PANAMA CITY— Several roads will be closed to the motoring public during the “Salute to Freedom” celebration Friday in downtown Panama City. Parking on the marina also will be limited.

No vehicular traffic will be allowed in the designated event area of the Panama City Marina. The boat ramp closed at midnight Thursday and will remain closed until 10 p.m. Friday.

Limited public parking will be allowed in the lot north of the Civic Center.

Beach Drive west of Harrison to Sixth Street will be closed and Beach Drive east of Harrison to Cherry Street will be closed to vehicular traffic at 6 p.m. Friday. They will be reopened after the fireworks, once it is deemed safe.

Motorists traveling east and west crossing Grace, Jenks and Harrison avenues should expect delays due to the heavy flow of traffic from those leaving the downtown area after the fireworks.

PANAMA CITY— With a combination of clear skies and a Friday Fourth of July, officials in law enforcement and public safety expect an especially long weekend.

Independence Day is easily the most dangerous holiday in the United States for drivers, law enforcement officials say. Traffic deaths skyrocket and alcohol consumption influences decisions of personal and public safety. Since conditions along the Gulf of Mexico are nearly ideal this year, the flood of visitors entering Bay County could stretch law enforcement and fire crew resources thin across Bay County.

Officials expect heightened traffic congestion, beach incidents, DUIs, fires, fights and fireworks. But despite being outnumbered, authorities said they will be enforcing even misdemeanor offenses.

“Based on the amount of visitors, we are anticipating a long weekend,” said Maj. Tommy Ford of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Thousands of holiday visitors, along with about 300 teams for a baseball tournament, are descending on the county over the weekend, and officials are encouraging safety and respect for the law.

Launching fireworks that explode is a misdemeanor in Bay County. Depending on how the person responds to law enforcement, the penalty could range from a citation to a night in jail.

Authorities also have a serious problem with launching fireworks along the beach, where some people may not consider fire a cause for concern — or even a possibility. Ford said because wind currents from the Gulf blow back toward condos, the conditions for a fire are more likely than most would imagine.

“That’s a situation that can result in injuring another person on a balcony or damaging someone else’s property,” Ford said. “We take that very serious.”

State fire officials were cautioning against the use of fireworks in not-so-populated areas, as well, because ofthe recent dry conditions.

“Although we have had a wet summer in some parts of the state, the potential for wildfire still exists,” said Jim Karels, state forester. “Please be careful when you use fireworks near brush or trees outdoors.”

And it should come as no surprise that July Fourth is the deadliest day of the year for motorists, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Data gathered by NHTSA shows that during the last 25 years, nearly 51 percent of traffic crashes on the Fourth involved alcohol. An average of 491 traffic deaths occur July Fourth, according to NHTSA. Labor Day, Memorial Day and New Year’s Day are the next most deadly days for motorists, respectively.

“Independence Day is a day to celebrate the birth of our great nation with family and friends, enjoying cookouts and fireworks,” Florida Highway Patrol Director Col. David Brierton said in a press release. “But people need to use good judgment over the long holiday weekend so that the celebration doesn’t turn into a tragedy.”

Though law enforcement may seem at a disadvantage, Ford said BCSO will be conducting business as usual.

“Our resources are at max capacity,” Ford said. “But it is against the law to launch fireworks, and we will be enforcing the law.”

Stay safe

Safety tips from FHP:

- Plan a safe way home before the fun begins.

- Buckle up. A seat belt is your vehicle’s most important safety feature.

- Before drinking, designate a sober driver.

- If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.

- If you happen to see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement or dial *347.

- If you know people who are about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

- Remember, possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a vehicle — in motion or stopped 3 by the driver and or the passenger(s) is a violation of Florida law.

Tips from fire officials:

- Follow all fireworks laws for your county or city.

- Light fireworks on a cleared area free of any vegetation or debris.

- Remove any debris from roofs or decks where fireworks could land.

- Always have a water source available in case of a fire.

- Aim fireworks away from people, homes and wooded areas.

- Do not allow young children to light or handle fireworks.

- Never use homemade fireworks.

- Discard used fireworks in a bucket of water.

- Store unused fireworks and lighters out of the reach of children.

- Report any fires immediately to 911. 

