Arrest made in Red Bank shooting, and more Chattanooga area police news

photo Tiajuana Cook

Arrest made in Red Bank shooting

Red Bank police arrested a woman Tuesday who they said helped a man shoot his ex-girlfriend.

Officers charged 29-year-old Tiajuana Jo Ann Dieffenderfer, of 4125 Kirkland Ave., with aggravated assault and two counts of attempted murder. She will appear in Red Bank Municipal Court on July 15.

Dieffenderfer's arrest comes four days after police brought Antwan Lamar Jackson to Hamilton County Jail. Police said Jackson caught and shot his ex-girlfriend on July 4 after a car chase. Dieffenderfer allegedly drove Jackson.

On the night of the shooting, officers found Monica Branham in a Hardee's on McCahill Road. She had been shot in the upper thigh or abdomen.


Man charged in '12 Brainerd gas station slaying

A 29-year-old man was charged Tuesday in connection to a June 2012 shooting at Delta Express gas station, 3410 Brainerd Road, in which one man was killed and a woman wounded.

Police charged Stephen Maurice Mobley with first-degree murder in the slaying of Gregory, attempted first-degree murder of Gonzalez, as well as charges of aggravated assault, unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment.

On June 1, 2012, Gregory Watkins, 28, was shot to death after a man walked up to his Toyota Corolla and opened fire. A passenger in the car, 22-year-old Lashonda Gonzalez was injured during the gunfire and was treated at a local hospital.

Days later, police arrested 22-year-old Stephen Lebron Hill in connection to the crime.

Mobley is being held on $810,000 bond.


photo Richard L Garner

Assault charged in Signal Mountain case

Signal Mountain police said they approached a man in his driveway Sunday evening who had a weapon in his hand.

"I'm very good with a gun," Richard Larry Garner told officers, according to an arrest report. "Do you want to die today?"

Minutes earlier, someone called police and said the sounds of a woman screaming could be heard from 3810 Chestnut Ridge Lane. Officers Richard Allman and Dustin McCall responded. McCall said two women stood at the doorway, screaming and crying, and Garner stood in the driveway, next to his truck.

He had been drinking, police said, and blood seeped from a wound on his head.

Garner, 55, pulled out a gun, according to a police report. He threatened to kill himself. Then he threatened to shoot the officers and asked for them to fire back.

Eventually, Garner put down his gun, and officers charged him with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated assault of a public employee and one count of possessing a firearm during commission to commit a dangerous felony.

Garner left Hamilton County Jail on Monday after paying a bond of $41,000. He is scheduled to appear at Signal Mountain Municipal Court on July 25.

Officers found Garner's daughter and wife, Joanna Garner, with swelling and bruises on their faces. Joanna Garner also had a deep cut on her upper lip, according to an arrest report.

She told officers that Richard pushed their daughter during an argument, and Joanna tried to separate the two. According to the report, that is when Richard punched her in the face.


Shooting suspect held, 2nd sought

Chattanooga police made an arrest in a shooting case that happened last month leaving one man wounded.

Timothy Dewayne Shropshire, 21, faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and reckless endangerment.

Shropshire brandished a silver handgun and began shooting at a man who had his twin daughters with him at 719 Larkin Ave. The man was shot once in his right tricep, according to the arrest report.

The man was placing his daughters in the car when the shots rang out on June 14. He was chased into the woods by Shropshire and his stepson, Deutrich James. James was kicked out of the man's home just one day before the shooting.

Police still are trying to locate James.

James, 21, is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 170 pounds. His last known address is 4512 Rogers Road in Chattanooga.

Anyone with information leading to James' arrest could be eligible for a confidential cash reward. Call 423-698-3333 to submit a tip to Crime Stoppers.

Shropshire, who remains in jail, is scheduled to appear in court July 15.

Collegedale plans DUI checkpoint

Collegedale Police Department will conduct a DUI checkpoint Friday, according to a released statement.

Police will be focusing on enforcing areas including Tennessee Highway 11, Highway 37, Highway 321 and Little Debbie Parkway.

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