Cantonment Man Sentenced to Jail After Fleeing Traffic Stop and Hiding in Air Duct

A Cantonment man who fled a routine traffic stop in North Escambia and was later discovered hiding inside the air duct of a local residence has been sentenced to serve nearly a year behind bars.

Kevin Jacob Moore, 36, entered a plea of no contest in Escambia County Circuit Court to multiple offenses stemming from the February incident. Following the plea, Circuit Court Judge Amy P. Brodersen sentenced Moore to 11 months and 15 days in the Escambia County Jail, alongside an official revocation of his driver’s license.

The Traffic Stop and High-Speed Flight

The case began on the evening of February 15, 2026, when an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Palafox Road and East Roberts Road. The deputy had paced Moore’s vehicle traveling at 56 mph in a posted 45 mph speed zone.

When the deputy approached the vehicle and requested Moore’s driver’s license and vehicle registration, Moore refused to comply with the lawful command. According to law enforcement arrest reports, Moore told the deputy, “I’m out,” before accelerating rapidly away from the scene.

Moore fled northward, disregarding traffic signals and running a red light at the intersection of East Kingsfield Road as he attempted to evade law enforcement. Deputies initiated a search to track the fleeing vehicle across the Cantonment area.

Discovery in a Residential Air Duct

Investigators soon tracked the suspect vehicle to a private residence located on Turnberry Road in Cantonment. Upon arriving at the home, deputies made contact with the occupant and obtained voluntary consent to search the interior of the property.

While conducting a room-by-room search of the house, deputies located Moore concealed inside a hallway air duct. He was taken into custody without further incident.

An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit was deployed to the scene to conduct an open-air sniff around Moore’s vehicle. The K-9 alerted positive for the presence of narcotics, leading deputies to perform a probable cause search. Inside the car, investigators discovered crack cocaine located near the driver’s seat.

A subsequent records check confirmed that Moore’s driver’s license had previously been revoked, and state records classified him as a habitual traffic offender.

Court Proceedings and Adjudication

During proceedings before Judge Brodersen in Escambia County Circuit Court, Moore entered a plea of no contest to three distinct charges:

• Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (crack cocaine);
• Operating a motor vehicle while driver’s license revoked as a habitual traffic offender; and
• Failure to obey a law enforcement officer, a charge amended down from felony fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer with active lights and sirens.

Judge Brodersen sentenced Moore to concurrent terms of 11 months and 15 days on each count. Moore was granted credit for five days already served in the Escambia County Jail following his initial booking.

Prior Criminal History and Background

Court and arrest records reveal that the February encounter was not Moore’s first interaction with local law enforcement concerning illicit substances and traffic infractions.

In April 2024, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Moore during a traffic stop initiated for a seatbelt violation near the interchange of Interstate 10 and Pensacola Boulevard. In that case, law enforcement charged him with possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (fentanyl), and possession of drug paraphernalia.

While law enforcement documents and court filings detail Moore’s residential address in Cantonment and his prior criminal docket, official public records do not state his marital status, whether he has children, or additional details concerning immediate dependents. County reporting on the case has focused on official court filings and sheriff’s office arrest affidavits.

Summary of Arrest Dates & Charges

• 12/25/2010 (04:26 AM): Initial booking listed in the record log.
• 10/03/2013 (01:12 PM): Public booking logged.
• 04/03/2014 (02:53 PM): Public booking logged.
• 06/17/2014 (01:32 PM): Public booking logged.
• 04/06/2015 (02:54 AM): Public booking logged.
• 02/05/2017 (01:50 PM): Public booking logged.
• 03/16/2017 (10:47 AM): Public booking logged.
• 11/26/2017 (11:52 AM): Public booking logged.
• 04/10/2024 (11:06 AM): Arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 10 and Pensacola Boulevard. Charged with felony possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (fentanyl), and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• 07/04/2024 (09:28 PM): Public booking logged.
• 02/15/2026 (03:18 PM): Arrested after fleeing a traffic stop at Palafox Road and East Roberts Road and subsequently hiding inside an air duct at a Cantonment residence. Charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (crack cocaine), operating while driver’s license revoked as a habitual traffic offender, and fleeing/failing to obey a law enforcement officer.
• 08/20/2026 (02:20 PM): Sentenced in Escambia County Circuit Court to 11 months and 15 days in jail in connection with the February 2026 traffic stop and fleeing incident.

Rollup of Patterns & Offenses Court and law enforcement records indicate a recurring pattern primarily involving narcotics offenses (cocaine, fentanyl, paraphernalia), severe traffic violations (habitual driving with a revoked/suspended license), and evading law enforcement officers.

Why it matters here

For residents of Cantonment, Ensley, Gonzalez, and across Escambia County, traffic safety and narcotics enforcement remain critical priorities for local law enforcement agencies. Fleeing from law enforcement officers on heavily traveled thoroughfares such as Palafox Road and East Kingsfield Road poses an immediate danger to motorists, pedestrians, and responding deputies.

The successful apprehension of suspects who evade law enforcement reinforces the rule of law across Northwest Florida. By removing habitual traffic offenders and illicit narcotics like crack cocaine and fentanyl from local roads, the justice system works to deter reckless behavior and maintain community safety for Escambia County families and taxpayers.

Sources

• http://www.northescambia.com/2026/08/cantonment-man-who-fled-traffic-stop-and-hid-in-air-duct-sentenced-to-jail
• http://www.northescambia.com/2024/04/cantonment-man-arrested-on-cocaine-fentanyl-charges-after-traffic-stop

This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.