U.S. Army deserter arrested at Sarnia border

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U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

************************** Army deserter caught at Blue Water Bridge

PORT HURON, MI - (December 23) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the arrest of a United States citizen wanted by the U.S. Army for desertion.

On December 22, CBP officers encountered James Ashley, a 28-year-old United States citizen from Fort Riley, Kansas, as he applied for admission into the United States at the Blue Water Bridge border crossing in Port Huron, Michigan.

A primary name query revealed that Ashley was the subject of an active federal arrest warrant for deserting the United Sates Armed Forces.

Additional record checks performed by CBP officers during a secondary inspection confirmed that Ashley was in fact the subject of a nationwide warrant.

The warrant charges Ashley with military desertion.

Ashley had been detained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who returned him to the United States and into U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody.

CBP officers verified the validity of the warrant and confirmed extradition.

Ashley was then arrested and turned over to the custody of the Port Huron Police Department pending extradition.

“This apprehension resulted from our efforts to increase the number of name queries at land border crossings, while still efficiently processing legitimate trade and travelers,” said David Dusellier, port director for the Port Huron Port of Entry.

About U.S. Customs and Border Protections

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry.

CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws. **************************