Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher hopes a rising reward amount will help catch a shooting suspect. Last week, it was $6,000. This week, it’s nearly been doubled for information leading to the arrest of a man who allegedly shot an officer.
“The reward amount is now $11,500,” Fletcher said at a press conference Monday. “We believe this level of financial incentive will encourage anyone with knowledge of the suspect to call 911.”
The suspect is described as a black male with medium complexion, about 5' 10", slim or medium build. On Thursday, December 1st, he shot an officer three times. The officer was checking out a vacant building on Mission Street.
“That was an area frequented by people who cause disorder and crime, a variety of things: trespassing, narcotics,” Fletcher said. “He saw a man walking away from the building. As he attempted to contact that man, that man turned and shot at our officer. At least three bullets struck our officer. Both parties, the bad guy and the officer, were outside the building when this happened.”
The officer fired back, even though he’d been wounded, and the suspect fled. The officer drove himself to Erlanger Hospital, where he was treated and released. His bulletproof vest had stopped at least one of the rounds.
Chief Fletcher has a message for the suspect.
“I would like to tell whoever shot your Chattanooga Police officer that you may think you may have friends who will keep you from facing accountability. I want to tell you right now that I doubt your friends like you more than they like the prospect of $11,500.”
The officer did not have a body camera. Fletcher says he’ll be going to the city council to seek a contract to provide body-worn cameras department-wide.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call 911.