DOTHAN, Ala. — A 32-year-old Dothan man was arrested last week after allegedly driving away with a toddler in the backseat of a locked vehicle and refusing to return the child to the mother, according to the Dothan Police Department.
Isaiah Turner was taken into custody on April 16 and charged with Interference with Custody, a Class C felony. The incident unfolded when Turner was driving a woman to a doctor’s appointment, with her toddler in the backseat of his car.
Police reports indicate that Turner made unsolicited sexual advances toward the woman during the drive. After rejecting his advances, the woman repeatedly asked Turner to pull over, a request he initially ignored. Eventually, Turner stopped the car in the 100 block of Westgate Parkway, but before the woman could retrieve her child, Turner allegedly locked the vehicle doors and drove off with the toddler still inside.
The woman attempted to contact Turner, but police say he refused to bring the child back. Authorities were called to the scene and began gathering information from the woman, preparing to issue missing child alerts. As officers were investigating, one of them noticed a vehicle matching Turner’s description parked at the Dothan City Jail.
Upon arriving at the location, officers found both Turner and the child inside the car. The toddler was unharmed and was safely returned to the mother.
Turner was arrested and taken to the Houston County Jail, where he was later released on April 18 after posting a $15,000 bond. If convicted of interference with custody, Turner could face up to 10 years in prison.
This incident underscores the serious nature of interference with custody charges, especially in cases involving the safety and well-being of children. The Dothan Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case.
