DeSantis Announces Local Task Force, Other Efforts Targeting ‘Biden Border Crisis’ (Photo Gallery)
June 18, 2022
In Pensacola Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced three actions Florida is taking to address what he called the “Biden Border Crisis”, including a law enforcement task force operating locally.
Speaking at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, DeSantis said Florida has formed a strike force of state and local law enforcement to interdict human smuggling, human trafficking, and to seize illegal weapons being transported through the state.
“Illegal aliens are being smuggled across the border in record numbers, which the reckless policies of the Biden administration facilitate,” said DeSantis. “Today, Florida has taken additional action to protect our state from the effects of what is a full-fledged border crisis.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
The strike force is already in place in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. It’s comprised of the Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforced and sheriff’s offices from the four counties.
In the span of just three days, mostly along I-10 in Northwest Florida, law enforcement interdicted five illegal aliens from Honduras and two from El Salvador who were arrested and charged with human smuggling or solicitation to commit human smuggling.
The strike force also recovered almost four grams of fentanyl, which the governor said is enough to kill nearly 2,000 Floridians.
Across the state, FHP has identified 40 human smuggling cases with 150 undocumented individuals since January 2021 that resulted 140 charges, according to FHP Director Gene Spaulding.
“I can’t emphasize enough, that is just scratching the surface,” Spaulding said. “If we were able to go out and dedicate full resources to this issue, it would be much higher than that. I’m confident.”
DeSantis filed a petition to the Florida Supreme Court for an order to impanel a statewide grand jury to identify and investigate persons and international human smuggling networks that move illegal aliens, particularly children, across the southwest border to more desirable states such as Florida.
The grand jury will examine these networks’ impact on the State of Florida and how they have violated state laws. In addition, the grand jury will investigate local governments that are aiding this smuggling scheme by intentionally violating state law, which requires them to cooperate with the federal government on immigration matters.
Friday morning, DeSantis also signed SB 1808 that prohibits any Florida government from ding business with any company that carries undocumented immigrants, unless they are being transported for deportation or detention.
State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden said her office will continue working with local and state law enforcement to make sure they present strong cases in court. She has assigned a prosecutor to be available to law enforcement 24/7 as they build cases in the field.
“The administration currently in Washington may not be controlling our nation’s borders,” Bowden Madden said. “But we’re going to do everything that we can to control the borders of the state of Florida.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged With Reckless Murder For Fiery Flomaton Crash Last Month
June 18, 2022
A driver is now charged with reckless murder for the death of a man in fiery crash last month near Flomaton.
Emily Nicole Taylor, 21, was booked into the Escambia County (FL) Jail late Friday night as a fugitive from justice on an outstanding Alabama warrant for reckless murder. She was being held without bond awaiting extradition to Alabama.
Flomaton Police said Taylor was driving a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu that left the roadway, struck a tree, overturned and burst into flames on May 15. Taylor was ejected from the vehicle and airlifted to an area hospital. The passenger, 24-year old Jacob Maulden, was trapped in the vehicle and perished.
The crash happened about 1:25 a.m. May 13 on Old Atmore Road about a quarter mile east of Tulip Road, just a few hundred feet north of the Alabama-Florida state line.
The arrest warrant was issued after the Flomaton Police Department and Alabama State Troopers concluded their investigation and the evidence was reviewed by the Escambia County (AL) District Attorney’s Office.
The Flomaton and Friendship fire stations, along with the Century Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue, and McMillan EMS also responded to the crash.
Photos NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win Fourth in A Row
June 18, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their fourth in a row Friday night, defeating the Tennessee Smokies 3-1 thanks to a dominant pitching performance from Bryan Mitchell.
Mitchell (W, 1-0), with parts of six seasons of major league experience, put it all together in his third Blue Wahoos start. The righty allowed only one run on five hits over 7.0 innings, striking out seven without walking a batter.
The Blue Wahoos maintained their 4.5-game lead in the South Division with 8 to play in the first half. A combination of four Blue Wahoos wins or Biloxi losses will clinch Pensacola’s first playoff berth since 2019 and their first division title since 2017.
Mitchell locked horns with Smokies starter Javier Assad, with the two teams scoreless until a Bubba Hollins RBI single in the sixth put Pensacola ahead 1-0.
Smokies right fielder Alexander Canario led off the seventh with an opposite-field solo homer to tie the game 1-1, but the Blue Wahoos answered back in the bottom of the seventh against C.D. Pelham (L, 1-1). Paul McIntosh drew a leadoff walk before Griffin Conine blasted a go-ahead two-run homer to right field, putting Pensacola ahead 3-1.
Josh Simpson (S, 2) struck out five batters for a six-out save, his second of the series.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Tennessee Smokies on Saturday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Molino Church Daycare Worker Facing Child Abuse Charge For Allegedly Biting A Child
June 17, 2022
A church worker daycare has been charged with child abuse after allegedly biting a child.
Haley Nicole Gunn, age 30 of Century, was booked into the Escambia County Jail for third degree felony child abuse without great bodily harm and misdemeanor battery. She was released from jail on a $6,000 bond.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Gunn bit a child under her care Tuesday in the daycare at CrossFaith Church on Highway 29 in Molino.
ECSO said security video shows the young victim bite another child. Gunn went to the child, grabbed her left arm and bit her, according to an arrest report. The video shows Gunn then check on the other child before picking up the victim and looking at her arm, the report continues.
Gunn stated that the child had bitten other children on two prior occasions. She told deputies that she had been given permission by the parents to physically discipline the child by slapping her on the hands or on the thigh, but the child’s guardian denied that was true.
