FDLE Arrests Escambia Man For Soliciting A Minor, Dozens Of Child Porn Counts
January 20, 2022
An Escambia County man was arrested Wednesday on child sex crimes.
Scott Alexander Chappelear, 40, was charged with 30 counts possession of obscene material depicting child sexual abuse, use of a computer to solicit a minor, six counts of transmission of harmful material to a minor, and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
FDLE began its investigation in August 2021. An undercover agent, posing as a 14-year old female, began communicating with Chappelear, who tried to coax the “child” into performing sexual acts and sent adult pornography, according to the agency.
“Chappelear indicated that he was 40-years old and was ok with the child persona’s age of 14,” an arrest report states.
FDLE said Chappelear also agreed to meet the person he thought was a 14-year old girl at Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze.
A search warrant was served Wednesday at his home at 8126 Crystal Wells Place, off East Olive Road. Agents found dozens of child sexual abuse material photos with some children as young as one to three years of age on two of his cell phones, according to the report.
Chappelear was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Escambia and Okaloosa county sheriff’s offices assisted FDLE with the arrest.
Attorney Says Lawsuit Forthcoming After Cottage Hill Murder Suspect Hangs Self In County Jail
January 20, 2022
An attorney has put several agencies on notice that litigation may be forthcoming in the case of a murder suspect that died days after hanging himself in the Escambia County Jail.
Lukas MacKenzie Snelson, 24, was charged with second degree homicide, grand theft of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest for the death of his grandmother, 75-year old Fran Fournier.
On December 30, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the end of Candy Lane in Cantonment for a death investigation. Fournier was found deceased, seated in a recliner with two dog leashes wrapped around her neck, according to an arrest report. Snelson was arrested hours later.
Snelson was found hanging in his cell and later died at a local hospital.
Attorney Ryan M. Carodoso filed a notice to preserve evidence through certified mail Wednesday to the Escambia County Jail, Escambia County Corrections Administration, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office.
In the notice, Cardoso states that all records may be used in “forthcoming litigation”.
The criminal case against Snelson was dismissed following his death.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Shouting Match: Century Council Members Spar Over Attendance, Call To Resign
January 20, 2022
A week after the Century Town Council was unable to do business without a proper quorum, the council voted this week to change their meeting schedule and elected leadership in a meeting that evolved into a shouting match.
The vote as 4-1, with Leonard White against, for Luis Gomez, Jr. as the council president. With a 5-0 vote, Dynette Lewis was named vice president.
With a unanimous vote, regular meetings were changed from Mondays to the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. The council moved the meetings, in part, because White has been unable to attend Monday meetings due to his job as a corrections officer.
“Tuesday would be best for me. Like I said, whatever works best for Mr. White,” James Smith (pictured above, left) added. “We don’t have the luxury of just sitting home and doing nothing, so we got to make sure that it works both best for us.”
White and Smith began to question why they learned from a NorthEscambia.com article that Gomez had called for them to step down if they cannot attend meetings. Due to his job, Smith often joins council meetings late on Zoom and arrives in-person late in a meeting after most business has been addressed. White has missed many, many meetings altogether over the last several months.
“Why do you want us to resign, when we got to take care of your families; this is where we live. This is where we from. This is our home” White (pictured above, right) said. “Ain’t nobody going to run me from my home….if Century want me to resign, then vote me off, but don’t put me in the newspaper saying that we need to resign because we do our job, and we do it right.”
White said he was addressing his comments at both Gomez and NorthEscambia.com Publisher William Reynolds as he expressed his displeasure about the news story.
In the January 12 article, Gomez was quoted as saying: “You should give that position your best. And if you do anything less than your best is not just for your benefit, it’s for the benefit of the people that elected you,…If you feel that your job is more important, maybe you should just do your job and be a good sport. Step down and allow someone who’s going to do the town the justice it deserves.” (Click here to download and hear Gomez’s comment in complete context.)
Tuesday night, Gomez (pictured left) again addressed the issue as the discussion evolved into a shouting match.
“I’m going to say this because I am saying it to your face,” Gomez said to White.
