of Leading Pensacola Police On High Speed Chase
July 19, 2022
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges for leading Pensacola Police on high speed chase that ended in a hospital parking lot.
Devin Joshua Marzan was charged with felony fleeing with disregard of safety to person or property, leaving the scene of a crash involving damage to property, obstructing without violence and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A check of the tag on a red Mitsubishi showed that it was not on the assigned vehicle, and a Pensacola Police Department officer attempted a traffic stop near the intersection of Olive Road and Johnson Avenue. Marzan turned west onto Johnson Avenue and attempted to flee from the marked PPD unit at speeds exceeding 80 mph, according to an arrest report. He continued, through a red light at Johnson Avenue and Olive and later into the West Florida Hospital parking lot. He struck concrete pillars surrounding a plastic gate, disabling his vehicle, the report continues.
Officers reported finding a digital scale with white powdery residue, along with a metal straw and a plastic straw with residue. The arrest report does not identify the residue.
Marzan ran though the hospital property and across University Avenue “before he fell down and was apprehended” the report states.
Marzan remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $19,500.
Rescuers Honored For Finding Flomaton Man Missing For 12 Hours On Creek
July 19, 2022
Several individuals were honored Monday afternoon by the Flomaton Police Department and Town Council for their part last week in locating a man with special needs that was missing for hours on a local creek.
The Flomaton Police Department’s Meritorious Service Award was presented to:
- Sheriff Heath Jackson
- Conservation Officer Adam Johnson
- Firefighter Jay Jackson
- Firefighter John Bondurant
- Firefighter Jered Carnley
- Firefighter Gavin Hinote
- Citizen Travis Johnson
- FPD Officer Tyler Sigler
Gerry Don Thompson was last seen about 6 p.m. July in the area of the Flomaton Boat Landing on Big Escambia Creek, just off Highway 31 and the Skippy White Bridge. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, he is a 33-year old that lives with a condition that may impair his judgment.
He was located safe about 12 hours later.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Mini Cheer Clinic To Be Held July 30
July 19, 2022
The Northview High School cheerleaders will hold a Back To School Mini Chief Cheer Clinic on Saturday, July 30.
Campers ages 5-12 will learn individual cheer skills, partner stunts, a spirit dance, and most have fun. They will also have the opportunity to cheer with the NHS cheerleaders under the Friday night lights at an upcoming Northview football game.
Comfortable clothes and tennis shoes are recommended.
Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. on July 30; the cost is $35 per child. The camp will take place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., with a family performance at 1:30 p.m.
Update: Flomaton Police Locate Missing Teen
July 19, 2022
UPDATE: Flomaton Police said this missing teen has been located and is safe.
The Flomaton Police Department is looking for a missing teen.
Tyree Dorth, 14, was last seen late Monday night in the area of MLK Drive in Flomaton.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 or 911.
Vote-By-Ballots Are On The Way
July 19, 2022
Nearly 40,000 vote-by-mail ballots are headed to Escambia County mailboxes for the August 23 primary election, according to Supervisor of Elections David Stafford. This is in addition to ballots sent to military and overseas voters earlier this month.
Voters who have requested to vote by mail should begin receiving their ballot packages within a week. After completing the ballot, the voter must sign and date the return envelope and return it by mail (postage paid) or deliver it to elections office or an early voting site during early voting hours. Ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. All vote-by-mail ballots are verified prior to tabulation. Complete voter instructions are included in the package.
The U.S. Postal Service recommends voters mail ballots at least one week before the due date.
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the primary election is 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 13. To request a vote-by-mail ballot visit EscambiaVotes.gov and click “Vote-by-Mail” or contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (850) 595-3900.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Silver Alert Canceled
July 18, 2022
UPDATE: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has canceled this Silver Alert.
A Florida Silver Alert has been issued for 83-year old Carl McCall, last seen in the area of the 8500 block of Blue Jay Way in Pensacola.
