The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man from Lawrenceville in connection with the gunpoint robbery of a north Forsyth McDonalds that took place early Saturday morning. 

Kaleem Ariff Tariq-Madyun, 35, was arrested at his home in Gwinnett County on Saturday night after a joint effort by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Gwinnett County Police Department conducted a search warrant, according to a post made to Facebook by Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman. 

“Detectives with the FCSO Major Crimes Unit, acting on keen observations by patrol deputies were able to develop a potential lead in the robbery. Working non-stop late into the evening, detectives identified a suspect and located him in Lawrenceville,” the post stated 

According to sheriff’s office reports, at about 5 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 a black male suspect armed with a handgun entered the restaurant off Keith Bridge Road, demanded money and ordered the store employees into a cooler room before fleeing the scene.

Freeman’s post stated that the employees fled out the back of the restaurant and flagged down off-duty deputies at a nearby Waffle House.

A Waffle House employee reported to FCN that within minutes of being alerted, sheriff’s office deputies had surrounded the McDonalds. 

“I am extremely proud of the incredible teamwork of our North Precinct Patrol Deputies and Detectives in quickly taking this dangerous suspect off the streets,” Freeman said in his post.  “Career criminals need to take notice that Forsyth is not open for their kind of business. Violent crimes are rare in Forsyth and we will work tirelessly to keep it that way.”

Tariq-Madyun has been charged with eight felonies including one charge of robbery and seven counts of aggravated assault with a gun. 

He is being held in the Forsyth County Jail under no bond. 

This story will be updated.