Valerie Reed
Valerie Reed, notorious in East Ridge for harassing residents by consistently panhandling, could be facing more serious charges in the future.
According to an East Ridge police report, Reed was booked into the Hamilton County Jail on charges of “pedestrian soliciting rides or business.” What happened during the booking process may lead to more charges against the 44-year-old woman.
The report states that on Sept. 29 police were called to 606 Germantown Road at about 10:15 p.m. on a reported mental health call. The caller said that Reed had been staying with him at his house temporarily. The caller told dispatchers that Reed was not acting like herself and wanted an officer to speak with her.
The report states that when Officer Julian Chambers arrived at the house Reed walked away from the residence north on Germantown Road. The officer learned that Reed had an active warrant out of Hamilton County. Officer Chambers canvased the area and found Reed walking behind a house in the 400 block of Germantown. When the officer approached Reed, the report states that she tried to hide behind bushes at the house.
Reed was taken into custody after warrants for her arrest for failure to appear in court in Hamilton County were verified, the report states.
The report goes on to say that Reed began to “display furtive movement reaching for an unknown object in the back of (her) pants. She continued to move in a suspicious manner throughout my contact with her.”
When Reed was being booked into the jail, an officer saw her remove a paper towel from her bra and place it in a trash can, the report states. When an officer picked up the towel and opened it he discovered what appeared to be a glass smoking pipe with a copper filter on one end. The pipe also had what appeared to be burn marks all along the pipe with a small amount of a white reside inside of it.
The report states that the paper towel and pipe was to have been placed into property and evidence at ERPD.
_ 3900 Ringgold Rd.: A man is facing multiple charges after speeding through a school zone and running from police.
According to a police report Officer Darwin Scott was running radar last week near East Ridge Elementary School when he saw a dark-colored Hyundai turn onto Ringgold Road from John Ross at a high rate of speed. The officer attempted to stop the car but it took off on Weldon Drive.
The report states that Officer Scott discontinued the pursuit but saw the Hyundai run several stop signs and continue to drive recklessly. When the officer returned to patrol, a concerned citizen approached Officer Scott in the 3700 block of Ringgold Road and asked if police were “looking for anyone.” The report states that the citizen told the officer that a black car had pulled into their neighbor’s driveway and a man got out and ran behind a house in the 3600 block of Weldon Drive.
The report states that police went to the address on Weldon and saw that the suspect vehicle was attempting to leave the driveway. Officers stopped the car from leaving and ordered the driver out of the car. The driver, 20-year-old Cameron Shaquille McDuffy of a Shoals Lane address in Chattanooga, was taken into custody.
The report states that when McDuffy got out of the car, the officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from McDuffy and the interior of his car. When police inventoried the vehicle they found .7 grams of suspected pot in a Swisher Cigarillo package in an overhead compartment of the vehicle.
McDuffy was charged with Evading Arrest, Driving on a Revoked license, Reckless Driving and Possession of Marijuana.
