ECSO Investigating After 6-Year Old Approached By Man In ‘Suspicious Incident’
February 11, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for information about a man that approached a 6-year old in their yard on February 9.
It happened in southern Escambia County in the 10800 block of Lillian Highway. But we are sharing the information because, according to the sheriff, parents need to talk to their children about stranger danger.
Deputies are now looking for any information about a 6-foot tall, black male in his early to mid-30’s who was wearing a black jacket and jeans walking in that area.
“We want to make sure people understand what is suspicious and what is not,” Sheriff Chip Simmons said. “Parents can have those conversations with their children. To report something suspicious, to alert adults and if by chance you are taken — fight. Or if you are grabbed — to fight like hell and never give up.”
If you have any information involving this incident call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
February 11, 2022
Tate High School has named their Students of the Month for December. They are Brennen Stegall and Autumn Carruthers. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Night Hunting, Illegal Deer Harvests
February 11, 2022
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Ramos was on patrol targeting night hunting violations. He observed a truck pass his location and intermittently shine a spotlight into fields and areas known to hold deer. After watching the truck shine various locations, Officer Ramos conducted a traffic stop and identified the three persons inside. The occupants stated they were just out shining for deer, and they were in possession of a rifle with ammunition. The passenger who was shining a light was confirmed to have an active warrant out of Santa Rosa County. Officer’s Allgood and Long arrived and assisted in the investigation and collection of evidence. The man with the warrant was arrested and transported to the county jail. He was also charged with attempting to take deer with gun and light, and possession of concealed weapon without a permit.
Officers with the Missouri Department of Conservation contacted FWC officers about a hunter that illegally harvested several deer and was heading home to Escambia County. Officer McHenry and Pettey were able to contact the subject and found him in possession of the three deer that were illegally harvested in Missouri. The officers also found that the individual had brought the deer heads across state lines that did not meet the requirements of laws pertaining to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The subject was cited for the violations and the deer were seized.
Officer Allgood checked a hunter in Cantonment and found him in possession of a freshly cleaned deer. The hunter claimed it was a legal four-point but had no sex evidence to confirm it. The hunter also failed to log the deer on Harvest Report. Officer Allgood followed the hunter to where he cleaned the deer and found the buck antlers were under the legal-size requirement. The hunter was cited for the violation.
Area officers responded to the Pensacola Beach area in search of a missing boater. The boater left the beach in a kayak and was swept out into the gulf by the currents. After two hours, FWC was notified he was missing. FWC Pilot Tolbert was able to locate the missing boater six miles offshore. Officer Tolbert relayed the boater’s location to FWC Officers M. Cushing and M. Land, and Coast Guard units that were searching. The boater was rescued unharmed.
While on patrol working reported night hunting activity, Officer Specialist Cushing observed someone shining a light from a vehicle in an area with high numbers of deer. Officer Cushing stopped the vehicle and found the two occupants were in possession of two loaded rifles. After questioning both subjects, they admitted to attempting to take deer at night. Officer Cushing issued notice to appear citations to both individuals and seized the weapons involved.
Officer Allgood was on patrol and checked a hunter that was in possession of two freshly cleaned deer. The hunter had no sex identification attached to the deer and did not properly log the deer on Harvest Report. Officer Allgood requested to see the remains of deer. The hunter took Officer Allgood to where he had dumped the deer carcasses. Both deer were doe deer, which at the time they were harvested the season was closed. Officer Allgood issued a notice to appear citation to the hunter and seized his weapon. The deer meat was seized and later donated to a local charity.
Officer Allgood was on patrol and checked a hunter leaving private hunting land. He found him in possession of a freshly cleaned deer. The hunter did not have sex identification with the deer but claimed it was a buck. Officer Allgood requested to see the horns of the deer, but the hunter claimed he did not remember where he had disposed of the carcass. After further interviewing of the hunter and searching a large area for an extended period, he admitted killing a doe deer. Officer Allgood informed the hunter it was doe weekend, which allows a hunter to harvest doe on private land. After inspecting the doe carcass, Officer Allgood issued the hunter a citation for not having the proper sex identification attached to a deer carcass and for not logging the harvested deer.
