One of two suspects arrested after overnight car theft, chase

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Two young men stole a car in Chattanooga overnight and sent police on a chase. One of the two was arrested.

Chattanooga police responded to the report of a vehicle theft in progress around 1:30 a.m. on Friday. Officers arrived at 491 West 26th Street at the Foundry Flats Apartments, where two men had broken the rear window of a 2021 KIA SUV.

The two suspects fled in the SUV and in a black Chevrolet Impala they had arrived in.

A Hamilton County Deputy then spotted the KIA on Highway 27 south, exceeding 100 mph. The deputy tried to stop the car, but they say the KIA then sped up to over 120 mph.

The suspect took the Rossville Boulevard exit and continued to lead deputies on a chase throughout Downtown Chattanooga.  The sheriff’s office said the suspect drove into garbage cans, and both the driver and passenger jumped out of the vehicle. They then fled on foot, according to deputies.

Deputies did not explain what happened to the second vehicle, the Impala, which was originally involved.

“While attempting to flee on foot, the driver ran into a tree, fell, attempted to flee once again, but was captured by deputies,” HCSO said.

However, the passenger eluded authorities and they believe he hid in a nearby apartment.

The driver, who deputies arrested, is a 17-year-old male. An ambulance transported him to the hospital for a minor head injury and existing ankle injury, deputies explained. Authorities then transported him to the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center.

The sheriff’s office filed charges relating to reckless evading, and Chattanooga Police filed charges related to vehicle theft.

The HCSO said they cannot release suspect information since he is a juvenile.