News Details
UPDATE #1 - ARREST - Vehicle Stolen and Set on Fire
(Lawrenceville, Ga., May 26, 2017) – Gwinnett County Fire Investigators have made one arrest in connection with the below stolen vehicle and arson fire.
Ricardo Cole, age-20 of Lawrenceville, was taken into custody at his home by Fire Investigators on Thursday, May 25. Cole was booked at the Gwinnett County Detention Center and is charged with 1-count each of second-degree arson, theft by taking/motor vehicle, possession of tools for the commission of a crime and driving without a license. He is currently out on bond. Video surveillance from the Quik Trip shows Cole (white hoodie jacket) driving away in the stolen vehicle on April 6. He was identified based on subsequent information obtained by Fire Investigators and arrest warrants were taken. A booking photo of Cole may be obtained by contacting the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest of the second unidentified suspect involved is still pending and the case remains under active investigation. Further information about the crimes or what led to the initial arrest is not being released at this time.
The reward of UP TO $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case is still being offered by Georgia Arson Control, Inc. Please contact the Gwinnett County Fire Investigations Section at 678.518.4890 or the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1.800.282.5804.
Dropbox Video/Photo Link of the Theft and Suspects:
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VEHICLE STOLEN AND SET ON FIRE
Walnut Grove Way, NW in Suwanee – Photo/Video Link Included
(Suwanee, Ga., April 6, 2017) – Gwinnett County Fire Investigators are working to identify and apprehend two suspects responsible for stealing a vehicle from the parking lot of a Norcross Quik Trip and then setting it on fire on a residential street in (unincorporated) Suwanee. The incident occurred on Thursday, April 6, 2017.
Norcross Police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at the Quik Trip, located at 2185 Beaver Ruin Road at 6:42 a.m. The owner left the vehicle, a gold 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee, running in a parking space and went inside the store. When he returned a few minutes later the vehicle was gone. Video surveillance obtained by Gwinnett Fire Investigators and Norcross Police Detectives, shows the two suspects loitering outside the store, then driving off in the stolen vehicle.
At 8:43 a.m., Gwinnett County Police were dispatched to Walnut Grove Way and Taylor Road on a suspicious persons call. A witness reported seeing two black males wearing hoodies standing next to a vehicle with a flaming rag stuck in the gas tank. The witness described one male as wearing a camouflage hoodie and sweat pants; and the other as wearing a blue and white hoodie and gold chain. Officers found the vehicle on fire in the roadway and requested a fire truck to respond. The officers quickly doused the flames with a portable fire extinguisher from the patrol car and checked to see if anyone was inside the vehicle. The fire was already out when firefighters arrived. Fire Investigators were requested due to the suspicious circumstances.
While at the fire scene, police ran the tag through the state and national crime information database. The vehicle came back stolen and was impounded and processed by crime scene technicians with the Norcross Police Department. Gwinnett Fire Investigators and Norcross Police Detectives are working together to solve the case. The pair will likely face felony Auto Theft and Second-Degree Arson charges.
Anyone with information about the two suspects or about the crimes, are asked to contact the Norcross Police Department at 770.448.2111 or the Gwinnett Fire Investigations Section at 678.518.4890. 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. The reward is being offered in this case. Contact the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1.800.282.5804. All tips may be made anonymously.
Dropbox Video Link Shows Vehicle Theft:
