(Norcross, Ga., August 23, 2017) – Gwinnett County Fire Investigators are trying to identify  and apprehend a second individual in connection with a fire in a motel guest room at the Araamda Inn, located at 5985 Oakbrook Parkway, NW in (unincorporated) Norcross.  The incident occurred on July 7 of this year, and so far only one person has been arrested and charged with the crime.  According to Fire Investigators, a second person was in the room at the time and both left without bringing attention to the fire or notifying the fire department.   

So far, Fire Investigators have charged Jennifer Marie Johnson, age-49 of Lawrenceville with third-degree arson and possession of a drug-related object.  However, investigators say that Johnson was not alone in the room when the fire erupted.  Fire Investigators are trying to identify a male subject who was also in the room at the time.  The man pictured below has not been identified and is currently the focus of an ongoing investigation.  According to Fire Investigators, the two were actively engaged in the commission of a felony crime, smoking crack cocaine in the room, when smoking materials sparked a fire on the bed.  The fire was contained to the bedding material and part of the carpet in the room.  Johnson and the unidentified male knowingly left the room while the fire was underway and did nothing to alert motel staff or put the fire out.  “The senseless acts of these two individuals placed a number of people in extreme danger.  We are fortunate that the fire did not spread past the area of origin,” said Gwinnett Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge.  The below Vimeo video/photo link shows the man entering a local Walmart on the same night.  The man reportedly goes by “Bob” however, it is unknown whether that is his actual name.             

Anyone with information about the identity or whereabouts of the man pictured below is asked to contact the Gwinnett Fire Investigations Section at 678.518.4890 or Georgia Arson Control, Inc. at 1.800.282.5804.  Georgia Arson Control, Inc. offers a reward of UP TO $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for arson.   All tips may be made anonymously.