PANAMA CITY BEACH -- A Panama City Beach man is charged with stealing and setting fire to a truck.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle fire on Sunday at 8124 South Lagoon Drive at about 7:40 a.m. Deputies arrived to find a Chevrolet Colorado truck stuck in the sand on a vacant lot with smoke coming from the interior. It was determined the vehicle had been set on fire on purpose. Deputies also learned the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier that day from Camping World at 4100 W. 23^rd St, Panama City.

Investigators were able to use security video from Camping World to help identify the suspect as Chase Allen Sellers. They also learned Sellers had been arrested on Monday by Panama City Police for armed robbery after being apprehended by a witness while trying to rob a Mr. Mart on West 11^thStreet in Panama City.

After speaking with the inmate, investigators charged him with two counts of burglary, felony criminal mischief, arson and grand theft.

Investigators believe Sellers stole the truck and set fire to it when he became angry the cigarette lighter wouldn’t light his pipe. They also have charged Sellers with returning to Camping World a day after taking the vehicle and stealing a television.

PANAMA CITY -- A gathering is planned tonight in response to recent shootings that have taken place in Panama City.

The “anointed affirmative action prayer and petition service” will be at 8 p.m. at the St. John MB Church, 1021 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Contact Pastor Delwynn Williams at (850) 763-7222 for more information.

Police Blotter is a lighthearted look at some of the unusual things that happen on the police beat.

Some guys have all the luck and some guys have a pack of rolling papers fall out of their wallet during a routine traffic stop.

Police pulled this guy over after he took a wide right turn from 19^th Street onto Mound Avenue — granted he was leaving an area notorious for drug activity. When the guy went to produce his driver’s license, a pack JOB 1.5 rolling papers fell out. Two packs of Brillos, sometimes used to screen pipes, fell out of his glove box as he went for his insurance and registration.

This guy’s window also didn’t work ... in July … so he had to open his door to talk to the police, who then — with evidence falling into their lap from everywhere else — noticed marijuana shake and other pieces of potential paraphernalia in the floorboard.

But, the pieces alone weren’t enough. He left with a ticket for the traffic violation. 

MARIANNA -- Five men were arrested Thursday following a raid on a house in Marianna.

According to Marianna Police, a search warrant was served at 2928 Harley Drive, following an investigation into the sale and distribution of drugs in Marianna. During this joint operation involving eight law enforcement agencies, the warrant without significant incident.

A search of the residence led to the seizure of more than three pounds of marijuana, cocaine and paraphernalia necessary for the sale and distribution of these controlled substances. Multiple firearms including a semi-automatic assault rifle, five vehicles and the proceeds of drug transactions were also confiscated.

Arrested on a variety of drug and weapons charges were Cedric Antonio Decree, 32,  Jerry Lee Spires, 50, Michael Dewan Williams, 37, and Jacques Lamont Spires, 24, all of Marianna, and Adrian T. Spencer, 38, Panama City. 

PANAMA CITY BEACH -- A motorist has been charged with failing to yield the right of way after pulling into the path of a scooter Friday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The driver of the scooter was in a local hospital in serious condition Saturday. The driver’s name has been withheld pending notification of family members, the FHP reported.

Tiffani Amber McCurry, 20, of Jackson, Ga., was driving a 2008 Ford Mustang east in the inside lane on Front Beach Road about 9:30 p.m. Friday when she turned left in front of a 2013 Taoi scooter heading in the opposite direction, according to the FHP. The scooter crashed into the Mustang.

The FHP was not clear where on Front Beach Road the accident occurred. 

MARIANNA -- A 61-year-old Marianna man was killed Sunday night when he was thrown from the ATV he was riding after a collision with a car, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Thomas G. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred at the intersection of Bradley Road and State 69 around 8:40 p.m. Sunday. Thomas entered the path of a 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by 66-year-old Lillianne C. Hester of Sneads.

The collision threw Jones from the ATV to the shoulder. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hester went to Jackson Hospital with minor injuries. No charges are expected.

PANAMA CITY -- The pretrial conference for murder defendant David Clanton, scheduled for Monday, was continued to 8:30 a.m. Sept. 2.

Clanton is charged with first degree murder after the strangling death of his father-in-law Arthur Moore on Sept. 8.

