Escambia County, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons joined Pensacola's Morning News Tuesday with a handful of updates from a relatively quiet week — including a gun safety warning, an unusual counterfeiting arrest, and a heads-up for graduating seniors heading to the beach this summer.
Accidental Shooting in Cantonment
A man accidentally shot himself and the person sitting next to him while cleaning a firearm in Cantonment over the weekend. Both victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries and the deputy on scene determined it was accidental. Simmons used the incident to highlight a troubling trend — saying Escambia County sees an accidental shooting roughly once every two weeks. He says the number one rule of firearm safety is simple: never point a gun at anyone, loaded or not.
Prop Money at Gulf Winds Credit Union
A man walked into Gulf Winds Credit Union on Nine Mile Road and attempted to exchange fake prop money for real cash. Simmons says the bills were clearly labeled as copy play money — movie prop currency — and the teller immediately recognized them as fake. When told the money wasn't real the suspect said he had more and produced additional fake bills. Deputies collected 12 counterfeit bills as evidence and the man is charged with counterfeiting.
Graduation Season Beach Staffing
With high school graduation season underway Simmons says extra deputies will be deployed at Pensacola Beach and other locations where teenagers and recent graduates are likely to congregate. He says the approach mirrors what the agency did for Memorial Day weekend — which he described as exceptionally quiet with no significant complaints received from the beach — and what is already being planned for the 4th of July.
Suspected IED — Not a Threat
Hurlburt Field EOD responded to a suspected IED call in Escambia County last week. The containers turned out not to be explosive material. Simmons encouraged residents to never touch suspicious objects and always call law enforcement.