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Anthony Turner Jr.

Age : 19

Gender : Male

Race : Black

Date : 06/15/2022

Location : Interstate 35 near Exit 301/Central Avenue

City : Temple

County : Bell

State : Texas

Agency : Temple Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Pedestrian killed after fleeing police on foot and entering highway traffic

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE: Not a vehicle pursuit. Temple police attempted to detain Turner after an officer discovered that he had an outstanding misdemeanor theft warrant during a response to a report of a suspicious person. Turner fled from the officer on foot.
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NARRATIVE:
On 06/15/2022, 19-year-old Anthony Turner Jr. was fatally injured when he was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 35 in Temple while fleeing from police officers attempting to detain him on an outstanding misdemeanor theft warrant.
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At approximately 7:48 a.m., Temple police were dispatched to the 1200 block of Allegiance Bend after a resident reported a suspicious person in the neighborhood. At approximately 7:57 a.m., an officer encountered Turner and conducted a records check that showed an outstanding misdemeanor theft warrant.
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At approximately 8:02 a.m., the officer attempted to detain Turner. Turner pulled away, ran through a backyard and disappeared into a wooded area. Police established a perimeter and brought in a K-9 unit to search for him.
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At approximately 8:52 a.m., Turner was seen near General Bruce Drive running toward Interstate 35. Officers attempted to prevent him from entering highway traffic and requested that interstate traffic be slowed.
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At approximately 8:58 a.m., Turner was running along the center divider of I-35. An officer approached in a patrol vehicle and pointed a Taser at Turner but did not discharge it. Turner then moved into the southbound traffic lanes and was struck by a passing vehicle.
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An officer immediately called for emergency medical assistance and performed CPR. Turner was transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
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The Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the fatal collision. The Texas Rangers separately reviewed the police interaction. Temple Police also conducted an internal administrative investigation. The Texas Rangers found no criminal conduct by the officers, Temple Police reported no violations of law or department policy, and the Bell County District Attorney's administrative review found no criminal violation.
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Temple Police determined that Turner's death did not meet the Texas statutory definition of an in-custody death because he was not under arrest or under the physical control or restraint of an officer when he was struck.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Temple Police Department did not publicly identify the officers involved. The Texas Rangers, Temple Police Department and Bell County District Attorney subsequently reviewed the incident and reported no criminal conduct or policy violations by the officers.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.kwtx.com/2022/06/15/temple-pd-death-man-struck-by-vehicle-i-35-after-series-interactions-with-officer-not-an-in-custody-death/
https://www.kxxv.com/news/man-who-died-after-being-struck-by-vehicle-on-i-35-identified-temple-police
https://www.kwtx.com/2022/11/11/temple-police-department-texas-rangers-conclude-investigation-man-killed-i-35-after-series-interactions-with-officers/
https://www.kxxv.com/hometown/bell-county/temple-police-texas-rangers-conclude-critical-incident-investigation-into-mans-death