Ellen Gerst

Ellen Gerst is the breaking news editor at the Times Free Press. She has served as the paper's public editor, overseeing the opinion section, and covered crime, local news, growth and development since joining the paper in 2022. She previously reported on criminal justice and local government for the Casper Star-Tribune in Wyoming.

Contact Ellen Gerst at egerst@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6319.

Police give all clear after bomb threat at Chattanooga school Tuesday

by Ellen Gerst ·January 17, 2023

No threat was found after police responded to a bomb threat made by phone Tuesday at the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy.

Staff Photo by Ellen Gerst / Police clear the scene of a bomb threat at the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy on Tuesday after finding the threat unsubstantiated.

East Tennessee-based martial arts company sued, accused of lying to franchise owners

by Ellen Gerst ·January 16, 2023

A chain of East Tennessee-based martial arts studios lied about how profitable and easy-to-run its franchised locations would be, a federal lawsuit alleges, collecting thousands of dollars in royalties and fees while many of its owners lost money.

Contributed Photo by Josh Smith / Students attend class at a Mt. Juliet Premier Martial Arts studio. The company, which franchises locations around the country, is accused of fraud and racketeering in a federal lawsuit.

Chattanooga police investigating officer shown sleeping in video

by Ellen Gerst ·January 13, 2023

A Chattanooga Police Department officer is under investigation after a video showing him sleeping in a patrol car parked in a turn lane surfaced this week.

Brick wall collapses, crushes car in downtown Chattanooga

by Ellen Gerst ·January 12, 2023

Part of a brick wall collapsed from a downtown Chattanooga building on Thursday morning, crushing one car.

Chattanooga Fire Department / A brick wall on a downtown Chattanooga building collapsed Thursday, crushing a car.

Group installs ‘illegal’ bench in Chattanooga park where city removed seating

by Ellen Gerst ·January 10, 2023

Over the weekend, a wooden bench appeared in a park near downtown Chattanooga.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / A painted wooden bench sits in Phillips Park on Monday, January 9, 2023.

Cleveland man pleads guilty in day care fire

by Ellen Gerst ·January 9, 2023

A Cleveland day care worker pleaded guilty Monday to 27 charges of reckless endangerment for his role in a fire that closed the center in February.

Bradley County Sheriff's Office / James Carpenter Jr.

Two injured in crash outside Hamilton County Courthouse

by Ellen Gerst ·January 9, 2023

Chattanooga police investigate Monday after a driver hit and injured two older adults outside the Hamilton County Courthouse. Both people were taken to a hospital with unknown injuries, and the driver was cooperating with police, department spokeswoman Sydney Hamon said by text.

Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / Police vehicles block a section of Georgia Avenue at the crosswalk near the Hamilton County Courthouse on Monday after a vehicle hit two pedestrians.

Reports of most crimes down in Chattanooga in 2022, but not all

by Ellen Gerst ·January 8, 2023

Reports of shootings and other violent crimes in Chattanooga decreased in 2022 compared to previous years, according to Chattanooga Police Department data.

Staff photo by Tierra Hayes / The Chattanooga Police Department investigate near the 2100 block of McCallie Ave. following a shooting on June 5 in downtown Chattanooga.

Man accused of killing brother receives $300,000 bond

by Ellen Gerst ·January 5, 2023

A Chattanooga man accused of killing his brother on New Year's Eve is in jail on a $300,000 bond, following his first appearance in court Thursday.

Sheriff’s Office identifies 3 deputies involved in downtown Chattanooga shooting

by Ellen Gerst ·January 4, 2023

Three Hamilton County sheriff's deputies were involved in a shooting that left a man dead last week in Chattanooga, the Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.