Two men were arrested Friday in connection with the recent armed robberies of a McDonald’s restaurant and a Kanku’s market.
Police are unsure if the men are also responsible for several other convenience store robberies.
“We are considering that,” said police spokeswoman Lt. Kim Noorbergen. “Some of the evidence and some of the details that we gained from the interview led us to believe they are possibly involved, but we won’t know until we pick up some other people and talk to them.
“We’re still considering there are more suspects out there,” she said. “We’re not completely satisfied it was the same three every time we had a robbery.”
In connection with the McDonald’s and Kanku’s robberies, police charged Marquis Rollins, 19, with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, criminal conspiracy, reckless endangerment and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, police said.
Montez Murphy, 17, was charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, criminal conspiracy, reckless endangerment and driving without a license, police said. He also faces charges of felony possession of marijuana for resale and felony possession of an illegal firearm, Lt. Noorbergen said.
Police investigators received information Thursday that led them to a residence at Emma Wheeler Homes, a housing development in South Chattanooga, the lieutenant said. There, officers and officials from the Chattanooga Housing Authority interviewed several people.
Two of those interviewed were determined to be involved in the robberies that occurred on the evening of Jan. 19, she said. One robbery took place at the McDonald’s on East Third Street while the other was at the Kanku’s on Glenwood Drive.
OTHER ROBBERIESJan. 11: Kangaroo market, 4858 Highway 58Jan. 12: Motel 6, 7700 Lee HighwayJan. 13: Super 8 Motel, 7024 McCutcheon RoadJan. 14: Kanku’s market, 702 Central Ave.Jan. 15: Kangaroo market, 234 Brownsferry RoadJan. 15: Kangaroo market, 2300 Jenkins RoadJan. 16: Kangaroo market, 6003 Shallowford RoadJan. 17: Subway, 4420 Highway 58
Chattanooga City Councilman Manny Rico said he hasn’t heard any fears from the community related to the string of robberies.
He said people usually attribute numerous robberies to numerous groups of people, “but a lot of times it’s just the same ones doing the same robberies.”
“I hope we catch the few who are doing it because that will probably solve a whole lot of robberies,” Mr. Rico said. “When the economy’s down, you’re going to have more robberies.
“It’s just a shame we probably don’t have a big enough police force — we can’t put someone out at every Kanku’s or McDonald’s,” he said.