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'Unnatural focus on children': Berkeley resident William Turner back in jail after seeking Girl Scouts

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FEBRUARY 15, 2018

Berkeley resident William Turner was arrested Wednesday after reportedly asking for “some Girl Scouts” at the YWCA and skipping his sentencing hearing Tuesday morning, as reported by Berkeleyside.

Turner allegedly trespassed on a porch in South Berkeley on Tuesday morning, according to the Berkeley Police Department. He later entered the YWCA allegedly inquiring about Girl Scouts, where he was recognized as a person wanted by BPD.

Police were called to the scene but were unable to find Turner until Wednesday morning, where he was arrested at University Avenue and Chestnut Street.

In early January, Turner was released from jail after a hung jury led to the mistrial of his case. He had been arrested in September and tried for allegedly pulling down his pants in front of a Berkeley citizen. His sentencing hearing for violating his probation was scheduled for Tuesday, and when he didn’t show up, the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest, according to Berkeleyside.

Turner has been arrested and released now three times over the past year for various offenses with “an unnatural focus on children” according to a BPD Nixle alert issued in September. In one July incident, Turner stripped down to his underwear in front of a preschool and was apprehended by police.

Turner was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after undergoing evaluations and acute treatment at John George Psychiatric Hospital in San Leandro.  Turner is currently in custody at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday morning at Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland, according to online Alameda County jail records.

Contact Amanda Bradford at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at @amandabrad_uc.
LAST UPDATED

FEBRUARY 15, 2018


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