Crime & Safety

Police Searching for Suspect Last Seen in Forsyth, Wanted in Gwinnett

A 45-year-old man, who was last seen in a south Forsyth subdivision, is wanted by at least three counties on various charges and may be armed.

Authorities are looking for a suspect, who may be armed, and who was last seen in a south Forsyth neighborhood Tuesday night.

Kennie Askew, 45, of Lithonia, is wanted by at least three counties, Forsyth, Cobb and Gwinnett, on various charges.

Capt. Tim House of the told Patch that a city of Milton police officer was in the Bridle Ridge Subdivision, located off Highway 141 in south Forsyth, at approximately 7:20 p.m. noticed a car that "looked suspicious and acting suspicious" and initiated a traffic stop.

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House said Askew pulled his car in the driveway of a house, got out, and went to the front door of the residence. A woman who was a passenger in the car got into the driver's seat.

"So when the city of Milton officer approached the male, he realized that the people of the house didn't know him [Askew] and the male didn't know them," House said.

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The officer then asked for the suspect's driver's license and did a background check on him. While this was going on, House said the suspect returned to his car and "reached in and grabbed something that looked like it could have been a weapon and took off running."

When sheriff's deputies arrived at the subdivision a manhunt began for the suspect.

House said in addition to their K9's, Gwinnett County assisted in the search with a helicopter and the Georgia State Patrol was on standby.

"We tracked and tracked and tracked, but he had a considerable lead on us as far as time," said House. "The theory is he could have used a cell phone or something and called another accomplice to come extricate him from the area."

House made it clear that the FCSO has a heavy police presence in the neighborhood as the manhunt continues.

"We believe that he may have a weapon based on what the city of Milton police officer told us," House said.

House said Askew is wanted by Gwinnett County for probation violation and also has active warrants against him in Cobb County for traffic violations. Askew is facing traffic offenses and obstruction charges in Forsyth County.

He is described as black, 6 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing approximately 235 pounds, and was last wearing a light blue tank top, blue jeans and "probably barefooted," police said.

The FCSO Crime Stoppers Tip Line is 770-888-7308. In Gwinnett County, residents may contact the department at the tip line number: 770.513.5390.

(Editor's Note: This article first appeated in .)


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