QUANTICO, Va. -- An Airman wanted for desertion was taken into custody this week following a coordinated effort by federal and local law enforcement.
Airman 1st Class Branden Cecil Standifer arrived at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, April 19. He was officially declared a military deserter on April 21, two days after arriving in Bozeman.
“This case shows what’s possible when federal and local agencies move quickly and work in sync,” said Special Agent Andrew Franz, AFOSI Det. 121 commander. “The safe apprehension of this individual was the result of that unified approach.”
That cooperation led to Standifer’s arrest, April 29, by an undercover Bozeman Police detective. He was taken into custody without incident.
“This case is a great example of the kind of work our team trains for every day,” said Bozeman Police Chief Jim Veltkamp, in a statement. “From start to finish, it was a coordinated effort, and I want to thank our Detectives for their swift response. Keeping our community safe often means working behind the scenes and in collaboration with our federal partners.
“While much of this work happens quietly, the successful outcome speaks to the strength of these partnerships and our commitment to protecting Bozeman,” he added.
The joint effort was supported by the U.S. Marshals Service, the National Park Service – Investigative Services Branch, the Montana Department of Justice’s Montana Analysis and Technical Information Center, the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport Authority and additional partner agencies.
“Our focus is always on the facts,” Franz said. “We’re grateful to our law enforcement counterparts for helping ensure this investigation proceeded safely and professionally.”
As a reminder, all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.