Atmore Man Gets Five Years In Federal Prison For Sawed-Off Rifle
February 10, 2022
An Atmore man was sentenced to five years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a sawed-off rifle.
According to court documents, 28-year old Cedric Jarrell Pierce was arrested on November 24, 2020, after he refused to stop for a speeding violation and led sheriff’s deputies on a 13-mile high-speed chase that began in Robertsdale and headed north in Baldwin County.
The chase ended in Bay Minette after deputies used a spike strip to disable Pierce’s car. Deputies arrested Pierce and searched the car. Under the passenger seat, deputies found a Remington .22-caliber rifle with a 14-inch barrel, which is less than the barrel length of 16 inches required by federal law. After recovering the rifle, deputies spoke with Pierce, who admitted that he ran from law enforcement because he knew he had the rifle and was not allowed to possess it as a convicted felon.
Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered Pierce to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Beaverstock ordered Pierce to pay $100 in special assessments.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
West Florida High Emergency Academy Has New Ambulance Simulator
February 10, 2022
The Critical Care and Emergency Medicine (CCEM) Academy at West Florida High School recently added a SimRig in-class ambulance simulator.
The simulator allows students to be completely immersed in scenarios and controlled emergent situations prior to exposure to the actual incidents in real-world situations.
Realistic equipment such as working suction, oxygen administration, and physical attributes such as patient loading and unloading, confined quarters, and various distractors, allow the instructor to build and present patient care scenarios which test the students’ ability to apply critical thinking skills to a variety of ever-changing trauma and medical care problems.
“During the pandemic as our off-campus training options have been limited,” said Escambia County School District ETC Specialist Aish Adkison. “Having simulators and specific training equipment in our secondary Health Academy classrooms has been very helpful as teachers have continued to develop hands-on training scenarios for students.”
The purchase was funded by a CARES Act Governor’s Emergency Education Relief grant.
Cantonment Man Charged With Sexual Battery Of Young Girls, Producing Child Porn Of Them
February 9, 2022
A Cantonment man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly sexually molesting two young girls, producing child phonography of them and show them other adult and child pornography.
Steven Marie Spurlock, age 64 of Frank Ard Road, was charged with capital sexual battery, use of a child in a sexual performance, four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Two sisters told investigators that Spurlock had frequently touched them in an inappropriate sexual manner over the last six months, primarily when they are in his hot tub, according to the arrest report.
On girl stated Spurlock frequently shows her child pornography as well as adult phonographic material, and he had exposed himself, the report continues. The victim stated Spurlock told her “you know I have guns and if you tell anyone about this I will seriously hurt you and your sister,” the report states.
The other sister told investigators about being touched frequently in an inappropriate manner over the past six months, and that Spurlock takes photos of them while they are changing clothes.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Spurlock agreed to allow a deputy to search a tablet that both girls stated was used to show them pornography and photos of them while naked. He provided the tablet and provided the passcode. But when the deputy advised he would take the tablet to a forensic analyst to potentially recover deleted items, Spurlock requested that a search warrant be obtained, the ECSO said. The tablet was seized as a search warrant was obtained.
There were 10 images of child sexual abuse material and 10 other child pornography images recovered from the device, per the arrest report, and the images included the victims allegedly abused by Spurlock.
One child, investigators said, was under the age of seven.
“Furthermore, post-Miranda statements from Steven Spurlock indicated he possessed a sexual interest in children,” the arrest report states.
The relationship between Spurlock and the victims was redacted from the arrest report, but it indicates the children would stay at his home as their caretaker worked overnight.
No Injuries In Highway 29, Kingsfield Road Crash
February 9, 2022
There were no injuries reported in a three vehicle crash Wednesday morning on Highway 29 at Kingsfield Road.
Those escaping injury reportedly included a minor that was properly restrained in a car seat in rear of one vehicle (pictured above).
The crash did cause traffic delays at the intersection until the wreckage was removed. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded,
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Central Commerce Park Property Sells For $130K At Auction
February 9, 2022
A vacant lot owned by Escambia County in the Central Commerce Park off Highway 29 Cantonment netted $130,000 in an online auction that closed Tuesday night.
The purchaser has three days to make a 10% deposit with the county with closing in 30-45 days. They also owe a $6,500 buyer service fee directly to the auction site.
The name of the buyer has yet been announced. The auction site lists usernames that are partially obscured; so for now we can only tell you the buyer as known as “k*****w”.
