ECSO Blazer Academy Named ‘Outstanding Program Of The Year’
September 26, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Blazer Academy has been selected for the Florida Crime Prevention Association’s “Outstanding Program of the Year” Award.
Sheriff Chip Simmons hosted Escambia County’s first Sheriff’s Blazer Academy in August of this year. The goal of the program was to immerse young men ages 13-15 in an environment that provides mentoring and instruction on many topics such as courtesy, responsibility, empowerment and respect. And there were some pretty sharp blazers involved.
“While this is a tremendous honor, the true value is the growth and evolvement of these young men throughout the entirety of the program,” Simmons said. “This first class was a huge success, and the Sheriff’s Blazer Academy will be a program we offer each year. We plan to expand the program by offering a Sheriff’s Blazer Academy for young women as well. We are proud to serve our community by providing mentorships for our youth.”
The Florida Crime Prevention Association, founded in 1969, is the oldest crime prevention association in the United States and serves the entire State of Florida. The program’s mission is to increase the awareness of crime prevention strategies and to network with other agencies on how to fight crime victimization.
A formal awards ceremony will be held on October 21 in Orlando.
Escambia Rolls New EMS SUVs With ‘Howler’ Sirens
September 26, 2021
Escambia County has five new EMS SUVs with several new safety features, including “Howler” sirens.
“The Whelen Howler is an emergency warning device that emits low frequency tones, especially for intersections and high risk areas,” said Escambia County EMS Chief David Torsell III. “The Howler runs in sync with the primary siren, allowing the lower frequency reverberating tones from the Howler to better penetrate other vehicles, alerting drivers to the presence of the oncoming emergency vehicle. In essence, it creates a small vibration that many drivers can detect easier than the high frequency tones of standard emergency sirens.”
The SUVs also use radar sensors in a blind spot information system to detect vehicles that enter the driver’s blind spot.
The five SUVs will be used during both the day shift and night shift. The trucks will be assigned to the EMS chief, EMS deputy chief, day supervisors and night supervisors. One SUV will be shared by the Escambia County Public Safety administrative supervisors.
The new fleet of Ford Expedition SUVs will allow the older SUVs with less mileage to be cycled through other positions throughout Escambia County EMS. This process reduces the possibility of these vehicles being out of service for mechanical repair, especially for long periods, and allows for EMS to maximize the availability of the SUV units by maintaining more vehicles on the road for any given time period, according to Escambia County.
“These SUVs are emergency EMS vehicles with paramedics on board,” said Torsell. “Please be aware that these vehicles, when needed, will be traveling to emergency calls and the same process for yielding to emergency vehicles applies.”
Pictured: One of five new Escambia County EMS vehicles. Pictured below: EMS Chief David Torsell III washing one of the new EMS SUVs.
Early Morning Fire Destroys Camper At Lake Stone
September 25, 2021
An early morning fire is under investigation after a camper was destroyed at Lake Stone early Saturday morning.
The fire was reported about 1:20 a.m. in the campground area of the park. The camper was reported to be fully involved when the first fire units arrived on scene.
The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. There was no word of any injuries.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Flomaton Fire Department were dispatched to the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Police Still Looking For Murder Victim’s Body In North Escambia Area; Asking Residents To Check Cameras
September 25, 2021
Police are still asking North Escambia area residents to check their cameras for any clues that might help them find the body a Pensacola woman they say was murdered.
They are especially asking residents to check their trail or game cameras for images from September 11.
Giles Curt Jones, 38, was charged with first degree murder for the death of 40-year old Latonya Antionette Baxter. She was reported missing by her daughter on September 12, the day after his vehicle was confirmed to be in Century.
A picture of an obviously deceased Baxter was found on Jones’ phone, according to Pensacola Police. The photo was taken at 1:54 on Saturday, September 11. About noon that day, Jones’ gray 2009 Nissan Maxima with Florida tag #45BAFU was captured on camera northbound on Highway 29 in Century. The vehicle headed back south on Highway 29 through Century about 3 p.m.
Acting on a tip, Pensacola Police, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and KlaasKIDS search an area along Highway 168 east of Pine Barren Road in Bratt last Monday and Tuesday, but no sign of Jones’ body was found.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1901 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
For additional details about the murder and photos from Monday, click or tap here.
For a photo gallery from Tuesday’s search, click or tap here.
By The Numbers: Escambia Reports 781 New COVID-19 Cases
September 25, 2021
There were 781 new COVID-19 cases reported Escambia County over the last week by the Florida Department of Health.
Baptist, Ascension Sacred Heart and West Florida hospitals reported a combined 224 COVID-19 hospitalizations..
