Man Charged With Armed Carjacking In Century
May 21, 2021
A Panama City man has been charged in connection with a carjacking in Century.
Daniel Jerod Brocklehurst, 31, was charged with carjacking with a weapon. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $100,000.
A resident reported an attempted carjacking in the 8000 block of Jefferson Avenue. She told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that an armed white male had approached her, demanded one of her vehicles and asked to go inside her residence. When she refused, the alleged suspect put on a black motorcycle helmet and fled the scene in a black Volkswagen.
As they were responding to the to the area, deputies saw Brocklehurst wearing a black motorcycle helmet standing in the front yard of a residence in the 800 block of Hecker Road. He resisted deputies and was taken to the ground, according to an arrest report.
Deputies determined that Brocklehurst had committed a carjacking at the home on Hecker Road. The victim said she was sitting in her vehicle when she saw Brocklehurst approach her from across Jefferson Avenue. She said he pulled a handgun from his waist area, pointed at her and demanded her 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis.
The victim exited the car and Brocklehurst entered, placing the gun on the passenger seat. He started to back out of the driveway, but pulled back in and exited the vehicle, the report continues. Brocklehurst then tried to explain his actions to the victim and her father.
A Ruger semi-automatic handgun with a live 9 mm round in the chamber was recovered from the front seat of the vehicle.
Brocklehurst was not charged with the incident on Jefferson Avenue.
NOAA Predicts Above Average Hurricane Season, But Not 2020 Kind Of Busy
May 21, 2021
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. However, experts do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020.
For 2021, a likely range of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 5 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher) is expected. NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence. The Atlantic hurricane season extends from June 1 through November 30.
“Now is the time for communities along the coastline as well as inland to get prepared for the dangers that hurricanes can bring,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The experts at NOAA are poised to deliver lifesaving early warnings and forecasts to communities, which will also help minimize the economic impacts of storms.”
An average hurricane season produces 14 named storms, of which 7 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes.
“Although NOAA scientists don’t expect this season to be as busy as last year, it only takes one storm to devastate a community,” said Ben Friedman, acting NOAA administrator. “The forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are well-prepared with significant upgrades to our computer models, emerging observation techniques, and the expertise to deliver the lifesaving forecasts that we all depend on during this, and every, hurricane season.”
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Blue Wahoos Get Walk-Off Win Over Trash Pandas
May 21, 2021
His last time with walk-off heroics was Nick Lovullo’s freshman year in high school.
So you can imagine how good he felt Thursday night, after the Blue Wahoos second baseman hit a two-strike pitch in the right center gap, scoring Devin Hairston all the way from first base in the Wahoos’ entralling 4-3 comeback win against the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
It was Pensacola’s second walk-off win in three nights. Wow, indeed.
“It has been 12 years,” said Lovullo, remembering his prior walk-off thrill. “And it definitely felt great. Anytime we win it’s awesome, but especially when you come from behind like we did (Thursday) night.
Most of the crowd of 4,114 had stayed around when the Blue Wahoos entered the bottom of the ninth, trailing 3-1, and with only five hits to that point.
And then, drama happened.
Lazaro Alonso led off with a walk. Lorenzo Hampton followed with a single. Connor Justus, who nearly had a game-tying home run in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss, smashed the first pitch he saw down the third base line to tie the game with a double.
Hairston followed with a sacrifice bunt, which led to an errant throw that deflected off first baseman Ibandel Isabel’s glove.
In the split-second Justus had to make a decision, as he rounded third, he made a dash for the plate, but the Isabel recovered fast enough and his throw home was perfect to get Justus out
Up stepped Lovullo.
“Great at-bats by Alonzo, Hamps and Justus and good job by Dev. Everybody up front executed,” Lovullo said. “And for me, I was seeing the ball pretty well. He threw an 0-1 fastball, I put a good swing on it and I just missed it.
“And then he threw pretty much the same pitch and I was able to get a barrel on it and put it in the right spot and it was a pretty fun celebration afterwards.”
The win put the Blue Wahoos back above .500 at 8-7. The Trash Pandas have the same record. The teams will complete the full week series with games Friday through Sunday.
The game began with the Tate High baseball team part of the groups attending and Tate High grad Jay Bell, now Trash Pandas manager, greeting friends prior to the first pitch.