A trial was set for October.

PANAMA CITY — A bus aide accused of abusing an 8-year-old special needs child on a school bus two months ago has been arrested.

Elaine Edwards, former exceptional student education (ESE) bus aide at Bay District Schools, was arrested Monday after a police investigation concluded Edwards had forcibly grabbed the girl, leaving her with bruises “consistent with alleged abuse,” a Panama City Police Department news release states.

Edwards, 57, of Lynn Haven, has been booked at Bay County Jail. Since 2009, Edwards had worked at the district as a substitute bus aide, teacher and food service worker.

READ THE POLICE REPORT

Edwards was terminated May 27, five days after the incident had taken place. There were no other complaints against her in her Bay District Schools personnel file.

“Mishandling children is totally unacceptable and we work closely in training with our paraprofessionals and bus drivers on how to deal with children,” Superintendent Bill Husfelt said Monday. “And we’re not going to tolerate that.”

Generally, bus staff treat children appropriately, Husfelt said, and are “no where near” Edwards’ behavior.

“It’s an isolated case,” he said.

According to the police report, the school bus video “doesn’t show the child doing anything wrong to be made to move in the first place,” Department of Children and Families Heather Ehle stated in the police report after viewing the video.

The child “sustained bruising to her upper left arm,” the report states.

The girl’s mother took her to the hospital after the incident and filed a police complaint.

PANAMA CITY BEACH -- A Panama City Beach man was arrested Tuesday in connection with using minors as part of a prostitution business being operated out of a unit at Laketown Wharf.

Arrested was Joe Worthy Dobbs, 50.

Beach police said they received a tip information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about Dobbs. During the ensuing investigation, police discovered Dobbs had procured a 16-year-old girl for prostitution. A search of unit 1834 of the condo turned up two other females who were involved, who cooperated with police.

Dobbs was charged with procuring a person under 18 for prostitution, deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution and renting space to be used for prostitution.

The investigation is ongoing and more charges are anticipated, police said.

PANAMA CITY — Out-of-state authorities have halted a methamphetamine supply-line into Bay County allegedly from sources within the Mexican Cartel, according to officials.

Harris County Sheriff’s deputies, based in Hamilton, Ga., pulled over 29-year-old Angela Crystal Nash in late-June after their tag readers returned her vehicle’s status as stolen. Nash told officers she had picked the car up from a friend and was asked to transport it to Panama City. Before she could make it, Nash was arrested with about a pound of methamphetamine, scales and baggies in a padlocked book bag, allegedly originating from the Mexican Cartel.

After being arrested and turning in Hungarian-native Andrea Mcinally, 31, of Southport, the lookout driver traveling in a separate car on the trip, Nash told deputies the delivery details. Over the past month, she revealed, she transported as much as 36 pounds of methamphetamine into Bay County.

Nash said she and a boyfriend, whose name was not released, went to Florida on vacation last year when they ran into some of his friends from Panama City. She said the boyfriend started to talk about Nash’s previous drug connections in Georgia.

After breaking up with the boyfriend, Nash said his friends in Panama City continued to contact her, which led to eight runs from her source in Newnan, Ga., to Panama City within the month of June. Each trip she carried as much as 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine, valued at about $225,000.

Bay County Sheriff’s officials verified they have been in contact with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, but declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

During a press conference Saturday, Harris County officials indicated they believe Nash was acting as a drug mule as part of the Mexican Cartel. Nash has been charged with theft by receiving stolen property, trafficking methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Nash and Mcinally, who was charged with criminal conspiracy, have been released on bond.

PANAMA CITY -- One of two men arrested in connection with the shooting of three people at a Millville gas station is back in jail after a drug arrest.

Frederic J. Jones, 21, was arrested Thursday at about 9:20 p.m. for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia after police pulled him over in the 400 block of 11th Street. Police said the smell of burnt marijuana was present during the traffic stop, and half of a blunt was visible in the center ashtray of the car. Jones’ bond release for charges of aggravated assault with a firearm was revoked after the arrest.

Jones and Antonio West Jr., 24,were arrested in May after being seen on video surveillance and identified by witnesses as being involved in a verbal altercation with two other men at the EZ Petro, 1307 E. Fifth St.Moments later gunfire broke out at the gas station, according to arrest records.

