Alabama Semi Truck Driver Killed In Highway 97 Crash In Davisville
April 22, 2021
The driver of a semi truck was killed in a single vehicle crash in Davisville early Thursday morning.
The log truck was northbound on Highway 97 north of Nokomis Road about 6:20 a.m. when it left the roadway for an unknown reason, struck a culvert, went airborne and collided with a large oak tree.
The 52-year old Mobile, Alabama, man was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Highway 97 was closed for nearly three hours between Nokomis Road and Meadows Road for the crash investigation.
The Florida Highway Patrol no longer releases the names of traffic victims. The Walnut Hill, Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Fire Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Allegedly Beat His Child’s Mother With A Stick, Broom Handle And Belt; Battered His Mother
April 22, 2021
A Molino man is accused of striking his child’s mother with a stick, broom handle and a belt before pouring water and alcohol over her. He is also accused of the battery of his mother in an unrelated incident.
Pedro Yamirr Lopez-Nava, 18, was charged with felony aggravated battery using a deadly weapon and misdemeanor battery.
The victim stated she and Lopez-Nava had an argument in the driveway of the their Molino home. She said the argument turned physical when he grabbed a stick from the yard and began beating her, according to arrest report. She ran inside where Lopez-Nava beat her with a broom handle, threw a bucket of water and then alcohol on her, and demanded that she clean up the mess from the incident, the report continues.
The victim suffered injuries including bruises “from her right eye all the way to her right knee”, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
In an unrelated incident days later, Lopez-Nava allegedly committed battery against his mother.
The ECSO responded to Taqueria Olgys restaurant on W Street where they found Lopez-Nava sitting on a stool in front of his mother, and both of them were crying, deputies said. Speaking through another one of her sons acting as an interpreter, the mother told deputies Lopez-Nava tried to get her to leave but she refused. He became angry and grabbed her left arm trying to pull her off her seat but she continued to refuse, the report states. The mother told deputies Lopez-Nava is methamphetamine user, and she claimed he has hit her before.
Lopez-Nava remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $4,000.
Cantonment Man Sentenced To 15 Years For Attempted Murder At Gas Station
April 22, 2021
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to prison for attempted murder at an Escambia County gas station in May 2020.
William David Nicholson II, entered a plea to attempted first degree premeditated murder with a firearm, possession of firearm by a convicted felon, criminal mischief ($1000 or greater) and, on a second case, to grand theft.
He was sentenced to 15 years in state prison with a 10 year minimum mandatory on the attempted murder charge and a three year minimum mandatory sentence for possession of firearm by convicted felon. Nicholson, who was sentenced by Judge Jennie Kinsey, will be required to serve the minimum mandatory sentences day for day.
On May 13, 2020, Nicholson attempted to sell marijuana to the victim. The victim did not pay Nicholson for the narcotics.
Nicholson seemed to realize this shortly after the transaction had occurred, and a brief high speed chase ensued between their two vehicles. After pulling into the parking lot of a gas station in the 8600 block of Pine Forest Road at I-10, Nicholson exited his vehicle with a firearm and fired two shots toward the victim. At least one projectile went into the victim’s vehicle, striking the victim. The victim suffered a non-life threatening injury to the head and was taken to a local hospital.
Nicholson then fled the scene.
Nicholson has multiple prior felony convictions including three for burglary, grand theft and three for grand theft of a firearm.
Tate High Softball Honors Seniors
April 22, 2021
Tate High School softball honored the Class of 2021 during senior night this week before shutting out Washington 10-0. Tate softball seniors are (pictured L-R) Abbie Burks, Cam Wolfenden, Hannah Halfacre, Taylor Greene, Courtney Adams and Madison Holland. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Beat Escambia (With Photo Gallery)
April 22, 2021
The Tate Aggies defeated the Escambia Gators 8-1 Wednesday night.
Tanner Rouchon pitched four innings for Tate, allowing five hits and one run while striking out one and walking three. Riley Lowery and Jadon Fryman closed the game for Tate.
Rouchon went 2-2 with and Dylan Godwin was 2-4 to lead Tate in hits. Zak Licastro, Jordan Jarman and Frankie Randall added one hit each for the Aggies.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Laura Glodfelter for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Honors Barry Tweedie For Devotion To Free Speech, Exchange Of Ideas
April 22, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Board and the ECUA Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC) honored the late Barry Tweedie this week by dedicating the podium in the ECUA boardroom in his name.
Tweedie passed away on January 4, 2021, at the age of 68. He is a former member of the CAC and was actively involved with ECUA. He faithfully attended meetings and provided his insights into the management of water, wastewater, and sanitation systems over the course of many years.
“We dedicate this podium to Barry Tweedie, to honor his devotion to free speech and enthusiasm for the honest exchange of ideas in shaping policy,” a plaque placed on the podium states.
“This would mean so much to him if he was here,” his wife Paula Tweedie said. “Y’all meant so much to him; you enriched his life so much. To have something dedicated to him, not only just as a token, but something that is lifelong, that will remain here. That would mean so much to him.”
“Barry was one of the outstanding citizens,” former ECUA board member Larry Walker said. Tweedie ran unsuccessfully against Walker multiple times for the District 5 ECUA seat.
“America has precious few of those types of citizens. At ECUA over the past 25 or so years, Barry was really the only one,” Walker said. “He was the only citizen that faithfully came to our board meetings and our committee meetings. He was just as informed as any member of the CAC ever was. He was a wonderful citizen. ECUA is a lessor organization because of his loss. I appreciated him very much always, and I do to this day. Let’s all try remember that we all need to be good citizens in the Barry Tweedie mold.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County COVID-19 Daily Hospitalizations Remained Below 35 For Past Month
April 22, 2021
The number of Escambia County COVID-19 hospitalizations remained below 35 each day during the past month.
