TRAFFIC ALERT – NEWTON AREA
📍 South Highway 123 & County Road 43 – Newton, Alabama
Emergency crews are responding to a vehicle rollover at South Highway 123 and County Road 43 near Newton.
Initial reports indicate one vehicle rolled over with smoke coming from the vehicle.
Motorists are advised to use caution in the area while first responders work the scene.
A co-owner of a regional ambulance service is facing multiple felony charges after Florida authorities say he used an ambulance to transport cocaine from Alabama into Bay County.
According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Gabriel Moschella, identified as a co-owner of Coastal Care EMS, was arrested Wednesday after deputies stopped an ambulance traveling southbound for reportedly speeding and not displaying a license plate. Investigators said Moschella had driven into Alabama in one of the company’s ambulances and was returning to Florida when the stop was made.
Deputies asked Moschella whether he was on a medical transport, and authorities said he claimed that he was. Investigators, however, reported there were no patients inside the ambulance at the time. A K-9 unit was then used to conduct a free-air sniff around the vehicle, and deputies said the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics.
Authorities said a search of the ambulance uncovered 53.8 grams of cocaine, about $22,000 in cash, a handgun, and an “O” sheet, which investigators say is commonly linked to narcotics sales. Moschella was charged with trafficking cocaine over 28 grams, importing a controlled substance into Florida, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Records also show Moschella previously served as Interim Chief of Bay County Emergency Services before resigning during an investigation in 2023. He is currently listed as a co-owner of Coastal Care EMS, a company launched in 2024.
TUSCALOOSA | RICKEY STOKES NEWS
A Tuscaloosa man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder nearly two months after authorities say he shot another man in a residential area of Cottondale.
According to court records filed earlier this week, the shooting happened before dawn on January 16 on Cooperstown Circle. Investigators said the victim was driving through the neighborhood when someone opened fire on the sedan.
Police said the vehicle was struck five times, and one bullet hit the driver in the leg.
The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit launched an investigation, and witnesses reportedly identified 28-year-old Jaiontae Kendrell Long as the gunman.
A warrant for Long’s arrest was issued in January, and court records show he was taken into custody on Monday, nearly two months after the shooting.
Long is charged with one count of attempted murder and one count of failure to appear on a pre-existing felony drug charge.
As of Thursday night, Long was no longer listed as an inmate in the Tuscaloosa County Jail, which could indicate he was released on bond.
The Houston County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a text message scam claiming to be from the Alabama Department of Revenue.
According to reports, the scam message threatens recipients with overdue traffic penalties and DMV-related fees. The message may also warn that your driver’s license or vehicle registration will be suspended if payment is not made immediately.
Officials say these messages are not legitimate.
What to know:
The text may include a link to pay fees online.
Do not click any links.
Do not provide any personal or financial information.
The Alabama Department of Revenue will never send threatening text messages demanding immediate payment.
If you receive a message like this:
Do not click any links.
Do not respond.
Do not provide personal information.
Residents are encouraged to stay alert and protect themselves from scams targeting personal information.
BALDWIN COUNTY | RICKEY STOKES NEWS
A 13-year-old boy reportedly defended his mother and held his stepfather down with a bicycle after deputies say the man attacked his wife during a domestic dispute near Foley.
According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a home on Underwood Road in reference to a domestic violence complaint.
When deputies arrived, they found the 13-year-old boy in the yard holding down his 32-year-old stepfather, Darnel Hernandez-Lopez, with a bicycle. Authorities said Hernandez-Lopez had multiple injuries to his face.
Investigators say Hernandez-Lopez’s wife told deputies the couple got into an argument that turned physical when he allegedly grabbed her by the neck and began choking her. The incident reportedly happened in front of her son.
According to officials, the woman told her son to go get help, but Hernandez-Lopez allegedly followed the boy outside and attempted to violently engage him in the front yard.
The boy then defended himself, striking his stepfather several times in the face and subduing him until deputies arrived, authorities said.
Hernandez-Lopez was arrested and charged with felony assault by strangulation. He was booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Center, where he is being held on a $30,000 bond. Officials also say an immigration hold has been placed against him.