Police later found Marqueze McGhee, 25, Xavier M. Buckler, 23, and Dalreco Franklin, 26, at the Petro suffering from gunshot wounds. McGhee and Buckler were pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital. Franklin was treated and released for a gunshot wound to the leg.

Neither Jones nor West were charged with the deaths of McGhee or Buckler. However, police charged Jones with aggravated battery with a firearm, which they said occurred when Franklin was shot in the leg. 

SAN DIEGO — Four U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration employees saw or heard a handcuffed San Diego student locked in a cell for five days without food or water, but did nothing because they assumed someone else was responsible, investigators said Tuesday.

The Justice Department's inspector general faulted several DEA employees for their handling of the April 2012 incident that left Daniel Chong in grave physical health, cost the agency a $4.1 million settlement and led to nationwide changes in the agency's detention policies.

The employees told investigators they found nothing unusual in their encounters with Chong and assumed whoever put him in the cell would return for him shortly. Chong, then 23, ingested methamphetamine, drank his own urine to survive and cut himself with broken glasses while he was held.

A three-page summary of the investigation does not say when the four employees encountered Chong or what they heard or saw, and the DEA wouldn't elaborate. The agency declined to say if any employees faced consequences, calling it an "ongoing internal disciplinary matter."

Chong was handcuffed behind his back without access to a toilet. He has said he slid a shoelace under the door and screamed for attention before he was found covered in his feces. He said he used a shard from his broken glasses to try to carve a "Sorry Mom" farewell message on his arm but only managed to finish an "S."

Chong, a student at University of California, San Diego, was detained in a drug sweep and told after brief questioning that he would be released. Last year, he reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the federal government over what his attorneys called a near-death experience.

The Justice Department's inspector general found the DEA's San Diego office didn't have a system to track detainee movements, that holding cells were not equipped with cameras and that an employee assigned to monitor cells had many other responsibilities. Employees were not required to sign in or out of the detention area, and there were no reliable electronic entry records because the door lock wasn't working.

There was no DEA policy or training regarding operations of holding cells at the time and no requirement that holding cells be checked at the end of each day.

The inspector general faulted three case agents — one a DEA employee and two assigned to an agency task force — and one supervisor who were responsible for Chong's safety. It said the supervisor exercised poor judgment and violated DEA policy by assigning two of the agents to process evidence from the cell after Chong was found.

Investigators also faulted DEA management for launching an investigation into Chong's detention before alerting the inspector general, a violation of DEA and Justice Department policies that they said could have hampered any criminal prosecution. The DEA is part of the Justice Department.

The DEA said Chong's case prompted new nationwide policies for handling detainees that largely mirror the inspector general's recommendations.

"The DEA is confident that these measures will help to prevent similar incidents in the future," the agency said in a statement.

Julia Yoo, an attorney for Chong, said she was "gratified that the investigation seems to be thorough" but called on the inspector general to release the full report. She said Chong was still in school in San Diego and "doing well."

PANAMA CITY -- Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet sentenced Terry Floyd Sapp on Wednesday to life in prison for molesting a young girl.

Sapp, 42, of Panama City, was convicted May 20 of sexual battery on a child younger than 12 and related charges. Assistant State Attorneys Alyssa Claseman and Megan Ford showed jurors during the one-day trial that Sapp molested the victim over a three-year period. 

PANAMA CITY -- Police seized almost two pounds of marijuana, a semi-automatic weapon and cash during a security sweep of a local apartment complex.

Investigators with the Street Crimes Unit of the Panama City Police Department were conducting a security check of the Royal Arms Garden Apartments, 1420 Balboa Ave., when they saw Jorge Chacon, of Panama City, and an unidentified female passenger sitting in a parked car.

Police initiated contact with the two, and investigators said a strong odor of marijuana was coming from the vehicle.

Chacon and the female were detained while police searched the vehicle. Police found a bag containing nearly two pounds of marijuana, packaging materials, a scale and $1,100 in the search. Under the passenger seat, investigators also located a semi-automatic weapon with its magazine under the driver’s seat. Police seized the marijuana, drug paraphernalia, weapon and cash.

