Leftover beer helps Bellingham police end series of crimes

BELLINGHAM — The remnants of a stolen 12-pack of Moosehead beer helped Bellingham police bring an end to a Meridian neighborhood crime spree early Thursday.

Alexander Noah Gott, 18, was booked into Whatcom County Jail on Thursday on suspicion of residential burglary, attempted residential burglary, second-degree theft and four counts of second-degree vehicle prowling. Jail records show he was released Thursday afternoon on his personal recognizance.

At approximately 2:47 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to a report of a residential burglary, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald.

The victim reported to police that while he was asleep on the couch, unknown people came into his home and stole personal property, including $200 cash, a cellphone and two 12-packs of beer, one of which was Moosehead, Murphy reported.

Approximately two hours later, police responded to the report of an interrupted vehicle prowl and attempted residential burglary approximately two blocks away.

The homeowner in the second incident reported that a man, later identified as Gott, opened the rear sliding door and ran after seeing the homeowner, Murphy wrote. The homeowner then reportedly found that all four cars in his driveway had been broken into.

A backpack was found outside the second home, Murphy reported, and six bottles of Moosehead beer were inside it, along with $154 cash.

A Bellingham police K-9 officer checked the area and found Gott hiding in the bushes across the street from the home in the second incident, according to Murphy, and the homeowner identified Gott as the man who had opened the sliding glass door.