The number of people hospitalized due to the virus on Wednesday was 32, after a low of 20 over the last month. In mid-January, the number reached a high of 291.
“We are glad to see these numbers coming down for our community and for our hospitals,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said.”Please continue to take preventative actions, including wearing a mask, washing your hands often, and staying home if you are sick.”
The numbers in the graph indicate daily hospitalizations in Escambia County and are provided daily by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospital. The daily numbers are not cumulative.
Data sources: Escambia County, City of Pensacola, Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist and West Florida hospitals. Graphics: City of Pensacola.
Escambia Man Charged With Attempted Homicide
April 21, 2021
An Escambia County man has been charged in connection with a shooting last week.
Robert Michael Mosley, 22, was charged with attempted homicide, use or display of a firearm during a felony, two counts of possession of a weapon by convicted felon, and possession of marijuana with intent to sell.
On April 14, the Escambia County Sheriff’s office responded to a shots fired disturbance on the 1200 block of West Maxwell Street. A short time later, a shooting victim was dropped off at Baptist Hospital. ECSO investigators determined that Mosley shot the victim during an argument.
Mosley is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
For The Third Time In A Month, Eight-Time Convicted Felon From Molino Arrested For Drug Trafficking
April 21, 2021
For the third time in a month, an eight-time convicted felon from Molino has been arrested on multiple drug trafficking charges.
Damion Tobias Bryant, 39, was free on bonds totaling nearly a half-million dollars when arrested Monday by the Pensacola Police Department for trafficking methamphetamine over 14 grams, trafficking fentanyl, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license.
This time, Bryant is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
“He is charged with a large number of very serious crimes,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said. “If convicted on the more serious charges (trafficking), the least he would looking at is a minimum of 25 years to be served day by day.”
“If he is convicted on multiple offenses, it could be virtually a life sentence if he receives multiple sentences to be served consecutively,” Marcille added.
April 19 Arrest
A Pensacola police officer observed a Honda Pilot run a stop sign at Tide and Audubon drives, just off Creighton Road. The officer observed a large clear plastic bag containing a white powdery substance in front passenger seat and called for a K-9.
Inside the vehicle, officers found 19 grams of methamphetamine in clear plastic bags, 24 bars of Xanax, 108.5 grams of fentanyl, and a small glass pipes with residue, according to an arrest report. Bryant had $974.50 in cash rolled in different denominations, the report continued.
April 1 Arrest
On April 1, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped a Ford F-150 Bryant was driving near Yonge and “T” streets.
K-9 searched the truck and located 1.3 grams of MDMA, 31 grams of heroin, one gram of marijuana, 98.5 grams of fentanyl, glass smoking pipes, a loaded Ak-47 with a round in the chamber and more than $1,300 in cash, according to the ECSO.
Bryant was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, trafficking in heroin, trafficking in fentanyl, carrying a concealed firearm, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $242,000 bond.
March 19 Arrest
On March 19, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in the 3900 block of Barrancas Avenue. Two people, Damion Tobias Bryant of Molino 32-year old Kiersten Marie Heusohn of Pensacola, were inside the room at the time, an arrest report states.
According to investigators, Bryant possessed approximately 267.8 grams of methamphetamine, 37.37 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, 12.1 grams of synthetic marijuana, 22 grams of marijuana, 265 whole and 37 partial Alprazolam pills and two oxycodone pills.
In addition, deputies reported finding $1,475 in cash in the room and a .45 caliber pistol in a pool.
Bryant was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in heroin, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, destruction of evidence, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $240,000 bond.
Heusohn was charged with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffic heroin and destruction of evidence. She was released from jail on a $102,500 bond.
Pictured: Damion Tobias Bryant was in possession of 1.3 grams of MDMA, 31 grams of heroin, one gram of marijuana, 98.5 grams of fentanyl, glass smoking pipes, a loaded Ak-47 with a round in the chamber and more than $1,300 in cash after a traffic stop, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Drama Production Has Not Been Canceled, But Will Be Different Due To COVID-19 Protocols
April 21, 2021
Dozens of people contacted NorthEscambia.com Tuesday after receiving word that this week’s scheduled Tate High School drama performance been canceled at the eleventh hour due to the pandemic. Many expressed anger that the show would not go on while sporting events are allowed to continue.
We reached out to Escambia County School Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith and Tate High School Principal Rick Shackle for answers.
“I think there was confusion at the school over a drama production,” Smith said Tuesday afternoon.” “There has been no change whatsoever to (COVID-19) protocols that have been in place all year.”
Shackle said events were scheduled at Tate earlier this school year with the hopes that they could take place as normal, but the pandemic protocols never changed.
“We have things on the calendar that allow students to work toward them,” the principal said. “As far as the play goes, the drama department was fully aware from that beginning that it might not take place with an audience.”
The spring show with shorts “Hamlette” and “Mmmbeth”, based on the works of Shakespeare, will go on without an audience and will be streamed online Saturday night. Complete details, including any cost and time, were still be worked out Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s not an everything is back to normal, but it’s a win-win for the students and the parents,” Shackle said. “It’s especially important for the seniors.”
“These protocols have been in place, and I understand people are just ready to be done with them. I get that,” Smith said. “We are all tired of the pandemic. It’s been very difficult for seniors to miss proms and all of their senior activities. People have held their own events and done their own things with their friends. But at school, we have worked with the health department and have just done the best we can for the health and safety of our students and staff members.”
The superintendent said athletic events have continued with in-person fans due to contractual obligations with the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Shackle said Tate High School is also working on plans to also steam upcoming band and chorus events.
Parents from both Northview and Tate high schools held two separate “proms” this past Saturday night for students, but they were private events unaffiliated with the schools or district.
File photo.