Four face charges in home burglaries

Four face charges in home burglaries

Three men and one juvenile have been arrested in connection with a string of home burglaries in their neighborhood.

Adam Lawson, 26; Brett Cannon, 20; Kelsey Belcher, 20; and the juvenile were charged with four counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of theft under $500, one count of theft over $500, criminal conspiracy, numerous drug charges to include marijuana, methamphetamine and several controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia, said Janice Atkinson, spokeswoman for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

The three adults were transported to the Hamilton County Jail while the juvenile was taken to the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center, she said.

On Thursday night, deputies were called to 6492 Colt Lane on a reported home burglary, Atkinson said. While deputies talked with the burglary victims, other homeowners in the area approached the deputies and told them that they, too, had been burglarized, she said.

Suspected stolen property was discovered behind a nearby residence, she said. While deputies were talking to the owners of the residence, a large amount of property was observed inside their home, Atkinson said.

One of the occupants admitted to investigators that he had burglarized several homes in the area and also admitted to having narcotics inside the residence, Atkinson said.

About $10,000 worth of stolen property was found inside the home, and nearby homeowners took their belongings, she said.

Chattanooga boy accused of arson

An 8-year-old boy was charged with aggravated arson after setting his family's home on fire with a cigarette lighter, damaging a bedroom and leaving the Kirby Avenue house uninhabitable, authorities said.

Ummina Cooper, the 8-year-old's mother, told fire officials she was doing housework when her sister knocked on the door and told her the house was on fire about 12:34 p.m. Friday.

Firefighters saw flames shooting out a bedroom window when they arrived. As they attacked the fire, an electrical supply line burned loose and fell across their truck, endangering the firefighters.

An EPB crew disconnected the power and the firefighters extinguished the blaze. No one was injured.

Though the fire was contained to the bedroom, there was smoke damage throughout the house.

The family is receiving temporary food, clothing and shelter from the Red Cross.

Man, teen face robbery charges

A 20-year-old man and 17-year-old have been charged in connection with two robberies late Thursday night.

Police have charged Justin Scholtz, 20, and a teenager with aggravated robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, aggravated assault and aggravated assault on police for a home robbery at 3506 12th Ave., said Chattanooga police spokeswoman Sgt. Jerri Weary.

They also have been charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for a robbery at 4409 13th Ave. that was committed before the residential robbery, she said.

Jesusa Faustina was knocked down and kicked in the stomach during the robbery on 12th Avenue, Weary said. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment and observation.

Pedro Velasquez was injured after being hit in the face with a gun by one of the suspects during the robbery on 13th Avenue, Weary said, but Velasquez did not report any treatment of his injury.

Officer Christopher Grafe also was taken to a hospital for lacerations to his arms that he received while trying to back up the initial responding officer at 12th Avenue, she said.

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