Ohio man arrested for desertion

SANDPOINT — An Ohio man was arrested on desertion charges Friday morning after a routine traffic stop.

Christopher P. Sanders, 36, was turned over to the custody of the U.S. Army on Monday afternoon after spending the weekend in jail on a federal warrant for desertion from the U.S. Armed Services, according to officials at the Bonner County jail.

Sandpoint Police Chief Mark Lockwood said Sanders was pulled over at 7:27 a.m. Friday after he rolled through a stop sign at Fourth and Oak during a routine traffic patrol. When the officers ran his Ohio license and plate, they "came back a little hot," Lockwood said.

It is unknown how long Sanders had been in Sandpoint or whether he was living here or just passing through. Lockwood said that Sanders' license listed an Ohio address and that the man has a wife and family in Ohio.

"I have no idea why he was here," he added.

The federal warrant, which originated out of Ohio, ordered Sanders held without bond until he could be picked up by the military, regardless of where in the world he was found, Lockwood said. However, that is not uncommon in regards to a desertion order, he added.

"I don't know if he ever left the States," said Lockwood.

In his 28 years in law enforcement, Lockwood said he's only picked up a couple of soldiers on desertion warrants and did not know if it is becoming more prevalent because the military is more active or if it falls within the norm.

"It's only a small percentage of those serving," he added.