Suspect in mall riot sought

The suspect in the February aggravated mall riot allegedly cut off his GPS monitor and fled from police on April 25, according to Chattanooga police.

David Ballard, 18, faces multiple charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with intent to go armed, evading arrest, criminal trespassing and resisting arrest, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page.

Ballard, a known gang member, fled on foot after a police officer saw him sitting in a vehicle on property belonging to the Chattanooga Housing Authority.

The officer identified Ballard by his probation ID card and determined he was on the housing authority’s no trespass list. That is when Ballard fled.

The officer remained at the scene with the driver and searched the vehicle, locating a fully loaded Springfield 9 mm and ammunition under the passenger seat.

Soon after, Ballard took to Facebook to post that the gun belonged to him and he had cut off his GPS monitor and run from police.

In late February, several reports of shots being fired and a gun found in the parking lot of Sears sparked panic and an evacuation of the mall. However, investigators ultimately found no physical evidence that shots had been fired, a police spokesman said.