SEATAC, Wash. — A man accused of a string of car thefts from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport parking structure has been taken into custody after evading arrest for months, authorities announced.
Branson Albert, 37, of Auburn, was apprehended last week by Port of Seattle Police. He now faces additional charges in connection with multiple auto thefts, identity-related crimes, and drug and weapon violations. He appeared in King County Superior Court on Wednesday and entered a plea of not guilty to the latest charges.
Investigators allege that Albert has been stealing vehicles from the Sea-Tac Airport garage since 2023. Despite having a record of missing court appearances, he had previously been granted release with little or no bail — a pattern that prosecutors say allowed him to continue committing crimes.
That changed this week when Judge David Keenan approved the prosecutor’s motion to impose bail exceeding $200,000.
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“When he’s not in custody, these offenses keep happening,” said Casey McNerthney of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. “It’s a huge frustration — not only for prosecutors, but also for travelers who return from a trip to find their vehicle broken into or missing.”
Albert now has eight felony cases pending in King County, involving numerous charges primarily linked to thefts and burglaries in the airport garage. The newest charges stem from several incidents between October and December 2023, involving the theft of a BMW, a Cadillac, and a Rivian SUV. A woman also reported her Infiniti SUV was broken into in December.
One of the victims was able to trace her stolen Cadillac to a gas station in Federal Way. When police arrived and tried to detain Albert, he fled on foot. During the pursuit, an officer discharged a firearm, but Albert was not struck.
Following that incident, he was booked into jail but later released on his own recognizance.
According to police, Albert was found in possession of an assortment of stolen items when apprehended. These included a death certificate, dozens of ID and bank cards, and 18 garage door openers.
Prosecutors highlighted Albert’s extensive criminal history, noting 33 warrants over the past decade. His past convictions span identity theft, vehicle theft, harassment, DUIs, assault, trespassing, and obstruction of law enforcement.
A hearing on all pending cases is scheduled for May.
