SHERIFF’S REPORT: SEE AREA ARRESTS AND MUGSHOTS PAGE A7 Holland Farms Pumpkin GazetteSanta Rosa’s Press Patch open, A10 Tweet us @srpressgazette and like us on facebook.com Wednesday, October 16, 2013 Find breaking news at www.srpressgazette.com 75 cents Pace tree Protesting drug laws Pedestrian trimmer struck on accused of Stewart swindling Street By JASON JANDURA 623-2120 By JASON JANDURA [email protected] 623-2120 [email protected] A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle while she was attempting A Pace man violated his proba- to cross Stewart Street about 7:30 tion and was charged with addi- p.m. Wednesday, according to a tional crimes after an ongoing dis- Milton Police Department report. pute with a business client led to his The pedestrian had just left arrest, according to a Santa Rosa the Circle K store by Milton High County Sheriff’s Of- School and was trying to cross fice report. Stewart Street. She was stuck by a David Brignano, blue 1998 Ford van. 45, of the 4800 block The driver, David Newman of of Carlyn Drive, per- Pensacola, told authorities he was formed work cutting traveling south on Stewart Street. trees and landscap- He said he entered the turn lane to ing for numerous DAVID turn into the Circle K parking lot customers on Mor- but decided not to stop at the store BRIGNANO gan Ridge Drive, a for a drink. He then re-entered the subdivision off of Wil- John Carter positioned southbound traffic lane, saw the lard Norris Road. himself outside the woman and hit the brakes, but it Police say in March, Brignano public defender’s office was too late. provided a client with an estimate Witnesses said they saw the van on trimming trees. He told the ho- last week, protesting the national drug pulling out of the Circle K parking meowner four trees in the back- lot, entering the turn lane and strik- war. Carter made yard were diseased and should be ing the woman. One bystander said cut down completely. The client allegations the state the van was moving very slowly at was quoted $1,400 for the job, with has an unconstitutional the time of the accident. half due up front, for rental of ma- drug policy, raising The pedestrian was transported chinery. Brignano was presented issue with the public to West Florida Hospital by Life- a check for $700, which he cashed. defender and the guard Ambulance Services in sta- He only trimmed trees in the front judicial system. A ble condition. yard and did not touch the diseased Florida Highway The accident occurred on the trees in the backyard, according to driver’s birthday. He turned 46. the report. Patrol trooper spoke Days later, reports say, the cli- to Carter and made ent asked about stump grinding, fill him remove a mask he dirt and seed-planting work. The was wearing as part of client was quoted $1,600 for those the demonstration, per Sheriff’S OFFICE: services, again with half of the cost Florida statues. up front. Brignano received a check for $800 in that case. A month later, Brignano had not completed the Wanted work. He requested the second half of the payment to complete the work. Brignano showed up with two PHOTOS BY JASON JANDURA | man resists See SWINDLING A3 Press Gazette FALL FESTIVAL deputy, runs Memorial plaza vandalism into woods under investigation By JASON JANDURA By JASON JANDURA 623-2120 623-2120 Memorial manager [email protected] [email protected] Ralph Nesenson said A Santa Rosa County man found The Veteran’s Memorial Plaza in the plaza has had an himself in jail after slapping a dep- downtown Milton has been struck uty and running into the woods last by several bouts of theft and acts of ongoing issue with week, according to a Santa Rosa vandalism recently, according to me- County Sheriff’s Of- morial manager Ralph Nesenson. theft and vandalism. fice report. Several light fixtures went miss- Jeremy Rufus ing over the weekend. Five were was taken from the site. The other Miller, 39, of Na- dismantled and taken from the site, concrete ashtray was found in the varre, was spot- dedicated to veterans. Two of the middle of a walkway. The incident ted by authorities lights were under water, located in a happened in broad daylight, Nesen- walking along U.S. fountain on the property. The other son said. 98 last week. He lights lit up the Wall of Tears and the The plaza was pressure-washed JEREMY had several active Purple Heart Monument. last week after graffiti was found. MILLER felony warrants out Nesenson said the plaza has Nesenson said it looked as if some- for his arrest, and had an ongoing issue with theft and one took rocks from the site and deputies were aware that he might vandalism. used them to write their names have been armed. During the July 4th weekend, a on bricks. There was also residue According to a police report, Gator utility vehicle, estimated at Deputy James