AWOL Navy officer caught by Washington Twp. police

Washington Township police officers helped track down a Navy officer who went “AWOL” and made threats on social media, police said.

The Washington Township Police Department received a request from the Naval Criminal Investigation Services for help locating Christian Bergstrom, 24, of Norfolk, Va., who was absent without leave, Lt. Douglas Compton said.

NCIS had an active warrant for the arrest of Bergstrom and told Washington Township Police that Bergstrom was currently believed to be at a private residence in the borough of Califon, which is patrolled by Washington Township police, Compton said.

NCIS said Bergstrom should be considered armed and dangerous, and the arrest warrant was a result of threats he posted on social media, Compton said.

Details of those threats were not disclosed.

Police arrived at the private residence and took Bergstrom into custody without incident, Compton said.

Further investigation revealed a loaded handgun in Bergstrom’s vehicle several feet away from where he was arrested, Compton said.

Bergstrom was later turned over to NCIS agents who then transported him to a Navy Absentee Collection Center.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com