The search is continuing in Escambia County, Florida, for a man deputies say stole two air-conditioning units from a former daycare property and later scrapped tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of handrails from another child-focused facility.
In a report for WEAR Channel 3 News, reporter Claire O’Neil said the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 48-year-old Joshua McCay, who faces a long list of allegations including burglary, grand theft, fraud, trespassing with intent to commit an offense, larceny, damage to property, dealing in stolen property, and possession of burglary tools.
Authorities say McCay is wanted in connection with two separate theft cases: the removal of air-conditioning units from the former Paradise Academy daycare on Michigan Avenue and the alleged theft and scrapping of approximately $30,000 worth of handrails from Community Action Head Start on Brigadier Street.
Sheriff Chip Simmons did not mince words when discussing McCay’s alleged history.
“Basically he’s a thief,” Simmons told O’Neil. “He’s been taking air conditioners that he’s not supposed to have, he’s been taking aluminum and scrapping it.”
The allegations raise concerns not only because of the dollar amounts involved, but because both locations served or had served children and families. Even though Paradise Academy had already closed by the time of the reported theft, removing major equipment from a vacant daycare can create serious damage to a property that may eventually return to community use.
Two AC Units Taken From Former Paradise Academy
According to Claire O’Neil’s report, the alleged theft from Paradise Academy happened about two weeks before the sheriff’s office publicly renewed its search for McCay.
The former daycare was located on Michigan Avenue and had closed at the beginning of the year. Its vacant status appears to have made it a more vulnerable target.
The sheriff’s office says two air-conditioning units were removed from the building.
Mike Lewis, who lives near the property, told O’Neil he saw McCay and another man leaving the area early in the morning.
Lewis said the situation stood out because the area is usually quiet, but the closed building was easy to spot and easy to access.
“In this area here, it’s pretty quiet,” Lewis said. “But with this place being vacant, it was easy for anybody to ride by.”
He added that he believed the people involved had likely scoped out the property first.
“They probably knew it was closed,” Lewis said. “They probably wanted to scope it out and see, because you can easily see the units.”
That is often the risk with vacant buildings. Once a property is no longer active, it can become an attractive target for people looking for metal, appliances, wiring, copper, or other materials that can be sold for scrap.
Air-conditioning units can be especially tempting because they contain metal components that may have resale value. But removing them can also leave a building exposed to additional damage, from broken lines and open access points to expensive replacement costs for the owner.
Sheriff Says Another Man May Have Been Misled
Sheriff Simmons told O’Neil that McCay may have convinced another man to help remove the air conditioners by claiming he had permission.
“As I understand it, he convinced another guy to help him by telling that other guy that he had permission to get these air conditioners,” Simmons said.
That detail could become important if investigators determine whether the second person knew the equipment was allegedly being taken without authorization.
It is not uncommon in theft cases for someone to claim they were hired to remove equipment, clean out a property, or transport scrap. The difference between a legitimate removal job and a theft can depend heavily on who owns the property, what permission was given, and whether paperwork or clear communication exists.
In this case, the owner of the former daycare was reportedly trying to sell the property.
Lewis said he contacted the owner after seeing the men near the building, which helped bring attention to what had happened.
The alleged theft did not involve an operating daycare full of children at that moment, but the title attached to the case reflects the public reaction: someone was accused of stripping equipment from a place built to care for kids.
That makes the allegation feel more personal to the community than an ordinary scrap-metal theft.
$30,000 In Handrails Also Allegedly Scrapped
The daycare case is only one part of the sheriff’s office investigation.
O’Neil reported that McCay is also accused of stealing and scrapping about $30,000 worth of handrails from Community Action Head Start on Brigadier Street.
Handrails may seem like an unusual target, but they can contain valuable metal and are often expensive to replace because removal can damage walls, walkways, ramps, and access points.
The alleged theft also has a broader impact than the price of the metal itself.
Handrails are basic safety infrastructure. They help children, older adults, parents, visitors with disabilities, and anyone navigating steps or ramps. When they are removed from a public or nonprofit facility, the result can create hazards and delay normal operations.
The cost of replacement is usually far greater than the amount someone might receive from a scrapyard.
That is why thefts involving metal from public buildings, schools, daycare centers, and community organizations often create ripple effects. The victim is not just the property owner. It can also be the people who use the building, the staff who must work around the damage, and the community that eventually pays for repairs.
McCay’s Prior Record Is Part Of The Search
Sheriff Simmons told WEAR that McCay has a long history involving theft-related allegations and scrap material.
“He has a long history of stealing and trying to scrap things,” Simmons said. “So I think what people need to know is he doesn’t have the best character.”
O’Neil reported that McCay’s history in Escambia County stretches back to 2008.
Florida Department of Corrections data reviewed in the report showed that he was charged and sentenced seven times that year for selling stolen property.
He was also arrested three times in Escambia County in 2022 in cases involving accusations that he stole roughly $2,000 worth of roofing materials.
According to O’Neil, McCay had been released from prison about nine months before the latest allegations.
A prior criminal record does not prove a person committed a new offense. Every allegation still has to be tested through the legal process.
But law enforcement often points to past cases when asking the public for help locating someone because it can explain why officials believe a suspect may continue targeting similar items or properties.
In McCay’s case, the sheriff’s office appears to believe the alleged pattern involves materials that can be removed, transported, and sold for scrap.
Vacant Properties Can Become Easy Targets
Lewis’s comments about the closed daycare highlight a bigger issue that affects many communities.
Vacant schools, daycares, businesses, warehouses, and homes can become targets because people assume no one is watching them. A building that once had staff, parents, children, delivery drivers, and daily activity can suddenly become quiet.
That quiet can make suspicious activity harder to notice.
A person loading equipment into a truck during normal business hours may blend in. But at an abandoned or closed property, the same activity can be a warning sign.
Neighbors are often the first people to notice when something does not look right.
Lewis saw people leaving the area early in the morning and contacted the owner. That kind of call can be important because property crimes are often solved through small details: a vehicle description, a time of day, an unfamiliar person, a broken gate, or someone removing equipment that should not be leaving.
The sheriff’s office is now asking the public to help locate McCay.
Authorities Ask Public To Report Information
McCay remains wanted, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact Crime Stoppers at 850-433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at 850-436-9620.
The allegations against McCay are serious, and the list of charges is lengthy. But he has not been convicted in the current cases, and he is entitled to contest the accusations in court.
For now, the sheriff’s office is focused on finding him.
The case has drawn attention because of where the alleged thefts occurred: a former daycare, a Head Start location, and businesses serving families in the Pensacola area.
As Sheriff Simmons put it, investigators believe the issue is not just one stolen air-conditioning unit or one pile of scrap metal. They believe it is part of a larger alleged pattern involving theft, resale, and damage to community property.
For the owners of the former daycare and the Head Start facility, the financial loss may be only the first part of the damage. Replacing equipment, repairing property, and restoring safety features can take time, money, and effort long after the stolen materials are gone.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.
