Sep 25, 2008

A third brother has been arrested by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department in connection with a multiple assault that took place north of Ava on the night of Sept. 6. Michael Joe Turley, 25, of Mansfield, is now in custody along with brothers James Charles Turley, 38, and Floyd Richard Turley, 25, both of Mtn. Grove. All three are charged with three counts of 1st degree assault and are being held on $100,000 surety bond. Officers responded to a call at about 11 p.m. on Sept. 6 of a reported assault in progress at the Cecil Maggard residence north of Ava on Old Highway 5. Officers arrived to find that three male victims had been assaulted. Two were taken to the hospital by ambulance and a third went by private vehicle. Officers also determined that a flammable liquid had been poured throughout the house, but no fires were set at that time. About 2½ hours later, however, another call was received reporting that the same residence, located at Midway on Old Highway 5 at Bryant Creek, was on fire. Officers arrived to find the structure completely involved in fire. Delbert Murray, chief of the Ava Rural Fire Department, said his personnel had been called out earlier in the night for a domestic disturbance at that location, then were called again for the fire at 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 7. Fire department personnel remained on the scene until 5:45 a.m. Sunday, then returned again at 12:10 p.m. when the fire rekindled. That time Murray said Ava Rural Fire Department remained on the scene until they were certain the fire was contained and would not spread to adjoining structures or vehicles. Due to the circumstances involving the assault and fire, Murray said he asked the State Fire Marshal’s Office to investigate the incident. At least one charge of arson is pending, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Those injured in the assault were identified by the Sheriff’s Office as Cecil Maggard, Stephen Carnall and Russell Waters. No motive has been released by the investigating officers.