The Trash Pandas scored all their runs in the second inning. It was the only rough patch for Blue Wahoos starter Brandon Leibrandt, who had his best outing.
Leibrandt finished with four hits allowed, just one walk and four strikeouts in five inning. The Blue Wahoos bullpen trio of Jose Mesa Jr., Zach Wolf and newcomer Dylan Brice combined on shutout innings.
That set the stage for the Blue Wahoos ninth.
“It was a crazy ninth inning. Last couple nights has been a crazy end to our games. Great at-bats by Alonzo, Hamps and Justus and good job by Des. Everybody up front executed.
“There is so much talent in our lineup and so much talent on the pitching mound. Everyone believes in one another. Just because the results aren’t what we wanted early in the game, doesn’t mean that we are not going to get it later in the game.}
They did just that Thursday.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos Senior Writer
Century Man Gets Life In Prison For Raping 16-Year Old Girl As She Walked To The Library
May 20, 2021
A Century man has been sentenced to life in prison for grabbing a 16-year old girl she walked to the library in Century and raping her.
Thursday, Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Jennie Kinsey sentenced Na’Keetric Devonte Davison to life imprisonment as a habitual felony offender. He was also designated as a sexual predator. In March, he was convicted of kidnapping, sexual battery using threats of force or violence, attempted sexual battery, trespassing and criminal mischief.
On August 21, 2019, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Highway 29 and McCurdy Street Wednesday where a teen female exiting the wood line told deputies she had been raped by a man that fled the area on foot.
A passerby called 911 to report a disturbance after seeing a man pull the teen into wooded area. The motorist’s intervention allowed the teenage victim to escape from Davison.
The 16-year old female was obviously hysterical, standing with her jeans unzipped and her hair in disarray. She told deputies she was walking south on the sidewalk to the Century Branch Library when she was approached from behind by a a man that asked her for some change. She stated the man, later identified as Davison, grabbed her and pulled her into a wooded area adjacent to the sidewalk. Davison then grabbed her by the throat, slammed her to the ground and told her not to scream or he would kill her, the report states.
The teen told deputies that Davison then sexually assaulted her before telling her again that he would kill her if she screamed out. He then took her wallet from inside her purse and fled on foot into the woods.
The teen was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
A perimeter was established, and Davison was tracked by deputies and K-9 units from the Escambia County Road Prison and the Century Correctional Institution.
NorthEscambia.com was there as Davison was found inside a small storage building used as a meeting room adjacent to the New Calvary Church at Zion and Jackson streets. He had kicked in the door of the building in order to gain entry, according to an arrest report, and consumed several bottles of water and a bag of chips. He as apprehended wearing only his underwear after hiding his clothes in a refrigerator inside the building. The hidden clothing matched the description provided by the victim. Other evidence was collected at that time that helped corroborate the crime.
For an exclusive NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the scene and arrest, click here.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Health Advisories Dropped For Perdido Bay, Tests Show Water Is Safe Following Sewage Leak
May 20, 2021
Both Florida and Alabama have dropped health advisories for Perdido Bay that were issued last week after nearly six million gallons of sewage leaked from the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority’s Bayou Marcus Water Reclamation Facility,
Bacteriological sampling shows the waters of Bayou Marcus Creek and Perdido Bay are safe.
In a report to the Florida Department of Environmental Management, ECUA said 5.922 million gallons were spilled, and 222,660 gallons were collected. ECUA acknowledged in the report that the spill did reach Bayou Marcus Creek and surrounding wetlands.
A 30-inch diameter pipe at the Emerald Coast Utility Authority Bayou Marcus Water Reclamation Facility ruptured the night of May 13.
The facility is located west of North Blue Angel Parkway and Muldoon Road intersection (maps below).
Escambia County Man Charged With Kidnapping Girl In Walnut Hill
May 20, 2021
An Escambia County man is charged with kidnapping a 13-year old girl last weekend in Walnut Hill.
Ronald Gene Joyner, 55 is charged with felony kidnapping, interference with child custody and battery.
A man told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he was fishing with his family and had just left from Steve’s Farm on South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill. He said the girl was irritating her brother, so he stopped his truck near South Highway 99 and Beasley Road and made her get out and walk. The man told deputies that he drove less than a quarter mile away before turning around to pick up his daughter, but she was gone in less than two minutes.
