Police stand on the front porch of this home on Bennett Road, Friday afternoon, where an elderly woman was the victim of a home invasion.

Police are looking for a suspect involved in a pair of home invasions, early Friday afternoon.

According to Hamilton County 911, East Ridge officers were dispatched to the 3700 block of Bennett Road at about 1:30 p.m. on a reported home invasion. An officer on the scene said that the suspect is a black male wearing a “hoodie” sweatshirt with the hood pulled up onto his head.

The officer said the suspect had taken off west and police officers were combing a wooded area near Fredrick Drive and Bennett Road at about 2:30.

Capt. Tim Mullinax said in a press release the suspect is described as a black male, 5-feet, 5 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds. When the man entered the woman’s residence, he threatened her before running away.

According to officials, as officers were responding to the Bennett Road address, another victim in the 1200 block of Laredo Drive called to report he had been assaulted by the same suspect.

Officials said that police set up a perimeter and began a ground search. The suspect has not been located. 

Officials said that both victims were taken to hospitals with minor injuries. East Ridge High School and Middle School were briefly locked down due to proximity to the incidents.

One man who lives across the street from where the Bennett Road incident took place said that he was traveling east on Bennett toward his house when he saw police cruisers with their emergency lights activated.

“It’s kind of startling when you’re coming home and you see police officers scrambling around with automatic weapons,” said the man who only gave his name as Steve. “Especially when you’ve got a young child in the house. I’m glad I’m armed.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the East Ridge Confidential Tip Line at 423.867.0016.

East Ridge News Online will update this story when more information is available.