Donald Roush
Chattanooga Police officers arrested two suspects involved in an armed robbery within hours of the incident.
Officers responded to an armed robbery call at 5966 Brainerd Road at 1 p.m.
on Wednesday. The victim told police she was exiting her vehicle when she was approached by a white male pointing a handgun at her demanding her purse and cell phone. The victim complied and the suspect fled in a gray Mitsubishi driven by a white male.
A quick-acting witness was able to take a photo of the vehicle and provide officers with a detailed description of the suspects, which aided officers' search for the men.
Four hours after the robbery, CPD patrol officers stopped the suspect vehicle for running a stop sign at Roanoke and Rawlings. During the stop, the officer recognized one of the occupants from the information provided by the witness. The two men were questioned and admitted to their involvement in the robbery.
"The effort and quick thinking of the witness who took the photo of the vehicle greatly assisted in the apprehension of these two suspects," said Captain Zac McCullough. "The cooperation we receive from community members is crucial to making Chattanooga a safer place for all who live and visit here."
Through investigation by CPD's Robbery Unit Investigators it was determined Donald Roush, 44, committed the act of aggravated robbery and James Harden, 35, facilitated the crime as the driver of the suspect vehicle.
Both men are charged with aggravated robbery. They were transferred to the Hamilton County Jail. Additional charges for fraudulent use of a credit card and theft are pending.
James Ray Harden