Car Break-In Suspect Drives To Courthouse, Gets Arrested

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A 30-year-old Trafford man has been arrested and charged with three car break-ins that occurred over the weekend. He was caught by Sheriff's deputies when he dropped his girlfriend off at the courthouse and was identified by law enforcement.

Just after 4:30 a.m. Sunday, May 20, deputies were called to a home in the 3200 block of Berrywood Road to investigate a report of a car break-in. It was reported that the victim had been awakened by her dog barking. She looked outside to see an unknown male inside one of her vehicles. She reported that she yelled at the man and he ran to a green Chevrolet Z-71 pickup and fled. She got in her car and followed the truck into Pinson. She also reported that, as she was following him, the suspect fired shots from a handgun. She quit following him when he turned down a dead end street.

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The victim returned home where she discovered that three cars had been burglarized, and a handgun, cash and a baby stroller had been stolen.

Deputies were provided with images from surveillance cameras that showed the man breaking in to the cars.
The case was assigned to the Sheriff’s Burglary Detail, a special detail created by Sheriff Mike Hale to specifically combat burglaries and car break-ins. Deputies learned that a truck matching the description of the suspect vehicle had been reported stolen later that same morning. It was reported stolen by the daughter of the owner who later called back to say the truck had been located and recovered by her father. Investigators contacted the owner of the truck who told them that he was unaware that the truck had been reported stolen and that he had not recovered it. They learned that the truck was usually driven by his daughter and her boyfriend.

The boyfriend, 30-year-old Caleb Gossett, was identified as the man who appeared on the surveillance images from the car break-ins. Deputies attempted to locate Gossett, but were initially unsuccessful.

Late Wednesday afternoon deputies obtained arrest warrants charging Gossett with three counts of Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle, and one count each of Theft of Property 2nd Degree, Theft of Property 3rd Degree, and Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

As deputies were leaving the courthouse from obtaining the warrants they observed Gossett pull up to the curb in the same green truck used during the break-ins. He had driven his girlfriend to the courthouse on an unrelated matter. Deputies arrested him and walked him in to the jail.

Gossett remains in the Jefferson County Jail with bonds totaling $300,000.

Photo from Jefferson County Jail

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