Man arrested at LongHorn Steakhouse is connected to metro restaurant burglaries, police say

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A man arrested after a SWAT standoff at a Johns Creek LongHorn Steakhouse Friday morning is now suspected in a string of other restaurant robberies in the north metro Atlanta area.

Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach was live on Channel 2 Action News This Morning, when officers took the suspect into custody at the restaurant on Medlock Bridge Road after coaxing him off of the restaurant’s roof.

Hours after the arrest, Sandy Springs police said the suspect, 28-year-old Jah’msid Nieem Ci’heed Johnson, from Conyers, will be charged with committing five restaurant burglaries in Sandy Springs this past weekend.

Channel 2′s Mike Petchenik first reported on a serial restaurant burglary suspect on Thursday, just hours before the SWAT standoff unfolded.

Johns Creek police said they responded to an alarm call and found Johnson inside the restaurant.

“The individual was using power tools inside,” Sgt. Tyler Seymour said. “We believe obviously to try to access some type of safe.”

Petchenik talked to the co-owner of a Sandy Springs barbecue restaurant, who said police told him Johnson is likely responsible for breaking into his store and others last weekend.

Sandy Springs police said the man seen on surveillance video at the barbecue restaurant also broke in to two nearby restaurants the same morning.

Cox Media Group