Around the Region: Family of Eight Escapes Fire and Police Seek Robbery Suspect

– Duluth Patch

A family of eight escaped from a late-night fire Saturday at their home in the 3700 block of Brock Road in Duluth.

The fire was reported about 10:45 p.m. It took several hours to put out the fire, said Lt. Eric Eberly of Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services (GCFES).

A tenant family of two adults and six children made it out of the home safely prior to GCFES arrival. According to Eberly, everyone was in bed for the night at the time of the fire. One of the younger children went to get a drink of water and noticed the fire in the carport and utility room area, then alerted the parents.

There were no injuries. Fire investigators are attempting to determine the cause.

– Cumming Patch

is asking for the public’s help to catch a man who is suspected of robbing a woman at gunpoint in South Forsyth County on Wednesday, Oct. 26, shortly after 2 p.m.

According to Lt. Col. Gene Moss of the Enforcement Bureau, a 40-year-old woman had just dropped her child off at located at 7545 Industrial Court off Highway 9 in South Forsyth County, when a man approached her armed with a handgun.

The woman told deputies that he pointed the gun at her waist and ordered her to give him her purse. When she told him she did not have a purse with her he demanded her wedding rings, which she gave to him. The man fled on foot towards Highway 9 and McFarland Road.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 770-781-2200 during regular business hours or by calling 770-781-3087 after hours.