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 52,171 (+781)
Positivity rate last week: 13.8%
Current total hospitalizations: 147
Over age 18 and over hospitalizations: 145
Under age 18 hospitalized: 2
Total deaths last 7 days: 42 (CDC data)
Escambia County Vaccinations
People vaccinated: 148,529 (+1,086)
Total Population of Escambia County Partially Vaccinated: 53.3%
Total Population of Escambia County Fully Vaccinated: 44.8%
*These numbers are the percent of total Escambia County population vaccinated. Not the percentage of hospitalized individuals.
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 31,444 (+827)
Positivity rate last week: 18.0%
People vaccinated:86,728 (+721)
Partial vaccination rate (age 12+): 54%
Total deaths last 7 days: 28 (CDC data)
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 3,539,272 (+56,325)
Case positivity rate: 8.6%
Deaths: 53,580 (+355)
FDOH has moved from daily to weekly reports and removed the COVID-19 dashboard. The state is now releasing a weekly report with local data limited only to number of cases and positivity rate The number of deaths by county or cases by local cities and communities is no longer provided by FDOH.
ECSO Seeks Suspect Fraudulently Using Victim’s ID At Nine Mile Road Store
September 25, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a suspect accused of fraudulently using a victim’s personal identification information at a retail store on the 100 block of East Nine Mile Road. The suspect was seen driving the pictured 2007-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Employee Sentenced For Video Recording Co-Workers In Pensacola VA Clinic Restroom
September 25, 2021
A Department of Veterans Affairs has been sentenced for video recording fellow employees in the bathroom at the Veterans Affairs Joint Ambulatory Care Center in Pensacola.
Robert Sampson, 52, of Gulf Breeze, was sentenced to four months in jail on federal charges of video voyeurism and disorderly conduct. Sampson surreptitiously video recorded eight fellow employees on multiple occasions from August 2019 to June 2020.
“The Department of Veterans Affairs Police and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General are to be commended for their investigation of this crime. The defendant’s actions were a direct affront to his co-workers’ expectation of privacy,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. “The victims in this case provide incredible service to our retired and disabled military community and they should feel safe and comfortable in their work environment. Deviant acts of voyeurism such as this will be aggressively prosecuted, and the offender will be held accountable.”
Following Sampson’s four-month jail sentence, he will serve a one-year term of supervised release with one of the conditions being a limitation of Sampson’s use of computers and the internet. In addition, Sampson was ordered to pay a total of $1,200 in fines and restitution to his victims.
Sampson admitted to placing a hidden camera, disguised to look like a cell phone charger power adapter, in a restroom at the Pensacola VA Center approximately 17 times. When VA employees discovered the recording device and notified the VA Police, Sampson attempted to wrestle the employees for control of the device. Sampson later admitted that he had placed the device in the restroom to record individuals in the restroom and would later watch the footage.”
Sampson faced a maximum of one year in jail.
Escambia Gators Top The Tate Aggies 35-0
September 25, 2021
The Escambia Gators defeated the Tate Aggies 35-0 Friday night at Emmitt Smith Field
The Gators were coming off back to back loses to Washington and a Georgia team headed into Friday night’s contest. while the Aggie were coming off three losses in a row to Gulf Breeze, West Florida and Navarre.
The Aggies (1-4) will host Pace (1-3) next Friday night back at Carl Madison Field.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s High School Football Scores
September 25, 2021
Here are high school football scores from Thursday and Friday nights across the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Escambia 35, Tate 0
- West Florida 35, Washington 14
- Pine Forest 46, Pensacola Catholic 7
- Gulf Breeze 42, Pace 14
- Navarre 24, Leon 14
- Pensacola High (bye week)
- Baker 43, Northview 42 (OT) (Thursday) [Details...]
- Holmes County 27, Jay 12 (Thursday)
ALABAMA
- Escambia County 42, Monroe County 0
- Escambia Academy 21, Tuscaloosa Academy 6
- UMS Wright 23, T.R. Miller 15
- New Brockton 30, W.S. Neal 26
- Flomaton (bye week)
Pictured: Tate at Escambia. NorthEscambia.com photo by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
‘Generic Threat’ Leads To Increased Police Presence At Middle School In Atmore
September 24, 2021
There was an increased police presence Friday at Escambia County Middle School in Atmore after an unspecified threat posted on social media.
“We have been made aware of a generic threat that might impact Escambia County Middle School,” the Escambia County (AL) School District said in a posted statement. “Wee do not believe Escambia County Middle School is the intended target.”
Additional officers from the Atmore Police Department and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office were on campus Friday “out of an abundance of caution”, the district said.
In February 2020, a threat of violence at the school led to the arrest of two juveniles.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.