Officer Allgood and Manning were on patrol and worked together near the state line checking hunters. They found two hunters in possession of deer that were harvested in Alabama. Officers found that the meat from both deer was not deboned as required due to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The deer also were not checked or logged as required in Alabama. Officers Allgood and Manning contacted an Alabama Conservation Officer and advised him of the violations. After receiving warnings for the importation violations both hunters agreed to return to Alabama to properly debone the meat and to meet with the Alabama Conservation Officer. Both hunters were cited in Alabama for not properly tagging the deer they harvested
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
While on patrol Officer Mullins received information of four shots being fired near a field. Two all-terrain vehicles (ATV) were observed fleeing the area. Officer Mullins and Santa Rosa County deputies searched the area. Officer Mullins received more information that the same two ATVs returned, were shining, and trespassing in a farm field. Officer Mullins caught up to the ATVs which were shining and searching for a deer they previously shot. Officer Mullins stopped and detained three subjects on a side-by-side ATV, while a Sherriff Deputy assisted recovering an ATV and subject that was hiding in the woods. A loaded 9mm handgun was discovered on scene – the gun was thrown out by the subjects to conceal it. It was discovered that all four subjects were shining deer with the intent to shoot a deer. While shining they took turns driving the two ATVs and one subject fired four times at a doe standing near the road. The subjects were trespassed and issued misdemeanor citations to appear in court for night hunting and shooting from a county road. The handgun, ammunition, and a light were seized.
Following the initial stop, Officer Hutchinson and K-9 Zara searched the area for additional evidence. K-9 Zara located one live 9mm round, and four empty 9mm shell casings along the road where the subjects were night hunting. No deer or blood was located at the scene. Additional charges are pending for the case.
Lieutenant D. Berryman and Officer R. Bower were conducting a license and game check point in the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA), when they encountered two subjects exiting the area. While conducting the inspection, blood was observed in the bed of the truck. A brief investigation revealed that the subjects had shot a doe in the WMA the day before, loaded it up and took it home to be cleaned. Officers recovered the remains of one doe that had been dumped in the woods and retrieved the meat from one of the subjects’ homes. Both subjects were charged with taking and possession of antlerless deer with no quota hunt permit. Both subjects also received warnings for failure to log a Harvest Report, littering, and possession of alcohol by persons under 21.
Middle School Volleyball: Ernest Ward Beats Ferry Pass (With Photo Gallery)
February 11, 2022
The Ernest Ward Middle School Golden Eagles defeated the Eagles of Ferry Pass Middle School Thursday night in Walnut Hill.
The EWMS junior varsity defeated FPMS 25-13, 21-25, 15-5. Ernest Ward JV is 8-2 on the season, tops in the district.
In varsity play, Ernest Ward (7-3) defeated Ferry Pass 25-16, 21-25, 16-14.
Ernest Ward will host Brown Barge on February 14 and Beulah Middle School on February 17. Junior varsity action begins at 5:30, followed by varsity.
For a photo gallery from varsity and JV action, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged In Walnut Hill ‘Honor System’ Farmer Burglary
February 10, 2022
A Cantonment woman has been charged with the November 2021 burglary of a Walnut Hill “honor system” farmer on November 29, 2021.
Kayla Shea Caperton, 28, was charged with burglary, criminal mischief and petit theft. She remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $21,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Caperton and an unidentified suspect vandalized a vending machine valued at $7,000 and stole items worth $124, including ice from an ice machine, corn that was being sold on the honor system, and a 100 quart cooler.
The entire incident was caught on video, showing the suspects arriving in a SUV later identified as Caperton’s 2004 Nissan Xterra.
After the story and video were published on NorthEscambia.com, investigators received numerous calls from persons identifying the vehicle as belonging to Caperton.
Deputies obtained her phone number, and she agreed to meet in a parking lot at Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road. According to an arrest report, she immediately acknowledged that she received phone calls that her vehicle was in the news story. Caperton told the investigator that she had parked her car at the Dollar General on South County Road 97 in Cantonment and then rode around with a friend during the time of the burglary. She stated that someone must have stolen her vehicle from the Dollar General and returned it to the same spot.
Caperton stated she was the only person with a key to the vehicle, and it was determined that the vehicle was never parked at the Dollar General overnight, the arrest report states.
