Police responded to Erlanger Hospital on Christmas Eve regarding a delayed assault. According to a police report, police spoke with a woman there who said that her ex-boyfriend had abducted her from her place of employment on Dec. 23, held her captive and beat her repeatedly for the better part of 24 hours.
The woman told police that her ex-boyfriend, James Works, took her to a motel in Chattanooga where management forced them to leave after making too much noise. When they left the motel, the woman told police that Works took her to Camp Jordan Park and parked next to the pond by the arena. The victim told police that Works dragged her from the car there and beat her. According to the report, Works told the woman he would kill her and throw her in the pond.
The report states that at some point that night, Works drove to the kayak and canoe launch where the beatings continued. At one point, she said, the man took a hammer from the back of the car and threatened to kill her with it. The woman said Works reclined the seat in the vehicle and made her lay on top of him so he could sleep and make sure she didn’t run off.
At 9 a.m. on Christmas Eve, Works drove to a place on Ringgold Road where he met his father. The report states that Works then allowed her to leave and he left with his father. The woman said she went back to her house where her father took her to the hospital.
According to the report, the woman suffered from fractures to her nose and chin. She had abrasions, bruises and scrapes on her arms, legs and face.
The report states that both Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and Chattanooga Police Department have reports on file. Warrants for the arrest of of the suspect will be issued.
Jerry Collins
_ 4006 Bennett Rd.: Police responded to the address, Saturday, regarding a disorder with a weapon. According to a police report, when officers arrived the suspect had fled. Officers spoke with a woman who told them that her ex-boyfriend, Jerry Alan Collins, had come into her home and began arguing with her. When the woman tried to leave, according to the report, Collins kicked the front door closed, wouldn’t allow her to leave and threatened to stab her and her young son.
Collins, the report states, told the woman that he had stolen his father’s car and tied up three people in Chattanooga and would do whatever was necessary to stay out of police custody. Collins, the woman said, told her that police would have to kill him rather than take him to jail.
The report states that police located Collins’ father’s stolen vehicle at the New Castle Apartments on Roper Street.
The woman told police that she tried to take off out the back door of her house but Collins stopped her. Collins then picked up a kitchen knife, she told officers.
The report states that the woman convinced Collins to allow her to walk to a nearby convenience store, where the woman called her nephew, who responded to the house. The man attempted to reason with Collins but, according to the report, Collins attempted to stab the nephew and ran from the scene. Collins took the woman’s cell phone and police tried to have dispatch track the phone, but it was turned off.
Later on Christmas Eve, police passed the house on Bennett where the incident occurred and noticed lights on inside. The report states that officers stopped and someone inside the house turned off the lights. Officers located an unsecured window into the residence but whoever was inside was gone. Police assisted the woman in relocating to a safe location, the report states.
Authorities said Wednesday, that police caught up with Collins back at the Bennett Road address on Dec. 26. When officers served arrest warrants on the man, he asked officers if they would go back inside the house and get his clothes. Officials said when officers got his clothes and searched the pockets of his pants, they found a small amount of marijuana and 19 Xanax pills. Collins told police that he had bought them from his girlfriend.
