Soldier AWOL Since 2003 Surrenders to Ga. Police After Standoff

SAVANNAH, Ga. – An Army soldier listed as AWOL since 2003 surrendered to Savannah police after a 2 1/2-hour standoff at his mother's home.

Officers with a SWAT team surrounded the home Wednesday after David Bostick, 28, barricaded himself inside after police spotted him. A friend, using a police bullhorn, talked him into surrendering.

"He basically told him that his mom was out there crying, said he loved him and told him that he should come on out," said Sgt. Mike Wilson, a Savannah police spokesman.

Lt. Col. Randy Martin, a Fort Stewart spokesman, said military records show Bostick has twice gone AWOL for long periods since he joined the Army in 1999. He was listed as AWOL from July 13, 2000, until Oct. 2, 2003, when he reported back to Fort Stewart, Martin said. He began his second AWOL stint the next day.

Wilson said officers called in a SWAT team as a precaution in case Bostick had a gun or a hostage. In the end they learned he had neither.

Bostick was placed in custody of military police at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah. Martin said a military investigation would determine what charges he would face.