Man allegedly sets fire to Bellingham apartment building, then sits to watch it burn
A man who wanted to get into a Barkley neighborhood apartment where he once lived reportedly set part of the 12-unit building on fire, then sat in a chair in the parking lot to watch it burn Sunday evening.
Bellingham Police booked Christopher Patrick Noonan, 50, into Whatcom County Jail April 12 on suspicion of first-degree arson, first-degree burglary and third-degree malicious mischief, and jail records show he’s being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Officers were called to the 3100 block of Racine Street at 8:19 p.m. Sunday for a report that Noonan was waiting outside, according to Whatcom County Superior Court documents. The previous day, officers had escorted him off the property when Noonan attempted to knock down the door to an apartment he used to live in.
When officers arrived Sunday, they noticed a wooden post supporting a second-floor walkway was on fire, according to documents. The fire was lit about halfway up and six feet beneath the second floor and flames were going under the walkway, which also was made of wood.
None of the residents had noticed the fire, documents state, but officers were able to use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
Officers found Noonan sitting in a chair in the parking lot watching the fire, holding a BIC lighter in his right hand, according to documents. Noonan reportedly told officers he wanted in the apartment and needed a light, so he lit a poster attached to the post on fire, and it spread to the post.
Officers asked Noonan if he was concerned about the safety of the building’s residents and if he intended to call 911, documents state, and he replied no.
The Bellingham Fire Department responded to check the building.
Court records show Noonan has previous convictions for burglary, theft, forgery, possession of stolen property and eluding police from 2002 in Snohomish County.
