Three validated gang members were arrested early Sunday morning after robbing a night club at gunpoint.
While patrolling the area, Officer Jeffery Miller with the Chattanooga Police Department was flagged down by security guards from the La Onda Night Club, 6175 Airways Blvd., advising they had just been robbed.
The security guards then pointed out a white Buick four-door vehicle that was leaving the parking lot. Officer Miller pursued the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop. As Officer Miller reached the vehicle, in the 2000 block of Polymer Drive the three occupants fled from the vehicle on foot.
Officers from Delta and George teams made a large perimeter and were able to take all three suspects into custody without incident after following a "money trail" into some woods. They were identified as a juvenile, 17; Lamarcus Copeny, 18, and Tyrick Johnson, 19. Police said all three are validated gang members.
It was later learned that the suspects took over the club by holding club employees and patrons at gunpoint. The loaded handguns (including a Tec 9) used in the robbery, along with the cash drawer, cash, and cash bags taken in the robbery, were recovered.
The Chattanooga Police Department's Violent Crimes Bureau (Robbery Division) is continuing this investigation and the Chattanooga Police Department's Hispanic liaison will be assisting in this investigation.
"Our officers did an outstanding job catching these bad guys," said Chief of Police Fred Fletcher. "Threats like this are unacceptable and we will work closely with all our law enforcement partners to urge that these violent gang members stay in jail."