Chattanooga: Two face rape, robbery charges in Reggie White Boulevard jogger attack

Thursday, October 25, 2012

photo Chattanooga Police Chief Bobby Dodd

Two suspects are in custody after Chattanooga police investigators worked around the clock to find two men who raped a 30-year-old woman who was jogging on Oct. 12.

Devontavious "Skeelo" Bryant, 18, and a 16-year-old both face charges of aggravated rape, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault.

The Times Free Press is not identifying the 16-year-old because he is a juvenile.

Police Chief Bobby Dodd said the rape appears to be a "crime of opportunity" and there is no indication the attack was gang related.

"This was an isolated incident, but we wanted to let everyone know we have the two suspects in custody," Dodd said at a news conference this morning.

Police were able to examine nearby security cameras outside. It shows the woman jogging with two suspects following behind her on bicycles.

The woman was jogging south near Finley Stadium on Reggie White Boulevard when the first attacker grabbed her from behind and demanded money.

She told him that she had none, but only had an MP3 player. She gave it to him and turned to run away when the second attacker took off a yellow jacket he was wearing and wrapped it around her neck. He choked her until she passed out.

When the woman came to, the same attacker was over her and she was lying in the dirt. She began to scream when he put his hand over her throat and raised his other hand as if he was about to strike her, according to the affidavit. The attacker, who said he was armed with a knife, said if she screamed they would mess her face up.

Both teens raped her, according to the report.

When police went back to the area of the attack, they found condom wrappers, the victim's panties and the MP3 player and a plastic bag containing the victim's chewing gum.

Patrol officers were alerted of the attack. Three officers remembered seeing teens - matching the description of attackers - eating inside City Cafe one to two hours before the attack.

Video was obtained from the cafe and released to the public.

Both Bryant and the other suspect live in College Hill Courts. A third teen who lives in the projects was given the yellow jacket by the younger suspect. His mother recognized the jacket from the news coverage and urged him to call police.

When police went to interview the juvenile, he admitted to attacking the woman with Bryant. He claimed only Bryant raped the woman.

When Bryant was interviewed by police, he confirmed that he was in the restaurant video. He said he came straight home after eating his meal.

When police asked Bryant if the woman saw his face, he said, "She might have, I mean she couldn't have," according to the affidavit.

Bryant remains in jail on a $450,000 bond. His next court date is set for Oct. 30 before Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Christine Sell.

The 16-year-old is being tried as a juvenile.