“You don’t don’t talk to my face now,” White replied.
The discussion continued for several more minutes, becoming more heated as council members started to shout.
“If y’all don’t like what I said, do something about it. Either show up or resign,” Gomez said Tuesday night.
“What, what, what, what place do you have to tell me to resign though?” Smith questioned. “If I’m going to resign, I’ll resign if I want to.”
“We have jobs, man. We have jobs” White said.
“Go do your job, and let somebody else do this,” Gomez responded. “Okay, let somebody do this, and you do your job.”
The council discussion moved into other unrelated discussions, before Smith returned in the “council comments” portion of the agenda.
“None of you are going to question my integrity if I’m passionate about the town of Century. And you, nor Will, will ever dictate if I’m going to resign,” Smith said, addressing his comments to Gomez and Reynolds.
“My job entails a lot, and I don’t have to indulge you (Gomez) or that idiot (Reynolds). So I’m not okay with how you choose to think because you’re a president or whatever you are, you can poke your chest out and determine what place I have here and the town,” Smith continued.
According to previous council statements, Gomez is retired. White is a corrections officer at the Century Correctional Institution, and Smith is employed by an area school. Council member Dynette Lewis is employed by a manufacturing company, and Sandra McMurray-Jackson owns a local service business.
Pictured top: Century council members James Smith (left) and Leonard White. Pictured inset: Council president Luis Gomez, Jr. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New EMS Dashboard Shows Number Of Calls, Dispatches, Overdoses And More
January 20, 2022
Have you ever wondered how many calls Escambia County EMS answers?
Escambia County EMS has launch a new information dashboard that includes:
- EMS calls dispatched by Emergency Communications (updated daily)
- Transports to local hospitals by EMS (updated daily)
- On-scene cardiac/respiratory arrests (updated weekly)
- On-scene overdoses (updated weekly)
- ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI/Heart Attack) events (updated weekly)
- Motor-vehicle crashes (updated weekly)
“This dashboard is an opportunity to further educate the citizens about the services provided by EMS and Emergency Communications,” said Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. “Every day, the men and women within our Public Safety department dedicate their lives to the safety and wellbeing of Escambia County citizens, and we believe this dashboard reflects that effort while also educating the general public to the extent of our services.”
Escambia County EMS Chief David Torsell III, who began his career with Escambia County on June 1, 2021, introduced the idea of creating the EMS Dashboard in an effort to convey the services performed by EMS, highlight the volume of calls EMS responds to, and provide access for citizens to view the daily, weekly and yearly 911 call totals.
“I’m encouraged that an idea came to fruition through a collaborative effort between EMS and other county departments,” said Torsell. “The information on the EMS dashboard should help inform our community on how busy we are and what EMS is doing in our community.”
The EMS Dashboard can be found here.
Pictured: A snapshot of the Escambia County EMS Dashboard late Wednesday night. NorthEscambia.com image.
Regional Roundup Household Hazardous Waste Roundup Saturday In Molino
January 20, 2022
The next Escambia County Regional Roundup will be held next Saturday, January 22 at Molino Park Elementary School.
Regional Roundup events provide an opportunity to properly dispose of electronics, household hazardous waste and up to four tires per vehicle, all free of charge. Proof of Escambia County residency is required to participate in Regional Roundup, such as a driver’s license, power bill or voter registration card. This is a residential drop-off program only; no commercial waste accepted. Simply drive up and materials will be unloaded for you – no need to get out of your vehicle.
The event will take place from 8 a.m. until noon in the school parking lot at 899 Highway 97.
Items accepted include:
- Computers (monitors, terminals, keyboards and mice)
- Printers and copiers
- TVs and remotes
- DVD players
- Gaming systems
- Fax machines
- Stereo systems
- Cell phones and telephones
- Paint (up to 20 gallons)
- Fuel (up to 10 gallons)
- Waste oil (up to five gallons)
- Fluorescent lights (up to 10 lights)
- Tires (up to four per vehicle)
- Antifreeze
- Oil filters
- Lubricants and greases
- Solvents
- Pesticides
- Fertilizers
- Batteries (rechargeable, lithium, computer, cell phone, etc.)
