PPD: More on Manslaughter Arrest, Attempted Squad Car Theft, Stadium Break-in and More
Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Pensacola Police Department PIO Mike Wood joined Pensacola's Morning News Thursday with several updates — including a manslaughter arrest in a case that killed an unborn baby, a brazen attempt to steal a cruiser from PPD headquarters, and two more arrests at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Manslaughter Arrest — 9th and Bayou
PPD has arrested the driver responsible for the crash at 9th Avenue and Bayou Boulevard that killed an unborn baby — and Wood says red light camera footage made the case. Investigators determined alcohol was not a factor but documented the suspect speeding through a red light at a prior intersection before the collision at 9th and Bayou was captured on a second camera. The mother survived. The suspect is charged with manslaughter. Wood says it is going to be a solid case.
Headquarters Breach
A man climbed the fence into the secured rear parking lot at PPD headquarters on Haynes Street and attempted to steal an unmarked police cruiser. He never got the vehicle started and never made it out of the lot before being apprehended. When questioned he told officers his intention was to steal the cruiser and lead police on a chase. Wood says the lot is monitored by cameras around the clock — and the suspect found that out the hard way.
Blue Wahoos Stadium — Two Incidents in One Week
Two separate groups attempted to break into Blue Wahoos Stadium within days of each other — two people on Wednesday night trying to rip televisions off the wall and get into a cooler area and three more on Friday night. All five were arrested. Wood says the ballpark is now ten for ten on catching intruders — joining graffiti bridge and the old Baptist Hospital on the list of Pensacola locations where camera surveillance makes apprehension virtually guaranteed.
Palafox Street Open
Palafox Street opened to vehicle traffic Monday with PPD's new silver Ford Explorer cruiser serving as the first car down the rebuilt corridor. Wood says the transition has been smooth — some drivers expected the new intersection design to function like roundabouts but says in person the scale makes it clear they are not. Traffic flows straight through after stopping as normal.
Machine Gun Bill
Wood says PPD is not taking a position on Congressman Jimmy Patronis's Firearm Freedom Act — which would legalize civilian purchase of machine guns. He says the department's job is to enforce whatever laws are on the books and if it becomes legal to own a machine gun that is the reality they will work within.
Pursuit Tires — Did You Know
Wood closed with a fun fact — PPD's pursuit-rated tires are engineered with stiff sidewalls and specialized rubber compounds rated to 168 miles per hour. He says they ride rough compared to standard passenger tires but are built for extreme durability. And yes — the public can buy them if they want to.
