Chief Mountain, Mont. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested an alleged deserter from the U.S. Army at the Chief Mountain port of entry on Wednesday, Aug. 11.
Eric Wagner, 28, of Lakewood, Colo. was taken into custody by CBP officers upon his entry into the U.S. after a check of his identification revealed that he was the subject of a National Crime Information Center warrant for military desertion. U.S. Army Deserter Information Point confirmed his status as a deserter; custody of Wagner was then turned over to Glacier County Sherriff's office for transport to the Glacier County jail in Cut Bank for extradition back to the custody of the U.S. Army.
"Our vigilance and diligence is resulting in the apprehension of more fugitives attempting entry into the United States," said Area Port Director Daniel Escobedo. "Desertion from the armed services is a very serious offense and I am very proud of the enforcement efforts of our officers."
The National Crime Information Center is a centralized automated data base designed to share information among law enforcement agencies including outstanding warrants for a wide range of offenses. These warrants are for a wide range of offenses and include money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual abuse of children, violation of protection orders, fraud, failure to appear, larceny and military desertion.