Men arrested following police chase

Two men are in custody following a police pursuit along Highway 153 that ended in a crash near the exit ramp of Highways 58 and 153.

Carmel Oattes and Kenneth Brooks were arrested today after the vehicle that they were traveling in failed to negotiate an exit ramp and crashed into a small black car traveling from Highway 58 towards Bonny Oaks Drive, according to a statement from Sgt. Jerri Weary of the Chattanooga Police Department.

A second vehicle was then struck.

Before the crash, police received a call of a burglary at 1725 Bagwell Avenue.

Police located the suspects leaving the scene. During the pursuit, Mr. Oattes and Mr. Brooks were seen throwing a television from their vehicle as they fled. In an attempt to end the pursuit quickly, an officer deployed spike strips but the suspects were able to avoid them by exiting at the Highway 153/58 ramp, Sgt. Weary said.

Both Mr. Oattes and Mr. Brooks were charged with aggravated burglary, vandalism, theft over $500, felony evading and vehicular assault.

The driver of the black car was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Mr. Brooks also was treated for an injury to his hand that he sustained on a barbed-wire fence prior to the pursuit, Sgt. Weary said.