AWOL soldier accused of 3 residential burglaries

By Jeremy Pawloski | The Olympian • Published April 19, 2008

A Fort Lewis soldier who went AWOL after returning from a 15-month combat deployment in Iraq was in jail Friday after his arrest on suspicion of three residential burglaries on Boulevard Loop Southeast.

Brandon Tyler Schein, 22, has been suffering from post- traumatic stress disorder since returning from Iraq, a platoon sergeant said. Schein was arrested Thursday afternoon after sheriff's deputies received reports of three residential burglaries in the area — including two in which the suspect came face to face with the women who lived at the homes.

It took three Thurston County sheriff's deputies to subdue and apprehend Schein, who had a loaded revolver in his waistband and had disarmed a deputy's Taser during his arrest Thursday, according to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.

Thurston County Sheriff's Lt. Gordon Phillips said Schein was about to use the Taser on the deputy when a second deputy arrived, using a Taser to subdue Schein.

Schein's level of violence during the arrest was disturbing, Thurston County Chief Criminal Deputy James Chamberlain said. He punched and kicked at the deputies during the struggle, court papers state.

"He wouldn't stop fighting even when we had him in handcuffs," Chamberlain said.

A loaded .38-caliber revolver that Schein is suspected of having stolen from a residence during one of the burglaries fell out of his waistband during his struggle with deputies, but he did not wield it against them, Chamberlain said.

Schein was found to be in possession of methamphetamine after his arrest, and was treated for narcotics-related issues at a hospital after his arrest, a sheriff's lieutenant said Thursday.

Schein saw combat in Iraq and was awarded an Army Commendation Medal, an Army spokesperson said.

He had been absent without leave since March, 5. He returned from Iraq in September, according to court records.

According to Schein's pretrial services report, he attained the rank of specialist. Schein's platoon sergeant told pretrial services that Schein "has been a good soldier up until this time." Schein has no convictions.