ECSO Seizes Drugs, Guns, Money, Jewelry, Cars And More In Big Raid
June 23, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized several pounds of methamphetamine, 32 grams of fentanyl, guns, vehicles, and thousands of dollars of cash and jewelry in a major narcotics raid.
The ECSO Narcotics Unit and SWAT team served search warrants at five different homes in the county. Three of the homes were in the 3800-block of West Jordan Street, one in the 2400-block of West Belmont Street and one in the 8000-block of Cayenne Way.
At the five addresses, narcotics investigators located 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine, a pound of marijuana, 32 grams of fentanyl, 8.1 grams of cocaine, 8.5 grams of marijuana edibles, 13.4 grams of MDMA, 4.2 grams of heroin, 5.6 grams of oxycodone, a quantity of promethazine, two pints of promethazine with codeine mixed, $17,947 in cash, and 10 guns.
Investigators also seized five vehicles all believed to be used in drug trade: a 2019 Toyota Camry, 2019 Nissan SUV, 2021 Mitsubishi SUV, 2019 Honda, and a 2021 Maserati utility vehicle. Nearly $100,000 in jewelry and other assets were also seized.
This operation was conducted with the assistance of the United States Postal Inspectors Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pensacola Police Department, and the United States Army – National Guard.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office named seven suspects:
- Andrea Howard, 33
- Larry Hartley, 34
- Cubie Ball, 32
- Anthony Moore, 31
- Kellie Langle, 40
- Marcus Faggard, 51
- Kewauntez Matthews, 29
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Late Rally Sinks Wahoos In Loss To Shuckers
June 23, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had a prime opportunity to clinch their first half division crown on Wednesday, but saw a late lead slip away in a 5-4 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers.
The Blue Wahoos still need to win only one of their four remaining first-half games against the Shuckers to claim a postseason berth.
Eury Pérez was ambushed by the Shuckers in the first, as Joey Wiemer hit a two-run home run on just the second pitch of his start to put Biloxi ahead 2-0. The young righty settled down after that, striking out six batters and completing 5.0 innings with no further damage.
Paul McIntosh got the Blue Wahoos on the board with a solo homer in the fourth, and a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the fifth from Troy Johnston tied the game 2-2.
José Devers tripled in the seventh against Carlos Luna (W, 2-4), and Ray-Patrick Didder followed with a go-ahead two-run homer to put Pensacola ahead 4-2. That lead would not last long, however, as Eli Villalobos surrendered a two-run double to Noah Campbell in the bottom of the inning to tie the game up 4-4.
In the eighth, Jakson Reetz took Josh Simpson (L, 3-1) deep for his 15th home run of the season to put Biloxi ahead for good. Zach Vennaro (S, 7) worked a quick ninth to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Thursday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
With No Candidates, How Will Century Fill Two Council Seats?
June 22, 2022
It appears two Century town council seats will be empty come January because the incumbents are not running again, and no one else qualified as candidates for the seats.
No one qualified by the state-mandated noon deadline on June 17 to run for Seat 3, currently held by Leonard White, and Seat 4, currently held by James Smith, Jr.
Century’s attorney, Matt Dannheisser, has offered a “preliminary thought” on how the seats can be filled, according to a council agenda. He said the seats will simply become vacant at the first council meeting in January. At that meeting, incumbent Sandra McMurray Jackson will be sworn in for another term; she was the only candidate to qualify for her seat and was automatically elected.
Then, at that January meeting, the three sitting council members will appoint two people to the vacant seats, as allowed by the town charter. The charter then specifies a special election will be set for 60 to 90 days later for the two seats.
Dannheisser is expected to provide a formal written recommendation to the town in about two weeks.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday afternoon that it will be up to the town to follow their charter to fill the seats. He said the town will be responsible for the cost of the special election.
Registration Deadline Is Thursday For Tate Cheerleaders’ Lil Aggies Summer Camp
June 22, 2022
The Tate High School Cheerleaders’ Lil Aggies Summer Camp is coming up next week, and the registration deadline is Thursday.
The registration forms and payment are due by Thursday, June 23. The camp will take place at Tate Monday, June 27 through Wednesday, June 29 from 8 a.m. until noon each day. The Tate Aggies cheerleaders will teach athletes the proper stretch techniques, sideline cheers and chants, proper jump techniques and motion placement, as well as stunting and tumbling skill building. There will also be fun games, engaging activities, snacks and drinks.
For registration information, click or tap here.
File photo.
Cantonment Man Charged With Strangling His Girlfriend
June 22, 2022
A Cantonment man has been charged with strangling his girlfriend.
Jaleal Lamar Cummings, 35, was charged with third degree felony domestic battery by strangulation and violation of a domestic violence injunction.
The girlfriend told deputies that she asked Cummings to leave a bedroom because he was drunk, and he responded by placing his hands around her neck and choking her until she could not breathe, according to an arrest report. She said she yelled for help, and a knock on the door caused Cummings to flee. Another adult in the residence heard the screams and knocked on the bedroom door.