During the late November 2021 incident, two people wearing ski masks spent about 11 minutes attempting to break into a drink vending machine outside Eicher Farms on South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill. Surveillance video from the incident is below.
They arrived about 2:35 a.m. Monday in a SUV. The vehicle’s headlights were off as they pulled behind the barn and went to work on the vending machine with a crowbar. At one point, the only cash in the machine fell to the ground, unnoticed by the duo as they continued their efforts. Eicher said there was only $2 or $3 in the machine, but thousands of dollars in damage was done.
After a lengthy battle with the vending machine, the suspects then took several bags of ice, the cooler and several bags of corn from the business that sells deer corn, peanuts and other products on the honor system.
“It’s extremely tough in today’s economy when people are stealing from you,” Eicher told NorthEscambia.com following the theft. “It makes it especially tough. I don’t know why they want to come out and target this place for a few dollars and they don’t even see when the money hits the ground.”
Three other individuals were charged with theft for stealing bags of deer corn, peanuts and ear corn from the same farm just days before.
Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
NorthEscambia.com screen grabs and photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office Investigating Two ‘Suspicious Activity’ Incidents Involving Minors
February 10, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has received two different reports about suspicious activity involving minor children
The first was in the area of Flagler Drive and Richard Road. A juvenile reported a suspicious vehicle that followed them home.
The second was in the 10800-block of Lillian Highway. A young child reported an unknown male approached them while playing in their front yard.
ECSO said they are working to verify the circumstances of both cases and their investigation is continuing.
Get Free Reblended Paint From Escambia County On Thursdays
February 10, 2022
Escambia County offers free reblended paint in five gallon buckets.
The paint is available every Thursday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Perdido Landfill. It is offered to the public for free in exchange for a new five gallon bucket with a lid (available at local hardware stores). Available colors may include beige, black, blue, brown, green, gray, orange, pink, purple, red, yellow and white.
Citizens can also dispose of up to 20 gallons of latex and oil-based paint at a time at the landfill at no charge. Latex paint is screened twice, reblended and put into new five-gallon buckets.
Call (850) 937-2160 for additional information and color availability.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Educators Invited To Apply For Free Florida Forestry Teachers Tour
February 10, 2022
The Florida Forest Service is inviting educators statewide to apply for an exciting opportunity this summer, the Florida Forestry Teachers Tour. The annual tour brings educators from throughout the state to Northeast Florida for an inside look at the state’s largest agricultural commodity. The tour is scheduled for June 21 – 24, 2022. Applications will be accepted through March 11.
Florida’s forests are critical to the state’s infrastructure and workforce, producing $25.1 billion in revenue each year and representing more than 124,000 jobs. The Florida Forestry Teachers Tour is designed to provide educators with an opportunity to learn how the industry meets the needs of the state’s communities and environment, from clean air and water to home goods and other wood products.
“The Florida Forestry Teachers Tour is one of the best tools we have to make the next generation aware of the importance of Florida’s forests and the career opportunities they provide,” said Erin Albury, State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service.
Florida educators of all subjects and grade levels are encouraged to apply. All lodging, meals and tour transportation are provided at no cost to teachers through the support of private partners and sponsors, including the Florida Forestry Association, Project Learning Tree of Florida and Friends of Florida State Forests. The four-day event earns Florida teachers 30 Continuing Education Units.
To learn more and to apply for the Florida Forestry Teachers Tour, visit FloridaStateForests.org/TeachersTour.
CSX Crossing Closures: Quintette Road, Several In Cottage Hill Set To Close Thursday And Friday
February 10, 2022
[Updated 2/10/22] Here’s the latest update on the CSX rail crossing closures in North Escambia.
Quintette Road, Stacey Road, Williams Ditch Road and Cottage Hill Road are all set to be closed on Thursday and Friday.
There are also a small number of private roads that cross the tracks in the area. These residents will be notified when their road will be closed by a person knocking on their door or leaving a door hanger.
CSX is replacing tracks through the area and replacing the roadway at each crossing. A previously announced schedule was delayed due to weather.
Pictured: Previous work last week at the crossing on North Barth Road. NorthEscambia.com photo click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Shaun Wheeler Commits To Huntingdon College
February 10, 2022
Tate High School’s Shaun Wheeler has committed to play football at Huntingdon College. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
