Staff File Photo by Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free Press -The badge of the Chattanooga Police Department adorns the shoulder of an officer.

Burglary suspect caught by school bus driver

A 19-year-old man has been charged with aggravated burglary after two botched burglary attempts, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

Cordarrius Bonner, also been charged with vandalism and burglary of an auto, as well as being in possession of other property that was suspected to be stolen, according to Janice Atkinson, spokeswoman for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

On Tuesday about 9 a.m., a neighbor noticed a man breaking into a home at 5033 Appaloosa Way and called authorities, she said. Deputies found that someone had broken into the house and fled.

A short time later, a school bus driver caught a man breaking into his bus and called the sheriff's office while detaining the suspect, Atkinson said.

Deputies who responded to the bus call discovered that the suspect in that crime fit the description from the earlier burglary.

• • •

Gunmen hold up Family Dollar

Police are investigating the armed robbery of a Family Dollar on Monday night.

Victoria Kirby, 20, told police that two men with handguns entered the 2108 E. Third St. store where she was working about 9 p.m. and threatened to shoot her if she didn't take them to the store's safe. Kirby told police the men took about $1,000 before fleeing north.

She then called police, who did not find the suspects.

• • •

Officer charged with assault

Officer Leroy Wright Jr. has been charged with one count of domestic simple assault and relieved of duty, Chattanooga police said.

The charges stem from a complaint made by a woman who said Wright pushed her during an argument, according to police spokeswoman Sgt. Jerri Weary.

The police internal affairs division is conducting an investigation, she said.

Wright is suspended with pay pending the outcome of the court disposition and internal affairs investigation, Weary said.

• • •

Fire engulfs Soddy-Daisy home

A Monday morning fire destroyed a Soddy-Daisy home and sent one man to the hospital.

Matthew Newsome was taken to Erlanger hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, but the three others in the home at the time of the fire -- Ricky T. Dent, Holly Daniel and April Fryar -- escaped unharmed.

Fryar, who owns the 11668 Back Valley Road home, called 911 at about 6:30 a.m. to report the fire. The cause of the fire is not yet determined.

Man uninjured in robbery-turned-gunfight

A Chattanooga man escaped without injury Monday night after a robbery-turned-gunfight.

Josh Shaw told police he was unloading his vehicle about 10:30 p.m. at 1606 Williams St. when two men walked past him, then turned and put a gun to his head.

The man with the gun demanded Shaw's keys and the second man punched Shaw on the face. Shaw dropped his keys, stumbled back and drew his own gun from his jacket pocket.

The armed assailant grabbed Shaw's keys, walked into the street, and the two exchanged fire as Shaw retreated into his home to call police.

When officers arrived, they searched the area but found no suspects. The pair were seen by a witness getting into a white Toyota, police said.

It is not known whether the suspects were injured, police said.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Chattanooga police at 423-698-2525.