BEDFORD — A Bedford man faces a felony firearm charge after police responded to a disturbance complaint at Wilson Park and later discovered he possessed a handgun despite prior firearm convictions.
Dustin M. Turpin, 43, was arrested on Sunday, September 27, 2026, by the Bedford Police Department following an investigation that began at the local park and concluded at his residence. He faces a preliminary charge of unlawful carrying of a handgun with a prior conviction, a Level 5 felony.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Officer Michael Bell, dispatchers received a call around 2:28 p.m. reporting two men and a woman in a maroon SUV screaming at children near the playground at Wilson Park (2123 Park Avenue). The caller expressed concern that the individuals might be under the influence of illegal narcotics.
Officer Bell located the vehicle, a red 2020 Hyundai Tucson, parked directly next to the playground, where several children were playing. Upon approaching the passenger side of the vehicle, Officer Bell detected the odor of marijuana.
Police identified the driver as Turpin, the front-seat passenger as Gavin Arney, and the rear-seat passenger as Tiffany Wigley. Turpin informed officers that the only children he was speaking with were his and Arney’s daughters.
During questioning regarding the odor of marijuana, Turpin admitted to throwing a marijuana cigarette out of the window, which he subsequently retrieved and handed over to police. Officers then instructed all three occupants to step out of the vehicle so a probable cause search could be conducted.
As Officer Brooking escorted Turpin to a patrol car, Turpin confirmed he was carrying a weapon. A pat-down revealed a black .40-caliber Glock 27 handgun inside a holster in his waistband. When asked by officers if he was legally permitted to carry a firearm, Turpin reportedly replied, “As far as I know, I am.”
During the search of the scene, officers also discovered a small plastic baggie containing a crystal-like substance on the ground near Arney’s feet. The substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine, leading to Arney’s immediate arrest at the scene.
Turpin and Wigley were initially released at the park, and the handgun was temporarily returned.
Background Check Triggers Arrest at Residence
Following the incident at the park, Officer Bell ran a criminal history check via the Indiana Court Information Technology Extract (INCITE). The check revealed that Turpin had prior convictions for carrying a handgun without a license in Lawrence County in both May 2018 and March 2019. Under Indiana law, carrying a handgun with a prior handgun conviction elevates the offense to a Level 5 felony.
Upon verifying the records, Officer Brooking relocated to Turpin’s residence at 6238 Sandpit Road. Turpin was placed into handcuffs and transported to the Lawrence County Jail for booking. Another resident at the home handed over the Glock 27 to police, which was taken into evidence and logged at the station.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
