Terrell Harper has pleaded guilty to a robbery at an ATM and been given a three-year prison sentence.
Prosecutor Bret Alexander said the sentence will be consecutive to a previous Harper robbery for which he got another three-year sentence.
He praised the work of Officer Cornelius Gaines, saying "he always seems to be at the right place at the right time."
In the September 2010 incident, Chattanooga Police observed suspicious activity in the ATM lobby of the First Tennessee Bank at 2001 East 23rd St. A black male was seen facing an Hispanic man who had his hands up in the air.
The black male tried to flee on his bicycle, but was taken into custody. The black male, later identified as Terrell Harper, had just robbed the victim of the cash he had taken out, then forced him to access his account a second time in order to take another $200, according to the victim.
Harper, who was 21 at the time, was taken to the Police Services Center on Amnicola Highway, where he was interviewed by a property crimes investigator. After the interview, Harper was placed in a hallway, handcuffed and observed by the initial officer. While the investigator completed necessary paperwork for the arrest, the officer stepped into the investigators office to answer a question and Harper ran from the building while still in handcuffs.
A perimeter was set up and a lengthy search conducted by the Chattanooga Police Department, including K-9, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the Chattanooga Fire Department. However, Harper was not located. But he was later arrested.
Harper appeared before Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman.
Prosecutor Alexander said aggravated robbery could not be proven since a gun was not displayed by Harper or found on him.