Man arrested after blocking intersection with wheelchair in Rochester

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 7:51 AM

By Staff report

A homeless man was arrested in Rochester earlier this month after he allegedly obstructed traffic with a wheelchair.

According to a probable cause affidavit, on May 6, Rochester Police Department officers responded to a call about a man in a wheelchair blocking a roadway. At the scene officers identified the man as Terry Lee Turner Jr., 57, of Indianapolis. Officers reported they had routinely been called on reports about Turner being in roadways and nearly being hit by vehicles over the last few years and that Turner was homeless.

Police also noted they had prior knowledge that Turner had two prior charges for obstructing traffic and was able to walk and was allegedly not confined to a wheelchair.

Turner was initially given a warning by police to stay out of the roadway. Approximately 20 minutes later, however, police were dispatched for a second time on a report Turner was obstructing traffic at a different location near the busy intersection of 18th and Madison St. Police noted there was nearby sidewalks at the second location and believed Turner had been intentionally obstructing traffic.

It was reported that while being arrested Turner was able to walk independently while being arrested and escorted to jail.

Turner was charged with obstructing traffic, a class B misdemeanor and booked at the Fulton County Detention Center on May 6.