Mandi Leigh Hutsell
Two people have been arrested on robbery and theft charges after a female robbery victim followed their vehicle from East Ridge to Catoosa County while on the phone to police.
Taken into custody were Mandi Leigh Hutsell, 30, of 3520 Shelby Circle, East Ridge, and Charles Blant Wells, 30, of 3407 Roberts Road, Chattanooga.
Ms. Hutsell is charged with aggravated robbery, while Wells was charged with theft and probation violation.
In the incident on Saturday, East Ridge Police were at the Mapco at 6514 Ringgold Road on a service call when at approximately 8:25 p.m. police observed a blue BMW sedan exit the parking lot at a high rate of speed with a silver sedan following behind it.
Just 11 minutes later, Catoosa County deputies "advised police that they were out with parties at 843 Colony Circle who claimed that they had been involved in a robbery at the Mapco in East Ridge."
The one who had followed the car in her gold Toyota was at the scene with occupants of a blue BMW.
She advised police that she had been at a stop light on Ringgold Road near I-75 when a heavy-set white female with a T-shirt and faded blue jeans approached her vehicle and signaled as if she were requesting a cigarette. She said she rolled down her window and the female then reached inside and opened the door from the inside.
She said the woman sat in the front passenger's seat and began demanding money. She claimed to have a firearm and kept reaching at her waistband.
At one point she stated that she would "blow" her head off if she did not give her the money. She demanded that she drive to the Mapco and to park at a particular fuel pump that was next to a blue BMW.
She said after the woman continued to threaten her life that she gave her approximately $200 in $20 bills.
She said the woman exited her vehicle and jumped into the back seat of the blue BMW with no registration.
The woman who had been robbed then began chasing the vehicle while on the phone with dispatchers. Catoosa County deputies were able to locate and stop the blue BMW at 843 Colony Circle.
Wells was driving and Allison Goulart was in the front seat. Ms. Goulart was later allowed to go free. Police said she is still under investigation.
Police said there were multiple $20 bills in the rear seat. They were returned to the woman who was robbed.
A knife was recovered from Ms. Hutsell's pocket.
The blue BMW was towed by Broome's Wrecker Service to the East Ridge impound lot.
Charles Blant Wells