Officers arrest 2 Chattanooga teens for ‘checking car door handles’

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Chattanooga Police Department arrested two juveniles who were checking car door handles on East 12th Street.

The two juveniles were 16- and 17-year-old males, who have not been identified.

Police said they responded to the 1700 block of E 12th Street on April 5, shortly before 1 a.m.

CPD received reports that people on bikes were checking door handles of cars in the area. The caller gave a description that the two black males were wearing hoodies and masks.

Officers said they quickly located the suspects based on the caller’s descriptions. The two then began to flee officers on their bikes.

Police found and detained the 17-year-old, who was wearing a hoodie, mask and gloves. The teen’s parent responded to the scene and said, “the juvenile was out of the house without permission.” However, the teen was uncooperative and would not go home with his parent.

Officers then arrested him for curfew violation and disorderly conduct. They booked him into the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center.

An officer later found the 16-year-old near South Willow Street. The teen did not stop at a stop sign, and he rode into the side of a patrol car. Police said he tried to run, but he was limping due to the crash.

Officers then detained him as well. CPD said this teen was armed with a loaded handgun, and he was wearing bullet resistant body armor. EMS took him to the hospital for his minor leg injuries, and he was then booked into the juvenile detention center.

He was charged with evading arrest, resisting stop/arrest, equipment violation and weapons violations.