Chattanooga: Stings sometimes nab same offenders

Local law enforcement roundups, such as Thursday’s Operation Crossover, often remove violent criminals and wanted felons from Chattanooga streets — but sometimes not for long.

Those charged with crimes sometimes receive short sentences, plead guilty to lesser offenses or have charges dismissed because of weak state sentencing guidelines and overcrowding in local jails, said Chattanooga Police Deputy Chief Mark Rawlston.

Recent roundups by the Chattanooga Police Department and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department have targeted known gang members, violent felons, those with outstanding warrants and drug users.

Thursday’s roundup, incorporating intelligence from more than 30 agencies and headed by the sheriff’s department, began at 7 a.m. at the Finley Stadium command post. Shortly after 8 a.m., officials made their first arrest.

About 30 people were arrested, officials said.

The sheriff’s department first declined comment on the roundup, citing concern for the agencies involved if criminals know they’re being sought, spokeswoman Janice Atkinson said. The department plans to continue its efforts today and release information during a news conference at 10 a.m. this morning.

“The sheriff’s first priority is officer safety,” she said.

Recurring roundups

It’s not uncommon to arrest the same person again and again, even after he or she is corralled during a roundup, Chief Rawlston said.

“It is frustrating, but it’s one of those things you just have to learn as a policeman,” he said. “I’m going to do my job and bring them in there, and whatever happens, happens.”

As arrests pile up, officials have a stronger case to pursue federal charges, which do not result in lenient sentences, Chief Rawlston said. A person sentenced in federal court must serve all time and is not eligible for parole.

“Those can all mount up, and those can become the trigger that gets them in the federal system,” he said. “At some point, they’re going to mess up really bad, and that federal trigger is going to kick in.”

Ladarrel Bradley was arrested Sept. 19 on charges of felonious reckless endangerment and aggravated assault during a police department gang roundup. Two weeks later, those charges were dismissed in Hamilton County General Sessions Court because of lack of evidence, court records show.

He’s due back in court Nov. 11 on charges filed Sept. 19, including possession of crack for resale, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, court records show.

In that same roundup, 21-year-old Andre Grier was arrested on charges of carjacking, possession of crack for resale, aggravated assault and aggravated robbery. The carjacking charge was dismissed per the district attorney, according to court records.

Courts prepare for influx

Each case possesses different characteristics, making them impossible to generalize, Hamilton County District Attorney Bill Cox said. Sometimes witnesses or victims in old crimes with old warrants do not show up in court, causing charges to be dropped, he said.

Roundups often increase the number of people appearing in court, but the district attorney’s office prepares for that, Mr. Cox said.

“We sit down with law enforcement weeks before these roundups occur, and we just discuss the strategy and the timing, and we’ll make sure that we have extra people available for arraignments for that influx,” he said.

Roundups are effective because they send a message to criminals and keep them off balance, Chattanooga police Assistant Chief Mike Williams said. Criminals may know roundups occur, but times of day and locations change, allowing police to surprise people, he said.

Those arrested multiple times are the ones who need to be put in jail continuously to keep communities safe, he said.

“They know we’re coming; they just don’t know when,” Chief Williams said, adding that media attention for ongoing roundups does not help those people escape. “We’re not going away, and the roundups are not going away. We may change our tactics or our focus, but we’re going to continue to pursue them relentlessly.”