He was wearing a blue t-shirt, blue jeans and black shoes. He may be traveling in a 2015 blue Subaru Outback with Florida tag number 2289UB.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or 911.
Escambia School Board Divided On Potential Property Tax Increase
July 18, 2022
The Escambia County School Board currently stands divided on a potential property tax increase.
The taxable property value in Escambia County is $27.5 billion dollars, according to the district, up $4.3 billion over the current tax year due to increases in real estate values and new construction.
Keeping the 2023 millage rate at 2022’s 1.214 mils would generate $32 million and put over $2 million into reserves. The district has the option of upping the millage rate to 1.5, which would mean $39.6 million in funding.
It’s estimated that the projects that can be funded by the property tax revenue will cost $29.6 million.
But keeping the millage rate the same for the upcoming year would technically be a tax increase. A lower rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the state of Florida as a tax increase. The district won’t know the rollback rate until later this week.
“You know me. I would go with 1.5 mils if I could, but I know I don’t have any support there,” board member Patty Hightower said. The 1.5 mils rate would be the highest tax increase allowed by law. She said the district needs the revenue after overspending by $3 million last year.
“We’ve got to make sure we have the funds to cover those inflation costs,” Hightower said, citing a 9.1% inflation rate the district faces on purchases.
“People out there are suffering through the same inflation that we’ve got going on,” board chairman Kevin Adams replied. “There is no way that I’m going to support a tax increase on the citizens of Escambia County. It’s not happening with me. Now the rest of my board members, if they want to join that party, it’s up to you.”
Adams said he would support the rolled-back rate and adjust the budget accordingly. He said the citizens of Escambia County will not support a property tax increase, especially after the school district has seen an increase in sales tax revenue and federal dollars.
“I will support the 1.214,” District 5 board member Bill Slayton said, later adding that he would vote for the rate necessary to maintain the same level of funding.
“I am not going to support a tax increase either,” Paul Fetsko said. I agree we’ve got the revenue coming from half cents sales tax.”
Adams, as the chairperson running a recent board workshop meeting, turned to member Dr. Laura Edler and asked for her opinion as the deciding vote.
“I could get sick that day,” Edler quipped.
Pictured top: Escambia County School Board Chairperson Kevin Adams explains that he will not support a tax increase. Pictured inset: Board member Patty Hightower. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged With Victim Tampering In Century ‘Vicious Bar Brawl’ With Seven Suspects
July 18, 2022
An Atmore woman has been charged with a felony for allegedly interfering into the investigation in a “vicious bar brawl” in Century.
Seven suspects have been charged to date, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said several are “documented criminal outlaw motorcycle gang members”.
Brandy Michelle Kendrick, 44, was charged with tampering with a victim in a felony first degree proceeding. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
After reviewing video of the incident, deputies determined Kendrick was present for portions of the battery, according to an arrest report. After the battery ends she appears to check on the victim and have a conservation with another individual, pulling her aside for several minutes, the report continues.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s office said Kendrick appeared to intervene several times with a victim’s interview. After Kendrick left, the victim was crying and stated they were scared to identify any suspects “due to what she was told in regards to her speaking with law enforcement”, the report states.
According to the ECSO, Kendrick was in a dating relationship with suspect Bradley Griener.
James Joseph Dixon, 27, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, was charged with two counts of felony aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and obstructing justice. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $275,000.
Deputies said Dixon pressed a handgun into the victim’s eye, threatening to kill the victim if he talked to law enforcement.
Dixon is a documented member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club according to an arrest report.
One person was transported to the hospital following the violent fight May 7at Odom’s Bar in the 9500 block of North Century Boulevard. The victim was found outside the bar covered in blood with several injuries to his face, according to deputies.Surveillance video is below.
As NorthEscambia.com previously reported, John Percy Johnson, age 45 of Century; Bradley Scott Griener, age 31 of McDavid; Brody Luke Trainer, age 44 of Gulf Breeze; Robert Tyler Dean, age 54 of Pace; and Preston David Perry, age 31 of Pace were each charged with aggravated battery. Dean, Perry and Trainer were also charged with additional felony battery and/or assault counts. All five were released from jail on bonds ranging from $25,000 to $150,000.