- Auto, marine and motorcycle batteries
- Propane bottles
- Pool cleaners
- Household cleaners
Items NOT accepted include:
- Commercial waste
- Electronics that have been gutted
- Appliances, including fans and air conditioners
- Household garbage
- Yard debris or limbs
- Scrap metal
- Medical waste
- Medications
- Furniture and mattresses
- Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
Five Finalists Announced For Escambia Teacher Of The Year
January 20, 2022
Five finalists have been named for Escambia County Teacher of the Year.
They are, in alphabetical order:
- Laura Hobbs, Lincoln Park Elementary School
- Alison Link, A.K. Suter Elementary School
- Caleb Lovely, Warrington Middle School
- Jamiliya McBride, Pine Forest High School
- Jessica Phelps, Kingsfield Elementary School
The winner will be announced during the Escambia County School District Golden Apple Awards Teacher of the Year Banquet on January 28.
Byrneville Elementary Names Students Of The Month
January 20, 2022
Byrneville Elementary School recently named December Students of the Month.
They are:
- 1st Grade: Suzi Pope and William Maxwell
- 2nd Grade: Coraline Pope and Charlie Trawick
- 3rd Grade: Mary Stephen Moody and Cohen Linton
- 4th Grade: Douglas Maxwell and Layla Schoonover
- 5th Grade: Jesse McElhaney and Ashanti Manuel
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Shot And Killed After Firing At Deputies In Perdido, Alabama
January 19, 2022
A man was shot and killed by Baldwin County deputies early Wednesday morning in Perdido.
The man has been identified as Ronald W. Flowers II of Bay Minette.
Deputies were investigating a suspicious person on the area of County Road 47 and McCoy Road, about two miles from the Florida line.
The BCSO said that while relaying Flowers’ information to dispatchers, he produced a gun and fired at least one round at deputies. Two deputies returned fire striking Flowers, who died at the scene. The deputies were not injured.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office has requested that an independent review of this incident be conducted.
File photo.
Century Man Smuggled Fentanyl Into County Jail, ECSO Says
January 19, 2022
A Century man is facing multiple charges after allegedly parking in the middle of a Century street and for the fentanyl found in his pockets at the county jail.
Deputies found 42-year old Cartise Poindexter asleep in a running 2003 Ford Explorer parked in the middle of Hecker Road near Alger Road, about 50 feet away from a railroad crossing, according to an arrest report.
Deputies reported they were able to wake him by knocking on the window of the vehicle, and he told them that he had left his driver’s license at home. A record check confirm that his driver’s license was suspended by court order and had been suspended multiple times.
While Poindexter was being booked into the Escambia County Jail, a corrections officer located a dollar bill containing a white residue and a clear baggie containing a white powdery substance that tested positive for fentanyl, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The bag was found in the pocket of the jeans he was wearing, but he told deputies the jeans were his brother’s.
Poindexter was charged with introduction of contraband into a county detention facility, possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl) without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while license suspended. He was also issued traffic citations for knowingly operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license, not wearing a seat belt, and for parking illegally on Hecker Road.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $6,000 bond.
Escambia Seeks Input On School Calendars For The Next Four Years
January 19, 2022
The Escambia County School District is seeking input on the school calendars for the next four school years.
Students, parents, teachers, employees, community members, and other stakeholders are being asked to take a survey on the calendars.
“I encourage you to participate in this process by reviewing the draft proposals and taking a brief survey regarding each proposal,” said Superintendent Tim Smith. “Survey results will be analyzed and shared with the District Calendar Committee, comprised of representatives from all stakeholder groups.”
The calendar committee will meet on February 1 in Room 104 of the Spencer Bibbs Center.
The committee’s final recommendation for the proposed amendments to the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 calendars and the new 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 calendars will go before the school board for a vote at their next regular meeting on February 15.
The survey links and each draft proposal can be found by clicking here.. The survey links close on January 28.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.