Suspect Arrested in Calhoun Residential Fire Investigation

ATLANTA – Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that Jorge Matilde Gonzalez, 35, of Cartersville, Georgia, has been arrested in connection with a residential fire in Calhoun, Georgia.

On December 9, 2025, investigators from the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner assisted with a fire investigation at 704 Greenbriar Circle, Calhoun, Gordon County. The blaze occurred in an occupied multifamily apartment building.

The fire caused moderate damage to a second-floor bedroom, originating inside a closet and spreading throughout the room. After a detailed fire scene examination, the incident was ruled incendiary. The victim also reported a large sum of cash missing from a safe located in the closet. Mr. Gonzalez was identified as a suspect early in the investigation, and a search warrant for cell phone records, combined with other evidence, proved his presence at the scene of the crime. 

On February 5, 2026, investigators from the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, working alongside the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office CID and SWAT, executed a search warrant at Gonzalez’s residence without incident. Gonzalez was arrested and transported to the Bartow County Jail. The suspect faces multiple charges, including but not limited to, Arson, Criminal Damage to Property, and Burglary, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. 

This investigation is ongoing and is being conducted in partnership with the Calhoun Fire Department and the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office.

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The mission of the Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is to protect Georgia families by providing access to vital insurance products and safe buildings through fair regulation that creates economic opportunities for all Georgians.