Suspected burglar flees police, leaves 5-month-old behind

LILBURN, Ga. — Police arrested a man they said left a 5-month-old baby in the car while he burglarized a house, stealing a gun.

Investigator told Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh an alert neighbor spotted the man carrying a gun case down his neighbor's driveway.

Police said he also stole a bunch of electronics, which he later pawned. They said he did it all with his girlfriend's 5-month-old daughter in the back seat.

"I knew that my neighbor didn't have somebody come pick his rifle up so I called 911," neighbor Bill Wannamaiger said.

Wannamaiger said it was broad daylight last Thursday morning when he saw a suspicious man carrying a gun case out of his neighbor's driveway on Springdale Drive in Lilburn.

"I walked down to the street, wrote his tag number down and called 911," Wannamaiger said.

At the time, Wannamaiger had no idea the man wasn't alone.

Police said Lamont Cummings, 34, was baby-sitting his girlfriend's 5-month-old daughter. She was in the back seat.

Lilburn police canvassed the area around Burns Road and quickly spotted Cumming's red Chrysler Pacifica.

Investigators said they tried to pull him over, but he spun behind a strip mall, got out and ran off.

"Not only did he flee on foot but that he left a 5-month-old infant behind in the car," Capt. Ben Haynes of the Lilburn Police Department said.

"I really couldn't believe that. That was over the top," Wannamaiger said.

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Police said they found the baby unharmed next to the case with the rifle. They also believe Cummings stole several electronics from the home and pawned them before police caught up with him.

Hours later, officers located Cummings at an apartment complex off Burns Road where he lives.

He faces several charges, including child cruelty and possession of a fire arm by a convicted felon.

Meanwhile, police said he may still be on the run if it weren't for the solid information they got from an alert neighbor.

"It's what any good neighbor should do," Wannamaiger said.

Police said Cummings admitted to his alleged crimes once back at the police station.

At last check, Cummings remains in the Gwinnett County Jail.

WSBTV