Hull St. Rd. robber caught

Kirby James Edwin Kirby, 39, of no known address, was taken into custody by officers a short distance away from the Stiles Bi-Rite store in the 10800 block of Hull Street Road last Thursday.

Police said the suspect entered the store, picked up a bottle of beer and a carton of cigarettes. When the clerk put the items in a bag and asked for money, the suspect displayed a knife. The clerk began to scream, causing the Kirby to grab the items off the counter and flee on foot.

Kirby was charged with robbery and vandalism.

On April 20 a female acquaintance of the victim contacted him and they agreed to meet around the 6200 block of Jefferson Davis Highway. They then parked behind a building on Sloan Court. Once there, three male suspects approached. The victim attempted to run away. The suspects, however, displaying a gun, caught up and began to beat him and take his property. All three suspects then fled the area, said the police report.

The tailgate was removed from a 1997 Ford F-150 last Thursday at Chattanooga Plaza (Wal-Mart) on Hull Street Road while the victim was at work.

He had previously allowed the suspect to drive his 1993 Dodge. However, upon learning the suspect was not licensed, the victim demanded his car and keys be returned. The suspect did return the car. However, on April 17 in the evening the victim discovered the car missing from his Summerbrooke Drive residence.

Rutledge An employee at the Liberty Mart on East River Road stepped outside the store to empty the trash on April 19 when someone displaying a black firearm approached. The suspect ordered the employee back inside the store. The clerk, however, refused. When the suspect repeated his demand, the clerk told the suspect where the money was kept and said he would wait outside. As the suspect entered the store, the clerk ran to his vehicle and called police. The suspect fled without taking any money.

Observing the beige Mazda being driven erratically on Midlothian Turnpike on April 17, officers stopped the car. Upon questioning, the suspect admitted to driving the vehicle off a dealership lot. When the officers advised tthe owner of the car of what happened, the owner explained that he had left the vehicle unlocked with the keys over the visor for repairs. The driver, a juvenile, was arrested.

During a routine traffic stop on April 15, Tiffany E. Rutledge, 2369 Ambrose Street, 23, was arrested for identity fraud, obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm while in possession of drugs, possession of controlled substances, intent to sell or distribute marijuana, and the theft or receipt of a stolen firearm.