Chacon was taken to the Bay County Jail on charges of felony possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a firearm while in commission of a felony, felon in possession of a firearm and keeping a nuisance drug vehicle.

CALLAWAY -- Flames from a fire, estimated to engulf between 100- to 200-acres of brush, broke out Wednesday in Sandy Creek.

Multiple fire crews from Bay County, Springfield, State Forestry and Callaway responded to the wildfire near Sandy Creek, which started at about 3 p.m. Initial reports from Callaway fire crews estimated the fire spread to be between 100- and 200-acres wide.

“There was an initial threat to two houses,” said Dennis Hall, of the Callaway Fire Department. “Two brush trucks responded to those residences and eliminated that threat.”

Six tractors cleared a perimeter around the fire. By 5 p.m., fire crews had enough brush around the fire cleared to prevent it from spreading, but crews will be monitoring the area. A cause had not been determined by Wednesday evening. 

PANAMA CITY BEACH — The promise of modeling opportunities enticed a 16-year-old girl into a year of prostitution, police discovered after a raid on a local prostitution den Tuesday.

Since May, Panama City Beach Police have been investigating an escort service operated out of Laketown Wharf Resort, 9902 S. Thomas Drive, unit 1834. Police were alerted by the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children to a 16-year-old girl working as part of a child sex trafficking ring.

As their investigation unfolded, the 16-year-old, whose identity has been withheld by police, told officers she was recruited through a Craigslist.org modeling advertisement. She called the number on the ad and met with Joe Worthy Dobbs, 50, who wanted to take pictures of her, she said.

During her first few meetings with Dobbs, she told police he convinced her to go on “dates” with unknown males. At first she didn’t have sex on the dates until Dobbs insisted he show her what the “customers” were wanting during their encounters, according to police reports.

That was more than a year ago, she told police. She had been an escort ever since. But she wasn’t alone.

“We got information (Dobbs) was running a small prostitution ring out of there,” said Police Chief Drew Whitman. “We never expected he was … the guy who was running this group the whole time.”

Dobbs advertised the girl on several Internet sites under the business name Emerald Coast Escorts. He set her rates, took phone calls and booked encounters for 40 percent of all the profits. The girl also told police she was not the only prostitute operating out of unit 1834 in Laketown Wharf.

The size of the escort group’s customer base is difficult to pin down. However, Emerald Coast Escorts’ public Yahoo account boasts 178 members. Its profile claims the company was established in July 2002 by Kierstan Donte. A review of the group’s message history shows a spike in activity to 450 messages in October 2013 after mediocre attention over the years since its creation. Messages spiked at 398 in November and again in January with 335 responses.

The 16-year-old was one of seven women operating out of the room, police discovered. During their raid Tuesday, officers found two other admitted escorts in the unit. The two said they were using it as their den, and Dobbs also took a 40 percent cut of their profits for arranging encounters.

Dobbs told police he was the sole owner of Emerald Coast Escorts and it was his main source of income. He admitted to soliciting the 16-year-old as an escort but said he was unaware of her age.

Police said they have not arrested any of the girls involved nor charged any customers of Emerald Coast Escorts at this time, but the investigation is continuing.

Dobbs appeared in court Wednesday on charges of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution, living off prostitution earnings and renting a space for prostitution.

Laketown Warf officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

LYNN HAVEN -- Lynn Haven police have arrested a convicted sex offender for not registering a new address after bullying a cable technician and threatening to shoot all of the cable company employees, police reported Wednesday.

Richard Acton St. John, 66, called the cable company Monday because he was receiving more channels than he requested. When the cable guy showed up at his home on Maine Avenue, St. John confronted him and began cursing and screaming at him, according to police reports.

Police said the cable guy left after St. John told him to get off his property or he would shoot him. St. John later called the offices of the cable company and again became outraged, threatening to shoot everyone in the building.

When police investigated the threatening phone call, they discovered St. John was convicted in 1993 of molesting a minor in Alabama. He moved to Bay County, registered at an address on Sunset Avenue, but didn’t notify Bay County authorities of his relocation to Maine Avenue.

St. John was arrested and taken to Bay County Jail for failure to register. Additional charges of assault in connection with the cable confrontation were filed later.