Chattanooga Pulse

“Caught in the act” is the best way to describe Dustin Bell after he was arrested today for robbing the Taco Bell at 4768 Highway 58. Little did Bell know that he was robbing a restaurant where a Chattanooga Police officer was eating.

Officer Victor Miller was on dinner break when Bell entered the store, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money. Bell was able to get $275 and was headed out of the restaurant when Officer Miller confronted him.

A short foot pursuit ensued but Officer Miller was able to catch Bell within a short distance and take him into custody.

The arrest was one of chance and luck in that Bell chose a place where an officer was eating and in that he was arrested without incident despite brandishing a weapon.

Officer Miller was able to disarm him and arrest him before the arrest turned deadly as Bell was found in possession of a .22 caliber pistol and the $275 taken in the robbery. Bell was charged with aggravated robbery.

Another arrest by the Chattanooga Police Property Crimes Division nabbed three men after they robbed a Kangaroo Market at 4849 Hixson Pike on Monday.

The clerk advised police that she was in the cooler when she heard a customer enter the store. When she came out to wait on the customer, a black male produced a pistol and demanded money. He was able to get away with less than $80.

A short time later, officer responding to the robbery stopped three individuals fitting the description from the robbery BOLO. Surveillance video from the store connected Matthew Long, Stewart Jones and Larry Gaines to the incident. They were all arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Subsequently, police were able to connect the trio to other recent robberies including 902 Dallas Road and 4610 Plaza Hills Drive .