A sixth suspect, 44-year old Steven R Jay Arnold of Brewton, later turned himself in at the jail on charges of aggravated battery with the use of a deadly weapon, aggravated battery for causing great bodily harm, and aggravated assault for use of a deadly weapon with the intent to kill.
The victim’s girlfriend told deputies that he was attacked by several bikers outside the bar where six or seven alleged bikers were kicking and stomping him. One allegedly pointed a gun during the attack.
The victim told investigators that he had been having an ongoing issue with “Percy Johnson” and the two ran into each other at the bar. He said Johnson told him to step outside where he was attacked by approximately five bikers wearing Outlaw motorcycle gang clothing. In addition to punching, kicking and stomping him, “one of the individuals pressed a firearm into his eyeball and stated they would kill him if he talked to the police and that not to mess with their biker family”, an arrest report states.
After the victim made a statement that he was going to sue the bar, a man believed to be the bar’s bouncer along with three or four other males began to beat him again, the report states. After the attacks, the girlfriend was approached by a white female wearing a biker vest who informed her that if she talked to law enforcement, it would “not be pretty for her”, the report continues.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office obtained search warrants and seized video recordings from the bar.
An ECSO investigator said in his report that the videos show the victim and Johnson walk outside the bar, followed by at least seven other people, most of whom were wearing insignia consistent with criminal outlaw motorcycle gangs to include the Southern Saints and Outlaws.
The altercation was captured on video (posted below), showing the victim kicked, punched, and stomped on several times by numerous individuals, the ECSO report states. The victim remains on the ground for over 15 minutes, apparently unconscious until medical personnel arrive on scene.
The victim suffered a broken arm, broken nasal cavities and lost feeling in his lower back and leg, he told deputies. He stated that when the gun was pressed into his eye, he was told “If you talk to the police, we will kill you”.
The five suspects were released from jail on bonds as follows: Johnson -$25,000; Griener – $35,000; Trainer – $150,000; Dean – $65,000; Perry – $85,000; Arnold – $65,000.
The video below has no sound.
FHP Seeks Fatal Crash Witnesses In ‘Send Nudes’ Tahoe
July 18, 2022
The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking two witnesses to a July 7 fatal crash in Escambia County.
The crash occurred at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and North W Street after 7 p.m. The wreck claimed the life of a 56-year old Escambia County woman and critically injured her 38-year old passenger.
The witnesses were in a black Chevrolet Tahoe with black aftermarket rims. The back window had “Send Nudes” written on it, troopers said.
The individuals stopped at the intersection but left prior to providing statements to troopers.
“We are simply trying to locate these individuals for questioning about the traffic crash only, they are not in trouble nor do they face any charges,” FHP Lt. Jason King said. “We would also like to extend this opportunity to any witnesses willing to come forward and speak to the Florida Highway Patrol, as it relates to this fatal crash.”
Anyone with information is asked to call *FHP or (850) 484-5000.
Florida Gas Prices Continue Decline, AAA Says
July 18, 2022
Florida gas prices dropped another 15 cents last week. The state average is now on a five-week streak of declines, falling a total of 62 cents per gallon.
Sunday, the average price for gasoline across the state was $4.27 per gallon. This time last year, the price was $3 a gallon.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $4.20. In North Escambia, a low of $4.21 could be found Sunday night on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while multiple Pensacola stations were below $4, including $3.61 at a warehouse club.
“Drivers are likely relieved to get a break from record-high prices, and prices could get even cheaper this week,” Jenkins continued. “However, it’s important to remember that the market remains extremely volatile, and prices have the potential to bounce back. That particularly applies to hurricane season. If a major storm makes landfall along the gulf coast, impacting operations at refineries in Texas, Louisiana, or Mississippi, prices could spike, due to concerns about fuel supplies.”