Catoosa detectives arrest two gang members in connection with burglary

A three-month investigation into a Catoosa County burglary case was wrapped up recently when detectives arrested the second of two suspects accused of shooting at a Ringgold man in his driveway after burglarizing his home in July.

According to the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Department:

Victor Bentley Davis IV, 18, of Oglethorpe Ridge in Fort Oglethorpe, and Shadow Berry Barnett, 23, of Chattanooga, Tenn., have been charged with aggravated assault, first-degree burglary, criminal damage to property and participation in criminal street gang activity.

Davis also faces charges of possessing of a firearm while trying to commit a crime and theft by bringing stolen property into the state.

Barnett has been released from jail on bond, while Davis remains in Catoosa County jail with bond set at $21,000.

Detectives began searching for the two men after a dangerous burglary attempt on July 11.

At approximately 9 a.m. that day, Rossville resident Richard Brown pulled into his driveway on School Street and found two men inside his home.

The two black males exited the home through a side door, at which time one of the men began shooting at Brown as they attempted to enter their Honda Civic and make their getaway.

“They fired six shots at the vehicle, but the resident wasn’t hurt,” sheriff’s Capt. Chris Lyons said.

Brown and detectives determined the two men had made off with a Sony Playstation, five Playstation games, four wristwatches, and a book of Brown’s checks.

A few weeks later, on Aug. 2, detective Mike Helton was able to locate the Playstation and games at a pawn shop, and discovered that Shadow Barnett had pawned them there. The property was recovered for the owner.

As the investigation progressed, detectives found that Victor Davis matched the description of Barnett’s partner from the burglary.

“We identified Barnett first, but determined that they did this (the burglary) together,” Lyons said.

On Oct. 10, detectives located Davis in Fort Oglethorpe and arrested him on the four outstanding warrants. In the vehicle he and his girlfriend were traveling in, detectives found a large butcher knife under the passenger seat, as well as a stolen 9mm pistol.

It’s unclear right now if gun found in Davis’ possession was the same one fired during the burglary attempt.

“We have the gun at the crime lab and are waiting on the results,” Lyons said.

After Davis was in custody, detectives learned that Barnett had been arrested in Hamilton County, Tenn. He was later extradited to Catoosa County on the burglary charges on Oct. 28.

Lyons says authorities in Georgia and Tennessee determined that both men have ties to area gangs.

“Both men are validated gang members out of Chattanooga,” Lyons said. “They do have Georgia connections, so we had a situation where two violent gang members from Chattanooga were down here committing crimes. Outcomes like this are one of the good things about our agency being part of the U.S. Marshall’s Task Force. One of the benefits we’ve found in being part of this task force is being able to go into Tennessee and go after our violent criminals.”