Chattanooga police have arrested a man for violating the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry after he set up a makeshift church on E. 39th Street after authorities told him to avoid church work and being employed near schools.
Police say Edward Hughes was working at the same church he operated when he raped someone in 2005. He later pleaded guilty to the crime and agreed not to work within 1,000 feet of a school, lead a church or work with children, said Lt. Kim Noorbergen, Chattanooga police spokeswoman.
She said that on Saturday night around 7 p.m. police arrested Mr. Hughes at Bethlehem Evangelistic Mission, which is within 1,000 feet of East Lake Elementary School. Lt. Noorbergen said the church was running off an electric generator and had no power meter.
Mr. Hughes was holding 6:15 p.m. Saturday services, she said.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.