Erskine Oglesby placed on leave following arrest

Charged Tuesday with taking items from store without paying

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A Chattanooga official and former council member has been placed on leave following an arrest.

Erskine Oglesby was arrested on Tuesday on charges of taking items from a store without paying.

The city put him on leave from his job as Deputy Administrator of Community Development.

In a statement, city officials say there is no evidence that any city funds were involved.

But Chief of Staff Joda Thongnopnua has asked the city auditor to conduct an internal investigation “out of an abundance of caution.”

Oglesby is a former city council member who ran for mayor and lost.

He was then appointed by new Mayor Tim Kelly last year.