Vaughn parked his smeared all over the marble slabs, SUBMITTED PHOTO $8,000, was stolen from the Memo- appearing to have come from an oil- patrol vehicle and approached Mill- rial Plaza offices behind the court- based object. Rhodes Elementary School had its Fall Festival er on foot, calling out to him. Miller house. The manager said an investi- Milton police responded to the on Friday. This little guy was just one of ignored the deputy and continued gation has not yielded any arrests. complaint of criminal mischief after hundreds of children who enjoyed the festivities, walking. Just before the light fixture the light fixtures went missing. They food and fun. The school had a pet contest and theft, one of two concrete ashtrays are investigating the incident. outdoor activities for prizes. See WANTED A3 Jim Fletcher TABLE OF CONTENTS Publisher Obituaries ........................................ A2 Lifestyles .......................................... B1 623-2120 Opinion ........................................... A6 Sports............................................... B2 [email protected] Sheriff’s Report ............................... A7 Classifieds ........................................ B5 Volume 105 Issue 83 A2 | Santa Rosa’s Press Gazette Society Wednesday, October 16, 2013 OBITUARIES SRMC BIrthS LCDR John H. Wachtel, USN (Ret.) Gary Wayman ‘Buddy’ Hoodless Tiffany Croll and Tya Simmons 1927 – 2013 1945 – 2013 Joseph Braun, and Brandon “Oh, I have Trucking Co. and Buddy Hoodless, 67, nieces and nephews. He a girl, Brianna Thompson, a boy, slipped the surly Pensacola Junior of Milton, Fla., was born is also survived by his two Braun, Sept. 3 Braydon Lee bonds of Earth, put College. Upon his Nov. 4, 1945, and died ex-wives, Cheryl Hoodless Nicole Clark Thompson, out my hand and retirement from Oct. 8, 2013. and Tammy Kilpatrick. and Kyle Wright, Sept. 12 touched the face of PJC, John spent He was a commercial Funeral services were a girl, Aubree Alexis Law and God” his remaining construction superintendent at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, Elaina Wright, Sept. 3 Marc Jackson, a boy, and mechanic. He also 2013, at Lewis Funeral Kayla and Andrew Kolton Abel Jackson, John Henry years enjoying his Wachtel, 86, passed family and relaxing enjoyed auto racing. Home, Milton Chapel Barrow, a girl, Sept. 15 JOHN H. He is predeceased by with Father Matthew Hartley Jo Barrow, Stephanie and away peacefully at their home on at his Milton, Fla., WACHTEL the Blackwater his parents, Albert Bogan Dollhausen of St. Mary’s Sept. 4 David Lawler, a boy, and Mazie B. Hoodless; an Episcopal Church Crystal Perez, Bodhi Joshua Lawler, home on Friday River. infant sister, Sandra Faye conducting services. a boy, Zachary Noah Sept. 17 Oct. 11, 2013, surrounded John leaves to cherish Hoodless; and a sister, Burial followed in Hickory Anthony Lindsey, Sept. 4 Katreena and Tanner by his family. John was his memory his beloved Cynthia Hoodless. Hammock Cemetery. Alexancdra and Austin Foster, a girl, Ellie Rose born on Aug. 28, 1927, in wife, Joye Wachtel; his Roper, a girl, Faeble Rose Foster, Sept. 19 Two Rivers, Wisconsin devoted children Lisa He is survived by his Visitation was Saturday, Roper, Sept. 4 Joanne and James and has been a resident Kozak (Dennis), Judy children, Sean (Jodi) Oct. 12, 2013, from 6-8 p.m. April Goff and Virgil Hart, a girl, Courtney of Milton for 45 years. He Robinson (John), and Hoodless, Stacy Hoodless, at the funeral home. Mason Jr., a girl, Abigail Lynn Hart, Sept. 19 was preceded in death by Michael Wachtel; his Scott (Hillary) Hoodless, Active pallbearers Brianne Mason, Sept. 9 Lori and Jack his parents, Elmer and grandchildren, Eric, stepdaughter, Megan were Scott, Sean, Mickey, Alexia slack and Henretly, a boy, Liam Viola Wachtel, and his Chris and Brian Kozak, Kollar; six grandchildren, Duane, Devon Hoodless Michael Beuhler, a boy, Joseph Henretty, Sept. 19 siblings Dorothy Vieau, Erin and Taylor Wachtel, Mikayla, Caden, Tyler, and Cleo Heath. Honorary Bennett Neil Buehler, Harmony Griffi and Robert Wachtel, and Daryl, Jeff and Emily Jasmine, Cohen, pallbearers will be Doug Sept. 10 Ricky Roland, a girl, Riley Mary Zebrauskas. He is Robinson, Ella Grace and and Devon; two great Blum, Doug Vann, Larry Judith and Kevin Jean Roland, Sept. 19 also preceded in death John Michael Wachtel. grandchildren, Jayden Gann, Mike Hamel, Mike Brake, a girl, Skylar Cortney Norton, a girl, by his beloved son, John He is also survived by his and Haleigh; sister, Majors, Bobby Britt, Lyle Victoria Grace Brake, Brooklyn Noel Norton, Christopher, with whom he brother, Joseph Wachtel Beverly (James) St. John; Smith, Wayne Blocker, Sept. 11 Sept. 20 is now joyfully reunited. (Bernadine), as well as brother, Duane (Kelly) Lloyd Hinote, James St.