Coffee Break Results in Fugitive Capture

NEWARK, NJ—Special Agent In Charge Michael B. Ward announced today the arrest of 44-year-old JAMES PERRY TURNAGE, JR. of Yulee, Florida, wanted by Florida authorities in connection with the disappearance and murder of KIRK THOMAS WESTFALL, age 51, also of Yulee.

WESTFALL was originally reported missing on October 9, 2010 to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office which has jurisdiction over Yulee. WESTFALL was last seen driving his green Buick LeSabre. But a few days after the disappearance, TURNAGE was spotted driving WESTFALL’s Buick by a Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Deputy in Darlington, South Carolina near where TURNAGE had grown up. The deputy gave chase but TURNAGE managed to elude law enforcement and get away.

Further investigation determined that TURNAGE once resided in Vineland, New Jersey. The Jacksonville, Florida Field Office of the FBI sent a lead to the Atlantic City Resident Agency (ACRA) of the FBI’s Newark field division. On Thursday, October 14, 2010, agents of the ACRA were conducting a fugitive investigation of TURNAGE in the Vineland area. After a number of hours, they stopped for a break at the WaWa convenience store on Delsea Drive at about 4 p.m. It was in that store that one of the agents noticed a striking similarity between fugitive TURNAGE and a man on line buying a cup of coffee. The agent returned to his vehicle and joined the other agent. Together, they watched the individual exit the store and enter the parking lot. The man got into a green Buick LeSabre with South Carolina tags that did not match motor vehicle records for that car.

The agents subsequently began a physical surveillance of the green Buick LeSabre. Shortly thereafter, the two agents were joined by two additional agents in a separate vehicle; their plan was to follow the man to his next stop and arrest him there. However, the driver of the Buick realized he was being followed and began evasive maneuvers. At this point, the agents requested assistance from the Vineland police department.

The man ultimately led the four agents on a two-mile vehicle chase. But his getaway was cut short when he turned down a dead end section of Osborne Avenue and bailed out of his vehicle. The car chase became a foot chase with the agents quickly catching up to the man, apprehending him, and confirming his identity as JAMES PERRY TURNAGE, JR.. Vineland police arrived shortly thereafter and transported him to their station for processing. TURNAGE was later remanded to the Cumberland County jail pending extradition back to Florida.

“Great skill combined with a little bit of luck,” remarked Ward in explaining the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the apprehension of TURNAGE. “We are very glad that no one was hurt and that Mr. Turnage is now on his way back to Florida to face justice. This case proves to criminals that no matter where you run, no matter how far you travel, the FBI and law enforcement will be there and I commend all officers and agents from Florida to New Jersey who played a role in tracking and capturing JAMES PERRY TURNAGE.”