In that short time span, Joyner drove up and asked the girl if she needed help, according to an arrest report.
The girl said Joyner pulled over and asked if she needed help, but she told him no. The report states Joyner told her to get into the truck, but she kept walking. He kept following her and calling her derogatory names. He eventually got out of his vehicle, grabbed the girl and put her in the backseat.
The girl, who said she does not know Joyner, tried unsuccessfully to get away. She refused to stay quiet, and Joyner told her, “If you’re not quiet I will shoot everyone in your family”, according to the arrest report.
The teen said Joyner tossed a Mountain Dew at her in the backseat, and it tasted “like he put something in it”, later describing the flavor to be like pineapple.
Joyner drove north and crossed the state line into Atmore and to the Walmart on North Main Street. She begged him to let her go, but he would not and again threatened to kill her family, the ECSO said.
Joyner then headed to Pensacola, making stops at several gas stations. According to the report, at one gas station the girl told Joyner that she had to go to the bathroom, and he threatened to kill all of her family and make her watch if she tried anything. She told deputies that she tried to signal for help covertly by using Tik Tok hand signals, but that did not work. Popular videos on TikTok and Twitter explain that a special hand signal can be used to indicate that a person is in danger.
Joyner then allegedly purchased what he said was heroin and offered it to the girl as he sniffed it up his nose with a straw, the report continues.
After Joyner found out law enforcement was looking for him, he released the girl in the area of Mobile Highway and Bellview Avenue. Deputies found her hiding under a fence, and she was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
Joyner remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $56,000.
Century Council President Says Job Applicant Is ‘Beautiful Woman’, But He Won’t Vote To Hire Her
May 20, 2021
Calling her a beautiful woman, the present of the Century Town Council told a job applicant that he would never hire her for an open positions despite her qualifications.
The town council has twice rejected the hiring of two employees as recommended by Mayor Ben Boutwell.
In March, the council refused to approve the employees hired by the mayor because he violated the town’s charter. The charter states that the mayor will present his employee selections to the town council to be approved or denied. The council can only vote yes or no on the mayor’s choice; the charter does not give the council any authority to hire anyone not recommended by the mayor.
In early May, Boutwell brought the same two employee choices back to the council, but a motion to hire them failed due to the lack of a second.
Cynthia Daniel, recommended by the mayor and rejected by the council for an entry level window citizens services clerk, addressed the council this week wanting to know the status of the job.
Council president Luis Gomez, Jr. said Daniel had actually submitted her resume and application in November, months before the positions were advertised. Town Clerk Kim Godwin said Daniel texted her to find out if she should reapply, and Godwin said she advised Daniel that her application was still on file and valid.
“Your application came in dated one day and the application process didn’t open until February 4. So whatever job your application applied for, in my mind, was not the job we were trying to fill,” Gomez told Daniel. He then inquired why someone with her work history would even want the job. According to her resume, Daniel has almost 20 years experience at an area bank as a bookkeeper, loan assistant, teller and accounts payable clerk, and holds an associate degree from Pensacola Junior College.
“With all of your experience you can get a job that pays more than that job (citizens service clerk) because that job is really just a $9 an hour job,” he said. “I just couldn’t see you with 20 years experience in banking coming to a $9 an hour job. Could you explain why would you even be interested in a $9 an hour job unless you were going to get more?”
Daniel explained that her most recently employer, Escambia County Bank in Flomaton, was acquired by another corporate bank, and she feared potential layoffs.
Gomez told her that she could try her luck with another council vote, but he would not vote to hire her.
“I wish you the most love and the most luck because you are a very intelligent woman with a lot of background,” he said. “I would hate to see you waste your time and talent at that window, because I know you can get $20 an hour easy … your resume was very impressive.”
Gomez said he regretted that Daniel was essentially caught in the rift between the council and mayor. “What I’m saying is I hate this beautiful woman is tied up in the middle of all this,” he said.
“I know you are a beautiful person. I would love to have lunch with you, even buy you lunch because I know you’re a beautiful person and probably have a beautiful family,” Gomez told Daniel. “But this is business. And please don’t take it personal.”
