Man wanted in kidnapping arrested

A Washington man wanted for allegedly assaulting and kidnapping his estranged girlfriend last month was arrested early Wednesday during a warrant sweep by members of the Washington County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force,
Avery Lionel Turner Jr., 22, was taken into custody at the Ramada Inn, West Chestnut Street, North Franklin Township. Detectives received a tip that he was at the motel. Also in the room was Heather Stamm, 19, of Canonsburg.
Turner was charged by East Washington police with kidnapping, terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment and unlawful restraint. He is accused of grabbing 22-year-old Breann Watts from in front of the LeMoyne Center on Forrest Avenue April 8.
Turner had been staying in a halfway house in Pittsburgh after his release from state prison in March. He failed to return to the house.
Watts was reportedly grabbed by the hair, dragged down the steps and then placed in his car. Turner then drove around the city. As he drove, he reportedly threatened her. Watts was able to jump out of a moving vehicle and a passing motorist assisted her.
City police charged him with assault after he allegedly put a knife to Watts’ throat while she was at her home in Lincoln Terrace on April 17.
Task force detectives obtained a warrant to search Turner’s room. Confiscated were 184 stamp bags of suspected heroin and a stolen gun. Turner faces additional charges of possession with intent to deliver heroin and a gun violation. Stamm will be charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and hindering apprehension.
Turner was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger on the assault and kidnapping charges. He was placed in Washington County Jail on $30,000 bond. A preliminary hearing on all the assault-related charges is set for June 5.
Two others were taken into custody on warrants during the sweep.
Kevin Brooks, 39, of 60 Carl Ave., North Strabane, was arrested on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
He is accused of selling the drug to a confidential informant near his home on Aug. 16, 2012. He was arraigned before District Judge David Mark and placed in the Washington County jail on $10,000 bond.
Leah Brown, 26, no address, was charged with possession and possession with intent to deliver crack after allegedly selling the drug to a confidential information on Feb. 24, 2011. She was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger and placed in jail on $10,000 bond.
“We have other warrants so more is to come,” said District Attorney Gene Vittone.
Assisting in the sweep Wednesday were state, Washington and North Franklin Township police.