GBI Investigates Fatal Shooting Involving Pickens County Deputies
News October 25, 2015
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
News Release
GBI Conducting an Investigation into an Officer Involved Shooting in Pickens County
Talking Rock, GA – On Saturday October 24, 2015, the GBI’s Cleveland Regional Office was requested by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an officer involved shooting by Pickens County Deputies and Georgia State Troopers that resulted in the death of John Harley Turner, 36, in Talking Rock, Georgia. Initial information provided to the GBI indicates that at approximately 8:30 p.m., Pickens County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 1607 Carver Mill Road in Talking Rock, Georgia concerning a dispute between two hunters and Turner who is reportedly a neighboring land owner. Turner had reportedly threatened the hunters with a pistol for being near his property. The hunters contacted 911 and deputies responded to the Carver Mill Road address where they encountered John Harley Turner who was armed with a pistol.
As deputies attempted to make contact with Turner, he began screaming at the deputies and pointing his pistol at them. The deputies shouted multiple verbal commands for Turner to put down the pistol. The deputies called for backup assistance and additional Pickens County deputies and Georgia State Troopers arrived on the scene. Officers attempted to disarm and arrest Turner with less lethal beanbag rounds fired from a shotgun. The less lethal rounds struck Turner but did not stop him from firing his pistol at the officers. The deputies and troopers returned fire striking and killing Turner. Two Pickens County deputies were shot during the exchange of gunfire. Both deputies were transported from the scene to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.
Turner will be transported to the GBI’s Medical Examiner’s Office in Decatur, GA where an autopsy will be conducted. The GBI is conducting an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident. Once the GBI completes the investigation, the results will be forwarded to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for any action that they deem appropriate.
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Child in Cage – 2 Arrested in Murray County
News August 7, 2015
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has confirmed a child was found locked in a cage in a Murray County home resulting in the arrest of two women.
A 911 call made at approximately 11am on Thursday, August 6th, led a Murray County Deputy to a home on Bahamas Drive in Chatsworth, Georgia. The call was a report alleging a child had been left alone. The deputy met with an unidentified woman accompanied by a female child. According to authorities the deputy gave an all clear once he established the child had adult supervision.
Later the same day, at approximately 3:15pm, another 911 call came in by the same person who provided additional information and requested police to investigate the home further. The deputy returned to the home and met with Wanda Redfern and saw the same child. The deputy gained consent to enter the home and upon further investigation the deputy found two cages inside a bedroom area. An 11-year-old boy was inside one cage and the other cage was empty. Additional Murray County deputies and GBI agents responded along with the Department of Family and Children Services.
The mother of the children, Stephanie Elizabeth Stone, was arrested and charged with Cruelty to Children in the 1st degree, False Imprisonment, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Wanda Sue Redfern was also arrested for Cruelty to Children in the 1st Degree and False Imprisonment. Both women remain in custody and no bond has been set at this time.
The investigation is ongoing by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office and GBI. FYN will update when additional information becomes available.
GBI Seeks Help in Stolen Check Case
State & National July 14, 2015
The GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) is asking for your help. They have called out to all members of the community for aid in identifying the persons in several photographs related to stolen checks in Georgia.
The following is a Public Release from Sherry Lang of the GBI:
The GBI is assisting the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office in Lillington, North Carolina concerning stolen checks that were deposited/cashed at several Bank of America locations in Fulton and Clayton Counties. The checks appear to be stolen from a person in North Carolina who had ordered new checks but never received them. The total amount stolen when the checks were deposited/cashed in March of 2014 is nearly $15,000. It appears the stolen checks were cashed using stolen account information of other individuals living the Atlanta area.
The GBI is requesting assistance from the public in identifying the individuals in the attached photographs. The photographs were collected from banks in the Metro Atlanta area. If anyone can identify the individuals, please contact the GBI Atlanta Office at 770-388-5019.
