Reservists lead police to arrest

  • Published
  • By 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  "I can't believe he walked right up to me," thought Tech. Sgt. Chad Ehrlich after an unkempt stranger approached him at Miami International Airport.

Sergeant Ehrlich and Master Sgt. Arthur Kuertz, 70th Aerial Port Squadron, were on a temporary duty assignment as official greeters to transport distinguished visitors to and from the airport to the Air Force Reserve Command Mission Support Group Conference at Homestead Air Reserve Base during the week of March 3-7.

They had seen this stranger's face minutes earlier on a trespass alert on an airport police bulletin warning that this individual with a long criminal history had been seen loitering on airport grounds. He had been arrested for trespassing before and was expected to return with no legitimate business at the airport. According to the airport police bulletin, this individual had a long criminal history that included sexual and aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, drug possession, forgery, extortion and trespassing.

Sergeant Kuertz was nearby meeting a conference guest, and Sergeant Ehrlich began thinking how he would handle the situation as the stranger began rambling with a rehearsed story in an attempt to solicit money. The bulletin said that he would panhandle by falsely claiming he was an Army veteran while wearing an old battle dress uniform, said Sergeant Ehrlich.

As he noticed two conference guests approaching him from the baggage claim, Sergeant Ehrlich turned his attention away from the stranger and toward the guests. The person then cursed under his breath and walked away, but Sergeant Ehrlich kept an eye on him.

Shortly after, Sergeant Kuertz walked up to the group, and Sergeant Ehrlich informed him of what happened. The reservists then double-checked police bulletin to verify that it was indeed the individual, and they promptly notified airport police of this individual's whereabouts. And within minutes, the man was taken into custody, and the transportation officials went back to their business of assisting conference guests.