An Oregon State Police (OSP) trooper’s traffic stop Friday afternoon on Interstate 5 south of Eugene led to the arrest of a man sought by the US Army as a deserter after he fled Missouri where he was facing a court martial trial related to child rape and child indecency charges. On May 9, 2014 at approximately 5:42 p.m., OSP Senior Trooper Cecil Ariet stopped a Ford Explorer displaying Colorado license plates southbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 181 for failure to display a front vehicle plate. The vehicle was driven by an adult male and had a female passenger who both said they didn’t have any identification. The driver verbally identified himself with a name and date of birth. The trooper requested driving status and wants checks that came back unable to locate any information for someone with that name. After the trooper took the driver into custody for failing to display an operator’s license, the man said he would admit to who he was if allowed to say goodbye to his girlfriend. The man then verbally identified himself as ELMER FREDERICK HOFFMAN III, age 46, and admitted he was a US Army deserter who was wanted. He also admitted to stealing the displayed Colorado license plates which was also confirmed. Identification was found inside the vehicle’s glove box. OSP Northern Command Center dispatch ran a warrant check and confirmed HOFFMAN was wanted as a Military Deserter after he fled in March 2014 during a court martial trial. During his absence, he was reportedly convicted on 2 counts of Child Rape and 2 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child. (Additional information related to that matter is available in this newspaper story:
http://www.myguidon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17005&Itemid=39) HOFFMAN was arrested by the trooper for Furnishing False Information to a Police Officer and Theft in the Third Degree. He was lodged at the Lane County Jail on the local charges and held for US Army authorities. The woman was positively identified and not arrested.
