Escambia Sheriff Covers Crime Stats, Deauville Way Shooting, ShotSpotter and More

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons joined Pensacola's Morning News Tuesday with a wide-ranging update — leading with a candid conversation about crime perception versus reality and touching on several active cases including a shooting whose official story isn't holding up to scrutiny.

Crime Is Down 40% — But Nobody Believes It

Simmons opened with a number that consistently surprises people — property and persons crimes in Escambia County are down roughly 40% over the last three years. He says the pushback he gets when he shares that statistic is immediate and universal. People tell him there is no way that can be true because they feel like they are hearing about crime more than ever. Simmons says that is exactly the point — increased media exposure creates a perception gap that has nothing to do with actual crime rates. He added historical context from his 40 years in law enforcement — crime today is roughly half of what it was during the crack epidemic of the 1980s. He was careful to note that one act of violence is still one too many but says the data is unambiguous about the direction things are heading. He also says the agency itself is more capable than at any point in his career — better response times, better technology, better GPS mapping, better dispatchers, and a real-time crime center that puts deputies in a stronger position than ever before.

Deauville Way Shooting — Story Doesn't Match Evidence

A 16-year-old was shot on Deauville Way at 1:30 a.m. on July 10th and is recovering with non-life-threatening injuries. The teen claims he was standing in his doorway when a car sped by and fired. Simmons says investigators are not fully buying that account. Shell casings found in the driveway are inconsistent with a drive-by shooting from a speeding vehicle. Simmons says investigators are working on what he called accuracy — trying to determine what actually happened and whether the case connects to other crimes in the area.

ShotSpotter — Still Running But No Longer Supported

Simmons clarified the status of the county's ShotSpotter gunshot detection system — technically still active but no longer supported after the governor vetoed a legislative appropriation to fund it in October. Simmons says the company has not yet pulled the plug on the equipment and is allowing the county to continue using the microphones in the meantime. He was candid about whether the county is missing much — estimating that only about one percent of ShotSpotter activations led to finding actual shots fired in anger and four to five percent were shots fired at someone. He says he would rather invest the money in license plate readers or patrol vehicles where the return is more concrete.

Homeless Man Charged With Attempted Homicide Near Waterfront Mission

Thomas Cortijo — 30 years old — was arrested and charged with attempted homicide after allegedly stabbing a 66-year-old man near the Waterfront Mission on Fairfield Drive. The victim sustained stab wounds to the chest. Cortijo was found at a nearby homeless encampment.

AC Thief on Powder Blue Tricycle Still at Large

Someone stole air conditioning units from Brownsville AOG church — and the getaway vehicle is unlike anything Simmons has seen. Security cameras caught the suspect loading units onto a trailer attached to a large powder blue tricycle before pedaling away. He came back multiple times and made off with three units total. Simmons says someone in the community should recognize either the man or the distinctive tricycle and trailer combination. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.

Uber Driver Carjacking

A man was arrested after pulling a gun on an Uber driver on Lillian Highway. Simmons confirmed an arrest was made and that no injuries were reported. He used the incident to note that ride-share related criminal incidents — while they make news when they happen — are actually quite rare relative to the number of rides that take place without incident.