Poplarville man charged

Published 5:08 pm Wednesday, February 6, 2008

A Poplarville man has been charged with car jacking in what appears to be two incidents of possible stalking or even kidnapping.

Robert Turnage Jr., 43, of 11 Turkey Lane, Poplarville, apparently stole a FedEx truck on Jan. 8, at a company truck lot in what appeared to be a kidnapping attempt.

Forrest County Sheriff Billy McGee said the woman driving the FedEx truck noticed Turnage following her to the company’s truck lot. She did not initially think anything of it since Turnage apparently pulled his vehicle down the road before getting out to head back to the truck lot on foot. Turnage then got into the FedEx truck while the woman was believed to be working on paper work. Turnage brandished a fire arm and told her to drive the truck. The woman only initially complied with Turnage’s order.

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“She started out of the truck parking lot and just abandoned the vehicle,” McGee said.

After the female driver jumped out of the vehicle Turnage drove the truck about half a mile down the road before abandoning it himself. Turnage then headed back to his vehicle he parked down the road prior to apparent the car jacking.

“I don’t know what he intended to do with (the woman),” McGee said.

Turnage was captured later that month after he was apparently following another woman in Petal, McGee said. The woman noticed the unfamiliar man dressed in unusual clothing following her and called law enforcement. McGee said the woman described Turnage wearing a cowboy hat and trench coat, similar to that used in the FedEx car jacking incident. Turnage was arrested and through the description given in the FedEx incident he was charged with the FedEx car jacking.

McGee said he is not sure if Turnage will be charged with kidnapping.