The child had a visible bite mark wound with bruising, the report states.
The guardian told deputies that Gunn was apologetic, but she was fired from her job.
Many of Gunn’s statements to law enforcement were redacted from a report obtained from the State Attorney’s Office.
The Florida Department of Children and Families is also investigating.
Escambia County Won’t Raise Fire Fee, Property Tax Or Sales Tax To Increase Fire Services Funding
June 17, 2022
Escambia County will not raise the fire fee, sales tax or property tax in order to fund fire services this year.
Instead, they will use $5 million from an expected increase in the general fund. Escambia County is projecting about $19 million more in property tax revenue next year without a change in the tax rate due to increased property values.
“It appears to me as if the only course of action is to just absorb the expenses out of the general fund and leave MSBUs, MSTUs and ad valorem alone and just move forward,” Commissioner Steven Barry said.
The Escambia County Commission took no formal action on Thursday. Instead, they will include the $5 million five services increase in the next general fund budget, which will take effect on October 1.
Earlier this month, the commission considered raising the fire MSBU from $125 to $165 per year instead of a previously discussed sales tax increase.
ECUA Shuts Down Recycling Center, Awaiting Repair Parts
June 17, 2022
The ECUA Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) is closed following the failure of an essential piece of equipment.
This equipment, the second of two aging conveyor belts, was slated for replacement in this fiscal year. The ECUA Board approved the $82,000 purchase of two new replacement belts at its February 2022 meeting.
But the existing equipment did not outlast the supply chain delays that are affecting so many businesses across the country. The conveyor belts are critical parts of the infeed system to the MRF and the facility cannot operate without them.
“We are continuing normal recycling collection, which is a free opt-in service with residential sanitation accounts, and urge our customers to keep in a positive recycling habit,” said Nathalie Bowers, ECUA public information officer.
“ECUA maintenance crews will take advantage of this downtime to make repairs and perform maintenance work on equipment that generally requires a facility shutdown, as well as prepare for the installation of the new belts, to ensure the restoration of MRF operations as quickly as possible. The most current delivery date information we have for the belts is early August so at this time, we anticipate resuming operations in mid-August,” Bowers said.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Three Injured In High Speed Jacks Branch Road Pickup Truck Rollover
June 17, 2022
Three people were injured in a high speed single vehicle rollover crash Thursday in Cantonment.
The 39-year old driver of a Toyota Tacoma was traveling south on Jacks Branch Road approaching Old Bridge Road at a high rate of speed, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was unable to maintain control in a curve, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway. The pickup continued to travel south on the shoulder of the road, colliding with a mailbox and a concrete culvert.
The pickup went airborne and landed in the roadway. It began to rotate and rolled for about 350 feet, according to troopers. The driver was ejected.
The driver was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital by Escambia County EMS. A 14-year old female and a 16-year old male passenger were taken by family to the Sacred Heart Pediatric Emergency Room.
A dog that was in the back of the pickup did not survive.
The Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Suspect That Damaged Two ECSO Vehicles
June 17, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a suspect they say damaged two ECSO vehicles. It happened at an apartment complex in the 8000 block of Pine Forest Road on Wednesday.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Florida Adding ‘Purple Alerts’. What Do They Mean?
June 17, 2022
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will begin issuing Purple Alerts on July 1. The Purple Alert will be used to assist in the location of missing adults suffering from mental, cognitive, intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Purple Alert Criteria:
- The person is 18 or older and does not qualify for a state- or local-level Silver Alert.
- The person has an intellectual or developmental disability, brain injury or another physical, mental or emotional disability that is not related to substance abuse and does not have Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia-related disorder.
- The local law enforcement agency’s investigation concluded the disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to the missing person and they can only be returned to safety through law enforcement intervention.
- There is a detailed description of the missing person suitable for distribution.
- The missing person information has been entered into Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC).
- The law enforcement agency of jurisdiction recommends activation.
When issued, Purple Alert information will be distributed to citizens who have signed up to receive the alerts, displayed on dynamic highway message signs when applicable and local alerts will be posted by media including NorthEscambia.com.
Wahoos Beat The Smokies 6-5 In Another Walk-Off Win
June 17, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos earned another walk-off win on Thursday night, defeating the Tennessee Smokies 6-5 in 10 innings when Norel González was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The win was Pensacola’s third in a row over the Smokies, and the Blue Wahoos have now won six of their past nine home games in walk-off fashion.
The Blue Wahoos maintained their 4.5-game lead in the South Division with 9 to play in the first half. A combination of five Blue Wahoos wins or Biloxi losses will clinch Pensacola’s first playoff berth since 2019 and their first division title since 2017.
Smokies starter Anderson Espinoza was erratic, walking six batters over 1.2 innings, as the Blue Wahoos jumped out to an early 5-1 lead. A two-run single from González in the second was followed by an RBI single from Bubba Hollins to give Pensacola starter Zach McCambley early run support.
McCambley was sharp through three innings, but lost command of the zone himself in the fourth. Tennessee scored three runs on only one hit to draw the score to 5-4. An inning later, Jake Slaughter hit a solo homer to tie the game 5-5.
Scoreless bullpen work from Zack Leban and Jefry Yan helped the Blue Wahoos send the game to the 10th, where Andrew McInvale (W, 1-1) escaped a bases-loaded jam to keep the Smokies off the board again.
In the bottom of the 10th, Ray-Patrick Didder walked and Troy Johnston singled against Danis Correa (L, 1-2) before Griffin Conine was intentionally walked to load the bases. González was hit in the back leg by a Correa breaking ball to force in the winning run.
The Blue Wahoos continue their home series against the Tennessee Smokies on Friday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos