Stolen Car Chase Lands 4 Teens in Custody in Chattanooga Early Wednesday

A crosstown chase unravelled in the early morning hours with four teenagers leading deputies across Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Happening in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, the chase began near Highway 58, where the teens, aged between 13 and 16, were spotted in a blue Hyundai Elantra. Earlier, deputies were alerted to be on the lookout for an Elantra with heavy rear-end damage, which was involved in a reported fight at a local gas station and subsequently fled the authorities from Hixson area to downtown.

Chase, Arrest, and Investigation

According to a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office statement, the deputies found the vehicle as it made a turn onto North Chamberlain Road from Glass Street. With back up units ready to intervene, the teenagers began to violate traffic rules, thus instigating a pervasive chase that expanded to Wilcox Boulevard and Riverside Drive.

Finally, the chase concluded at the junction of Riverfront Parkway and Windtower Drive when the driver, a 16-year-old boy, failed to manoeuvre the vehicle properly causing significant damage to the car’s tires. When the car came to a halt, all four passengers attempted to run but were quickly apprehended by the deputies and local police officers.

Revelations After The Chase

The report from the Sheriff’s Office disclosed some shocking revelations post chase. Not only was the car driven by the 16-year-old boy, but one of the passengers—a 15-year-old girl—was discovered to be a missing person from Chattanooga with active juvenile attachments. Furthermore, the other two teenage passengers present in the car were just 13 and 16 years old.

Interestingly, it was later ascertained that the vehicle involved in the chase was not the same stolen Hyundai sought after earlier. However, subsequent investigations revealed a damaged ignition in the recovered vehicle, with a USB cord being used to operate the ignition switch. Notably, further records check unveiled that the vehicle was reported missing from a local apartment complex approximately two weeks prior to the incident.

This incident acts as a reminder of the importance of the proactive vigilance of our law enforcement, ensuring safety and reducing criminal activity in Chattanooga. Community members can take relief knowing that the authorities are acting efficiently and apprehending offenders swiftly. . The names of the involved teenagers have not been released due to their minor status.