By Ray King
A $50,000 bond was set Friday for a Pine Bluff man accused of hitting his wife with a gun and threatening to kill her.
Pine Bluff District Judge John Kearney set the bond after ruling prosecutors have probable cause o charge Andre Turner, 43, with aggravated assault on a family or household member and terroristic threatening.
During the court hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Jay Gerard said officers were sent to Jefferson Regional Hospital Thursday where they met with Turner’s wife.
Gerard said the victim also told officers that while Turner was beating her with the gun, he threatened to blow her (expletive) head off. She said he finally stopped hitting her and she was able to drive away.
Detective Corey Wilfong reported that the victim told police where Turner might be found, and they went to the area of 9th Avenue and Hazel Street where they located his vehicle. Officers attempted a traffic stop but Turner refused to stop until he reached an address in the 800 block of S. Cypress Street where he was taken into custody.
Gerard said Turner was extremely intoxicated so officers were unable to get a statement from him. A black holster was found in the back seat, but no gun was located.
Turner, who is on parole after convictions for theft by receiving, aggravated assault and being a felon in possession of a firearm was ordered to have no contact with his wife until the case is settled. He said he would hire his own lawyer.
