Crime & Safety

Suspected Burglar Flees, Leaves Behind Baby

Police believe the suspect committed burglary while driving his girlfriend's car with her three-month-old baby inside.

On Sept. 27, about 10:30 a.m., Lilburn Police Department responded to a call about a suspicious person, but when they caught the man, everyone was susprised at what was inside.

Officers were initially dispatched to the 700 block of Springwood Drive, where a caller said he noticed a man leaving his neighbor's house with a black rifle case.

According to a police report, the man walked down the neighbor's driveway, got into a red SUV and left. Besides the rifle case and the rifle inside, other items stolen included a computer monitor, a Sony receiver, jewelry, a weed cutter, and a CD player, according to a police report.

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While en route to the location, an investigator ended up behind the vehicle in question while traveling down Burns Road. The police lights went on, and the man in the red SUV decided he wasn't stopping.

There was a short pursuit of the man, who jumped out of his vehicle at the 800 block of Indian Trail Road and bolted for nearby woods. K-9 units joined to assist other officers in the search.

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When police searched the abandoned vehicle, not only did they find the rifle case, but also they discovered a three-month-old baby unsecured in her car seat. The baby was not harmed, and was taken to the Lilburn Police Department.

Later, a police reports indicates that the baby belonged to the suspect's girlfriend, who lived in the Westbury Springs apartments in the 4800 block of Burns Road.

By 12:30 p.m., police were at that apartment complex looking for the suspect. The suspect, who was identified as 34-year-old Lamont Cummings by his girlfriend, was seen walking into one of the apartments.

At first no one wanted to answer the apartment door. A police report indicates that the occupants heard police knocking, but that they were instructed not to open the door and that the suspect would turn himself in later.

Police continued to monitor the apartment, and after a while, someone walked outside of the apartment. Officers learned that man was the lease holder, and police said he gave consent to enter the apartment unit.

Inside, officers drew their weapons. "Come out. We know you're back there," one officer said as they made their way to the back of the apartment unit.

Police then located Cummings, who was on his knees with his hands over his head. He was then taken into custody. According to police, Cummings admitted to burglary at the Springwood Drive location, and to pawning some of the items.

Eventually, the vehicle used in the alleged crimes and the baby were returned to the suspect's girlfriend.

And, Cummings, well he went to jail. He was identified in jail records as Lamont Andre Cummings, of Duluth.

He is charged with nine total counts: felony burglary, two counts of obstruction of officers, cruelty to children in the third degree, one count of possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime, one count of a firearm possession by a convicted felon, one count of fleeing/attempting to elude a police officer, one count of driving while license is suspended or revoked and one count of reckless driving.

Cummings is currently in the Gwinnett County Detention Center.


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