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Police Blotter: Home Invasion Leads To Gunfire

Thursday, February 26, 2004

A home invasion on Dorris Street led to gunfire when the homeowner came out of a bedroom with a handgun.

Police said Willie Hall was in a bedroom asleep with his girlfriend, Jillian Phillips, when they heard a loud noise at the kitchen door. He grabbed his gun and went toward the kitchen, when he came face to face with two black males. One was holding two black revolvers.

When the pair saw the homeowner's gun, they ran out the kitchen door they had just kicked in.

Police said Mr. Hall followed them outside and gunfire was exchanged before they got away. A third person was seen running away with them.

Kathleen Aldridge, who is 80, was in a back bedroom at her home on Radmoor Drive when she heard a series of cracking and bumping noises.

She opened her bedroom door and saw a man in the hallway. When he spotted her, he jumped like he was startled and ran out the back door that he had just kicked in.

Thomas Flansburg was at the back of his residence at Mountain Creek Road when he heard a knock at the front door. He thought it was a relative who would let himself in, so he did not respond.

When he then heard a loud crash, he yelled out and heard someone running away and then speeding away in a car. He found that $2,000 in damage had been done to the front entranceway.

Alberta Johnson was in her vehicle at her residence on Talatha Trail when a black male wearing a white ski mask and white sweatshirt came up.

He opened her passenger side door and showed her a silver revolver, then told her to give him her money. She handed over $10 and he left on foot, going behind the First Tennessee Bank. He was listed as 5'7" and 160 pounds.

Terrell Robinson, 34, of Laura Street said he was at the corner of Main and Market streets when three young black males came up. He said one hit him in the right eye with brass knuckles.

Mr. Robinson said he was knocked unconscious and the next thing he remembered was waking up at his residence. The money was gone from his pocket.

Clifford Norman, 23, said he was in the 3400 block of 6th Avenue when a black Nissan sped toward him. He said a black male and two Hispanic males jumped out. All wore black and their faces were covered in black.

He said they ran toward him and forced him to turn over $40. He said they kicked him and punched him in the face and torso.

Police said Mr. Norman, who was described as highly intoxicated, was taken to Memorial Hospital and treated for several lacerations over his left eye and several contusions.

At the Conoco at 7490 Lee Highway, a young black male came to the counter and showed a gun. He said, "Don't make any moves and give me all your money."

The man, who was wearing a black toboggan type mask, ran down toward Walker Road with money from the cash register.

Christopher Hockman of Jasper, Tn., said he was sitting in his car in the parking lot at Northgate Mall when a man came up to him. He said he had known the Soddy-Daisy man from school and rolled down the window.

He said the man struck him in the face and snatched his 14k herringbone chain necklace worth $300.

Police said warrants were pending a positive ID in a photo lineup.

Phillip Windham, bartender at Chattanooga Billiards Club on Cherry Street, said his wallet containing $700 was stolen from behind the bar. He said he suspected a customer after seeing a check on the floor beside him.

He said he confronted him and the man admitted it after he was threatened. James Wimberly, 25, of Dixie Circle, said he took the wallet because he needed money to pay his $52 tab. He was charged with theft.

Robert E. Dodson of Winding Lane said he took his 1991 Ford F250 for repairs at A-1 Front Wheel on Hixson Pike. He said he found after getting the vehicle back that $8,447 in tools were missing.

The owner told him the vehicle was placed in the garage at closing time.

Antonio Mays said while he was out of town someone broke out a front glass door at his Tony Stereos on Chapman Road. He said $6,705 in stereos and electronics were taken.

The front glass was knocked out of Walgreens on Broad Street. The manager was called and found the crime had been caught on video.

The thief, who was wearing a tan derby hat and dark-colored bubble coat, was seen taking 10 packs of Newport cigarettes.

Scott Darwin of Target on Gunbarrel Road said he saw a white male 6'2" 170 pounds take a Magnum surround sound system in a supply cart out a fire exit door. He said he saw the man load the equipment in a Dodge Acclaim.

Mr. Darwin said he followed the man to the Red Roof Inn on Shallowford Road and saw him, another man and woman move it into Room 250.

Police were not able to locate the thieves, a report says. Mr. Darwin got the tag number, but it came back to a white Ford.

At 21st Century Academy, a thief broke a window in a portable building and took three computers worth $2,600.


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