Chattanooga Police arrested multiple known gang members in possession of firearms overnight.
There were three incidents resulting in five arrests and the seizure of four firearms.
Police said all of those taken into custody are validated gang members, except for Greg Trice.
In the first incident around 11 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a shots fired call at 2300 Windsor St.
Upon arrival, he searched the area and found five 40 caliber bullet shell casings on the south side of building 100 near the breezeway. An anonymous person advised they observed several black males run into a vacant apartment after they heard the shots. Other officers on the scene advised that they could see several males peering through the windows on the north side of the vacant apartment.
At that time, with permission of the apartment complex, all on duty Swat Team Officers, K9, and HNT were notified to respond to the scene due to possible armed barricaded suspects. As the units arrived, police officers on the scene were attempting to make contact with the suspects inside. Police made successful contact with them, and the suspects opened the door. Upon entry, there were seven black males in the front living room area of the apartment lying on the floor. Police detained the suspects and cleared the rest of the apartment.
All suspects were brought outside of the apartment. Police conducted a search of the apartment, and found a bag of cocaine and marijuana inside an air vent in the hallway, crack cocaine in the bathroom toilet, and marijuana in the bathtub. A secondary search was conducted. Police located a Glock 30 .45 caliber pistol loaded with seven rounds, and a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber.
Marvin Cartwright advised that the Glock 30 was his. Greg Trice advised that the Smith and Wesson 40ve was his.
All others besides Cartwright and Trice were released at that time.
Cartwright and Trice were charged with possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony, marijuana for resale, crack for resale, and cocaine possession.
In the second incident, an officer conducted a routine traffic stop on a white Jeep Patriot occupied by three juveniles. A search of the vehicle yielded a Glock with a 30 round magazine.
One juvenile was arrested for possession of the firearm, while a second was arrested for driving without a license.
In the third incident, a city police officer responded to W. 38th Street on a call concerning three males shooting at each other. On arrival, several witnesses gave descriptions of the suspects and one of the guns. The witnesses said that one of the suspects was shooting a semi-automatic handgun with a laser on it and that it was in a black bag.
The officer drove around the corner and cut him off. The officer exited his patrol car and told the suspect to stop. The suspect looked at the officer and ran away at full stride. The officer and other responding officers chased and located him on a porch trying to catch his breath.
The suspect was taken into custody and the black bag was recovered. The bag contained a green and black 9mm handgun with a laser sight attached to it.
Thomas Robbins was charged with evading arrest and possessing a firearm with the intent to go armed.
Chief of Police Fred Fletcher said, "These officers did an outstanding job catching these criminals. I am confident our officers prevented shootings from happening last night."