Pictured top: Cynthia Daniel addresses the Century Town Council. Pictured inset: Council President Luis Gomez, Jr. responds to Daniel. Pictured below: Cynthia Daniel’s job application with the town of Century was dated November 1, 2020. NorthEscambia.com redacted the street address from the image. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Suspect Headed To Work Off Muscogee Road After Kidnapping Attempt, ESCO Report Says
May 20, 2021
The man accused of the attempted kidnapping of an 11-year old girl from a bus stop Tuesday morning in Escambia County headed to work off Muscogee Road after the incident.
Jared Paul Stanga, 30, is charged with attempted kidnapping of a child under 13, aggravated assault and battery. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at just over $1.5 million.
About 7 a.m., a white Dodge Journey pulled up to the girl waiting at the bus stop on Old Corry Field Road and Perdido Street. That when Stanga tried to grab the girl, but she fought back.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was able to piece together video evidence that Stanga fled from the kidnapping scene along North Corry Field Road, to New Warrington Road to Mobile Highway. Numerous cameras captured the vehicle along Mobile Highway, and an eventual turn onto Pine Forest Road to the Murphy Express. One of those cameras clearly showed the license plate.
The Murphy Express video shows the Dodge Journey with a chrome bumper in the parking lot and Stanga wearing the same blue shirt, blue jeans and slide shoes as in the kidnapping video, an arrest report states. Stanga made a purchase inside the store and entered his own phone number to use a reward card.
Stanga’s employer informed investigators that he works at a company site just off Muscogee Road across the Florida/Alabama line. The employer is not named in the arrest report.
According to his supervisor, Stanga sent a text message at 7:02 a.m. saying that he would be late for work because he had to take his child to school. The supervisor said he thought this was odd because he believed Stanga’s child goes to virtual school.
He arrived at work about 7:45 a.m., parking his vehicle behind barn. His co-workers said the parking location was odd, and Stanga’s behavior and demeanor were out of character. The co-workers told investigators that he repeatedly took calls from his wife in private Tuesday when he always talks to her on a headset in front of all of them.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was waiting when Stanga arrived home on Betty Road. They found that the front chrome bumper of his vehicle had recently been painted black — they could smell fresh paint and see recent drips. Stanga had changed clothes, according to the report, between leaving work and arriving home, but the slides and blue jeans were in plain view inside the vehicle.
Stanga also had blue substance smeared on his left arm. It was the same color as the slime the young girl was playing with at the time of the attempted abduction.
For an earlier story and more information, click or tap here.
Jay Lady Royals Fall Short Of Class 1A Championship
May 20, 2021
The Jay Lady Royals fell short of the FHSAA Class 1A State Championship Wednesday with a 5-4 loss to the Trenton Tigers.
Mattie Cochran went four and a third innings for Jay, allowing eight hits and four runs while walking one and striking out five. Alayna Lowery threw one and two thirds innings in relief, allowing one hit and one run while walking three and striking out two.
Caitlyn Gavin and Ella Nelson both had home runs for Jay in the sixth inning. Nelson led Jay at the plate, going 3-3. Gavin, Brett Watson, Christa Sanders and Madison Mathis had one hit each.
The Lady Royals finished at 24-6 on the season and is expected to return at least 10 top players next year.
Pictured: The Jay Lady Royals after their regional win. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Sentenced For DUI Crash That Killed One, Seriously Injured Century Man
May 20, 2021
An Escambia County woman has been sentenced for a fatal DUI crash in January 2020.
Ava Nicole Stoudemire was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Lee Robinson to 15 years in state prison under a plea agreement under which she admitted to DUI manslaughter, DUI causing serious bodily injury, DUI causing injury and driving without a valid driver’s license.
Stoudemire attempted to make a turn onto Marcus Point Boulevard from W Street. Her Toyota van was traveling too fast to negotiate the turn, causing her to lose control and collide with a semi-truck and a box truck.
Stoudemire’s backseat passenger, Tyrone Deonta Wilkins, Jr., passed away as a result of the crash. Her front seat passenger, Gregory Joseph Matthews of Century, was seriously injured. The driver of an oncoming truck was also injured.
Stoudemire’s blood alcohol level was .221, well above the legal level of .08 at the time of the crash.
Stoudemire was also seriously injured in the crash.