Arson: Investigators Believe the Same Man Set 2 Fires at Gwinnett Apartments

Investigators say two intentionally set fires and burglaries at a Gwinnett County apartment complex may have been carried out by the same suspect.

The incidents occurred nearly two months apart at the Century Sugarloaf Apartments on Old Norcross Road near Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said in a press release. Fire investigators believe they are connected.

The first fire occurred on the morning of June 19, when firefighters responded to a fire alarm in Building #11. Crews found smoke coming from a ground-level storage unit and quickly put out the fire, which had been subdued by the sprinkler system.

“Management at the complex also alerted investigators to an apparent break-in at a maintenance building on the property while they were at the fire scene,” Rutledge said.

The second fire occurred after midnight on Aug. 8 in a vacant apartment used as a decorated model. Rutledge said mattresses placed in the kitchen by maintenance workers were set ablaze, but again, the sprinkler system knocked down the flames and kept the fire from spreading.

Rutledge said the most recent burglary was reported on Aug. 6. Surveillance camera footage showed a man who forced his way into the laundry room. Authorities believe he was trying to get into the leasing office through the laundry room. No fire was set during the burglary, but fire investigators believe he is the one responsible for setting the fires.

Anyone with information about the fires or burglaries is asked to please contact the Gwinnett Fire Investigations Section at 678-518-4890 or the Georgia Arson Control Hotline. Georgia Arson Control, Inc. offers a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for arson.

(Photos: This man is suspected in burglaries and fires at Gwinnett apartment complex. Credit: Gwinnett Fire PIO)