Islander arrested in burglary spree

Published 1:00 pm Sunday, October 22, 2006

A 23-year-old Bainbridge man faces charges in a burglary spree of nearly two-dozen thefts in west Bainbridge neighborhoods, police say.

Michael Z. Casterline, 23, of Olympic Terrace Avenue is being held in the Kitsap County Jail on $75,000 bail, Bainbridge Police Detective Scott Anderson said. Casterline was arrested early Sunday morning.

On Friday, two west Bainbridge families reported that their homes had been entered and prescription medications and personal electronic items stolen. Casterline, said by police to be a neighbor of the victims, was identified as a suspect. He denied involvement but agreed to undergo further questioning and a truth verification test.

On Saturday, Casterline was confronted with additional evidence collected during the investigation, and admitted to 22 residential burglaries around Olympic Terrace and outlying neighborhoods, police said. The suspect said he typically entered homes through unlocked doors and windows to steal prescription drugs and alcohol for his own use. Also stolen were laptop computers, iPod music players, cameras, cash and jewelry.

It was unclear from police reports how long the burglary spree had been going on.