Army drops AWOL case against JBLM Ranger

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — The Army has dismissed a desertion case against a veteran Joint Base Lewis-McChord Army Ranger who spent more than a year in jail after military police illegally searched his Tacoma apartment.

The News Tribune reports an Army judge on Tuesday dismissed the six charges against Staff Sgt. Brian Schwisow based on delays that have kept him imprisoned for 16 months while awaiting trial.

Schwisow had been suspected of using drugs by leaders in his Special Operations unit. According to court testimony, Schwisow deserted a week after being ordered to take a drug test

The veteran of six combat deployments was arrested in June 2014 after military police officers entered Schwisow's apartment without a search warrant. The officers arrested him on suspicion of desertion and drug-related charges.