As we first reported on Saturday, the 2.7 acre parcel at 1601 Success Drive is zoned for heavy commercial and light industrial. The property can only be used for light manufacturing, warehouse, wholesale distribution, office or research and development facilities. Retail sales are allowed only ancillary to those purposes. At the time of our first story, the high bid stood at $36,100.
Century Discusses How To Spend $462K In American Rescue Plan Funds
February 9, 2022
The Century Town Council held their first discussion Tuesday night on how to best spend $462,287.83 in American Rescue Plan funds.
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the funds can be used to:
- Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services up to the amount of revenue lost due to the pandemic
- Respond to the far-reaching public health and negative economic impacts of the pandemic, by supporting the health of communities, and helping households, small businesses, impacted industries, nonprofits, and the public sector recover from economic impacts
- Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical sectors
- Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, to support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand affordable access to broadband internet
The council heard discussion about becoming part of Escambia County’s rural broadband initiative, retroactive premium pay for essential employees, and possible water and sewer upgrades.
“When this money is gone, will we be able to sustain that wage for those employees, or will they have to take a pay cut?” Council President Luis Gomez remarked.
Town accountant Robert Hudson told the council that Century had not experienced any revenue loss due to the pandemic. He said some revenue sources were flat, but sales tax and local option sales tax revenue actually increased.
Mayor Ben Boutwell said he would like to see a radio communications system for the town, pointing out how town employees were without cellphone communication following a February 2016 tornado. He said he had discussed radios for the town with the county. He said that would allow town employees to switch over to channels used by Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for direct communication.
“We don’t have an EOC (Emergency Operations Center) on the north end,” Boutwell said. “We don’t want to get left out.”
The town could will hold additional discussions before a final decision on how to spend the American Rescue Plan funds.
The town will receive another $462,287.83 in about a year. The funding is fairly significant for the town. Century has a $5.7 million budget for fiscal year 2021-2022, with a large portion of that coming from grants.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Three Arrested, One Wanted For Stealing Catalytic Converters
February 9, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three people suspected of stealing catalytic converters, and they are searching for a fourth suspect.
The catalytic converter thefts took place in August and September of 2021 at multiple locations across the county including the 1300 block of Dexter Avenue, the 11300 block of Lillian Highway, and the 6800 block of Pine Forest Road.
Westley David Dyal was charged with grand theft and burglary of an unoccupied conveyance. Gordon Woodfin Vining and Joseph Allen Sheets were both charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, burglary of a vehicle, grand theft, and criminal mischief.
ECSO investigators are still looking for Dawn Nicole Joubert. She is wanted for burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft, and criminal mischief. If you have any information about Joubert’s whereabouts, call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Fire Damages Home Near State Line
February 9, 2022
Fire damaged a home just east of Flomaton Tuesday night.
The fire was reported at 6:44 p.m. in the 1900 block of Welka Road, just north of the state line. Flomaton Police Chief Charles Thompson was the first to arrive on scene, advising that there was smoke visible from the room.
Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton said firefighters arrived on scene to find a bedroom on fire. It took about 20 minutes to get the fire under control.
There were no injuries reported.
The Flomaton, Friendship, Lambeth, McCall, Pineview and Barnett Crossroads fire departments, the Century Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue, D.W. McMillan EMS and the Flomaton Police Department responded.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
February 9, 2022
Ransom Middle School has named their Students of the Month for January. They are Kelly Wong and Maliek North. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Christmas Day Arson Of Mobile Home
February 8, 2022
A Molino man has now been charged with Christmas Day arson of a mobile home he owned with his estranged wife.
Following a state investigation, 51-year old Albert Shawn Fillingim was charged Friday with felony second degree arson and felony criminal mischief with property damage over $3,000.
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the mobile home fire about 4:30 p.m. on December 25 . The wife arrived at the fire scene and was heard by a firefighter as she accused Fillingim of “finally following through with his threats to burn the home down”, according to an arrest report.
The Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives (BFAEI) investigated and now says Fillingim was responsible for setting the blaze.
When the fire was extinguished, the remains of an electric heater were found near the foot of a bed, but it was eliminated as the cause of the fire. Investigators determined the fire started in the bedroom, and no other accidental sources of ignition were found. It was determined by the BFAEI that the fire was deliberately set.
Fillingim’s statements to investigators were redacted from the report.
The fire caused about $25,000 in damage to the home and contents.
The Molino, McDavid, Walnut Hill, Ensley, Ferry Pass and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded. There were no injuries.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
