Police find weapons, drugs after Chattanooga man allegedly opens fire on neighbor

Brian Resch

Chattanooga police officers discovered a large cache of weapons after a man sprayed bullets into his neighbor's apartment while high on methamphetamine Friday.

Officers responded to a set of four apartments on Stratton Place Drive just after midnight Friday when a man reported that his neighbor was shooting at him.

Police arrived at the Brainerd apartment to find 46-year-old Brian Resch standing at the open door of his neighbor's apartment, holding both a shotgun and a handgun.

Police ordered Resch to drop the weapons, and he did. He was immediately taken into custody, according to an affidavit.

His neighbor, Miles Ford, 29, told police that Resch fired multiple shots through the wall of his apartment into Ford's apartment after Resch texted Ford and told him to "stay off the stairs tonight."

Ford said he texted Resch to ask what he meant, but got no response - until Resch fired one shot into the apartment.

After the first shot, Ford went to Resch's door and asked why he was shooting. Resch yelled something indistinguishable back, then fired several more rounds at Ford and into Ford's apartment, Ford told police.

Investigators found more than 10 bullet holes in Ford's apartment.

Resch told police he had been using methamphetamine and painkillers that night, and claimed he fired the shots because he thought someone was breaking into his apartment. He could not explain why he was trying to enter Ford's apartment when police arrived, according to his affidavit.

Officers obtained a search warrant for Resch's apartment and discovered a cache of weapons and drugs inside. Police found six rifles, one shotgun, six handguns, two commercial explosive devices, a "large amount" of assorted ammunition, two machetes and a saber.

Officers also found methamphetamine, prescription pills including hydrocodone, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Police noted Resch appeared to be under the influence of a stimulant when officers arrived.

Resch was charged with 15 different crimes, including attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm while under the influence and possession of a prohibited weapon.

He was booked into the Hamilton County Jail on a $247,000 bond and remained in custody on Monday.

Resch does not have a criminal history in Hamilton County and has only one previous citation, for speeding, according to court records.

He is scheduled to appear in Hamilton County General Sessions Court on Feb. 20.

Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas. Follow her on Twitter @ShellyBradbury.