Teacher charged with assault after road rage incident

A Hamilton County junior ROTC instructor has been charged with aggravated assault after allegedly waving a gun at a minor during a road rage incident earlier this month in the Northgate Mall area.

Timothy Lee Hodges, a SoddyDaisy High School employee, turned himself in to the Hamilton County Jail on Wednesday.

He honked his horn at a female minor (of driving age) and gave her the middle finger as she was pulling out of a Starbucks parking lot on Aug. 13, according to court documents.

The girl told Chattanooga police officers that she returned the middle finger, and Hodges then pulled up beside her, cursed at her and showed her a handgun.

The girl immediately called her father and another friend, who told her to call police. She gave police a partial tag number and they were able to track down a list of possible suspects.

Two days later, police showed her a photo lineup, and the girl pointed Hodges out “without hesitation.”

Tim Hensley, spokesman for Hamilton County Schools, said the district is in the process of collecting information and the incident is under investigation.

“First Sgt. Hodges will have an alternative assignment where students are not present at the Hamilton County Schools W 40th JROTC office location during the investigation,” he said.

“First Sgt. Hodges will have an alternative assignment where students are not present at the Hamilton County Schools W 40th JROTC office location during the investigation.”

– TIM HENSLEY, SPOKESMAN FOR HAMILTON COUNTY SCHOOLS