Several vehicles went up in flames in Midfield, Alabama, but police say one of them came with a terrifying complication: someone was still inside. Investigators accuse 43-year-old Charlton Dannelle Turner of intentionally setting fire to an occupied vehicle, with the person managing to escape without being injured.
Midfield Police responded to the 500 block of Bessemer Super Highway at around 12:30 p.m. on August 29 following reports of multiple vehicles on fire. Investigators determined the fires were intentionally set and eventually identified Turner, a Birmingham resident, as their suspect.
Police say Turner intentionally set one of the vehicles ablaze while another person was inside. Fortunately, the occupant managed to escape the burning vehicle without injury.
The investigation ultimately resulted in warrants for Turner on attempted murder, domestic violence-related offenses, stalking, and criminal mischief. Police arrested him on September 8 with assistance from the Hoover Police Department’s Specialized Response Team.
Several Vehicles Burned but One Had Someone Inside
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While multiple vehicles were burning when police were called to the scene, investigators have specifically connected the attempted murder accusation to the occupied vehicle. Police have not released additional details explaining how the fires were started or exactly how many vehicles were intentionally set ablaze.
The department has also not identified the person who escaped the burning vehicle or explained their relationship with Turner. However, the domestic violence and stalking charges listed following his arrest indicate investigators are pursuing accusations beyond the damage caused by the fires.
Midfield Police thanked Hoover’s Specialized Response Team for its assistance and coordination during Turner’s arrest. According to the department, the additional police response helped ensure he was taken into custody peacefully.
Please note that the image that the Midfield Police Department used in their Facebook report of the situation is different from the one used as the booking photo, which we used in this article’s featured image.
Turner Remains in Jail With $81,000 in Bonds Listed
We checked Turner’s information against Jefferson County’s available inmate records and found a matching September 8 booking from Midfield Police. Turner is listed as a pretrial inmate at the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer, with no release date currently shown.
The inmate record lists attempted murder, first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree domestic violence involving stalking, second-degree domestic violence involving first-degree criminal mischief, and third-degree domestic violence involving menacing. Four bonds shown on the record total $81,000, although the inmate page separately lists his total bail amount as $0.
For all the burned vehicles, the fact that one apparently had someone inside is what transforms this from a property-damage investigation into something much more serious. The investigation remains active, and Turner is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.