‘Supposed to be getting food:’ Armed Chattanooga teen faces charges after late-night chase

Chattanooga Teen Arrested after Late-Night Chase

A 17-year-old Chattanooga teenager, supposedly on a food run for his mother with her permission, is now facing over half a dozen charges after a late-night chase with local sheriff’s deputies. Notably, the charges include the theft of property, evading arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm, and a minor’s possession of alcohol.

The Initial Incident

The incident began around 3 a.m. when Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies spotted a Ford Escape with a broken brake light, failing to stop at the intersection of Oakhill Road and Highway 58. When the deputies attempted to pull over the vehicle near Jersey Pike and Eastwood Drive, the suspect continued driving leisurely until turning onto Bellbrook Drive.

Upon reaching Bellbrook Drive, the vehicle came to a halt, and multiple juvenile occupants fled the scene on foot.

Grabs and Finds

Deputies apprehended the teen driver after a brief foot pursuit, resorting to using a stun gun to subdue him. A search of the suspect’s vehicle revealed a stolen firearm, 3.5 grams of what is suspected marijuana, an open container of alcohol, and a bent screwdriver. The screwdriver is notable, as it’s a tool often used during car burglaries.

Mother’s Statement

The detained suspect’s mother confirmed that she had given permission for him to use the vehicle, assuming he intended to go out and purchase food. As it stands, the teenager now faces a total of 7 charges as a result of this incident.

Medical Attention and Juvenile Detention

After his encounter with the stun gun, the unnamed teenager was transported to a nearby hospital for routine medical monitoring. He was subsequently processed at the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center, pending further investigation and potential prosecution.

Second Chase in the Same Area

This isn’t the first time this particular area of Hamilton County has seen this type of incident. Just last week, HCSO deputies arrested four teenagers after a stolen car chase. The detained teenagers in this previous case ranged from 13 to 16 years of age. HCSO credits their quick response to the recent incident to an increased patrol in the area due to the previous crimes.

Conclusion

This incident is an alarming reflection of juvenile crime escalation in the area. Investigations are ongoing, and the law enforcement community will be keeping a keen eye on the Hamilton County area..