Cummings said the girlfriend would not give him his car keys, and there was a verbal-only disagreement before he walked away.
Cummings was released from jail on a $12,000 bond.
Records indicate Cummins was served with an injunction with a no contact order in April 2022.
Century Switches Prison Water Supply To Backup System From Central Water Works
June 22, 2022
It’s been just over two years since water first flowed through a permanent system interconnect under Tedder Road to the Century Correctional Institution.
And it paid dividends this week when the Town of Century well serving the prison was shut down for unscheduled repairs, according to town officials.
The permanent interconnect from Central Water Works to the Century water system was completed in late May 2020 to provide a dependable water supply to the prison. The interconnect was installed after the town’s water well that was the sole water supply for the prison failed in early May 2020. That forced the town to use two-inch fire hoses from a Central Water Works fire hydrant on the south side of Tedder Road to the prison on the north side of the road until a permanent solution was in place and the well was repaired.
The town expects the unscheduled repairs to their water tower at the prison to be completed as early as Wednesday. In the meantime, the town was purchasing water for the prison from the Central Water Works interconnection.
Pictured: The Town of Century’s water tower at the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
ECSO Cmdr. Andrew Hobbs Completes FBI Academy
June 22, 2022
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Commander Andrew Hobbs has completed the 282nd session of the FBI National Academy
Hobbs has returned to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office after completing an intensive 10-week program focusing on communication, leadership, and fitness training led by FBI Academy instructors, special agents, and other staff with advanced degrees. The FBI National Academy is a professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement managers nominated by their agency heads because of demonstrated leadership qualities.
Hobbs is the first from the ECSO to complete the FBI National Academy in over 10 years. He joins Sheriff Chip W. Simmons and Chief Tommi Lyter as graduates of this prestigious law enforcement executive program.
“We continuously look for opportunities to improve our service to the community. Training and professionalism are paramount to this mission. We are proud of Commander Hobbs and are certain the training he received will make him an even better public servant,” Simmons said.
Biloxi Shuckers Beat The Wahoos
June 22, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos missed out on an attempt to clinch the South Division on Tuesday, falling 5-3 to the Biloxi Shuckers.
The Blue Wahoos will need to win only one of their five remaining first-half games against the Shuckers to claim a postseason berth.
A.J. Ladwig (L, 2-1) completed six solid innings, but allowed four early runs that Pensacola couldn’t overcome. Joey Wiemer drove in the game’s first run in the first inning with an RBI single, Terence Doston doubled the lead in the second with an RBI hit of his own, and Jakson Reetz lined a two-run homer in the third for a 4-0 Biloxi lead.
Noah Zavolas (W, 2-1) was dominant in his start for the Shuckers, allowing only three unearned runs over 6.2 innings. He was aided by defense from Wiemer, as the right fielder robbed a home run from José Devers in the third and made two more leaping grabs at the wall later in the game.
The Blue Wahoos broke through in the seventh inning with a Cobie Fletcher-Vance sacrifice fly and Devin Hairson two-run single, but the Shuckers added an insurance run in the eighth and Luis Contreras (S, 1) got the final six outs to earn his first save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series at the Shuckers on Wednesday.
by Erick Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Highway 31 Crash Near Atmore Claims Life Of Alabama Man
June 22, 2022
A two-vehicle crash on Highway 31 west of Atmore claimed the life of an Alabama man.
The crash happened in Baldwin County about 3:22 p.m. Monday. Tuesday night, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said a 2003 Saturn Ion driven by 85-year old Winston Killam of Bay Minette was struck by a 2014 Nissan Altima driven by 33-year old Andrew Shoots of Foley. Killam was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Troopers are continuing their investigation.
Driver Of Stolen Jeep Charged After Ramming State Trooper, Pursuit
June 21, 2022
A suspect in a stolen vehicle rammed a state trooper’s vehicle and attempted to flee Tuesday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a state trooper located a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited driven by Gregory Bernard Henderson in the parking lot of a Whataburger on Pensacola Boulevard, and the trooper attempted to make a traffic stop.
As another Trooper responded as a backup unit and entered the parking lot directly in front of the stolen vehicle, Henderson drove into the right side of the trooper’s patrol car.
Henderson drove out of the Whataburger parking lot and traveled north on Highway 29. As a FHP supervisor arrived on scene, Henderson then drove recklessly across the median and into the Tom Thumb parking lot at Highway 29 and Airport Boulevard
He then drove west on Airport where he disregarded the red light at the intersection of North W Street and at Marcus Pointe Boulevard. Additional troopers arrived on scene and attempted the PIT maneuver and were able to surround the vehicle at the intersection of Highway 29 and W Street.
Henderson refused multiple commands to exit the vehicle, and access was gained through a broken window. With the assistance of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies, troopers were able to arrest Henderson “after a brief moment of resistance”, according to FHP.
Henderson, 36, was charged with felony aggravated fleeing and eluding, two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, driving as a habitual traffic offender, possession of a stolen vehicle and felony marijuana possession. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $108,500.
A female passenger in the Jeep was not charged in the incident.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and others, click to enlarge.
