A four-year employee at an Alaska airport allegedly placed GPS trackers in his coworkers’ personal vehicles so he could track them outside of work in a chilling surveillance scheme dating back to 2020, officials announced Thursday.
Dustin Madden, a 40-year-old Airport Operations Specialist at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, was caught by airport police and arrested after multiple coworkers reported finding the trackers in their vehicles parked at work.
Madden was swiftly placed on administrative leave and arraigned on four misdemeanor counts of stalking and one felony count of tampering with evidence, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
The alleged creeper was first hired at the airport on Sept. 30, 2020, according to the DOT. He started up the apparent stalking soon after, with at least one incident occurring in 2022, a second in 2024, and two in July of this year, according to court records.
Authorities suspect that there are likely more victims who haven’t come forward.
If someone does find a suspicious device in their vehicle, they should avoid touching it and contact law enforcement immediately, officials advised, so that they can “respond, coordinate appropriate next steps and work to preserve the device as potential evidence.”
“The Anchorage International Airport is committed to ensuring a safe, respectful and secure workplace, and acts of surveillance, intimidation or harassment will not be tolerated. Security and privacy protocols are under review to ensure strong protection of staff and visitors, and Anchorage Police and Fire are increasing patrol of parking areas,” the DOT said.
Madden also works a side gig at his alma mater, the University of Alaska Anchorage, as a game day promoter, according to his LinkedIn.
He attended the university from 2003 to 2013 and obtained a bachelor’s degree in aviation and airway management and operations while also working at Northern Air Cargo, according to his profile on the networking site.
Madden is being held at the Anchorage Correctional Complex. He is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 26.
The Alaska airport isn’t the only one to employ bad apples in air travel.
A Spirit Airlines gate agent went ballistic and screamed at passengers waiting to board a flight that had been delayed for hours.
“All right! So, everyone’s gonna shut up, and we’re gonna say this once, and we’re only gonna say it again because we’re frustrated as hell,” the agent shouted at the swarm of travelers.
Even across the globe in Australia, a pair of guffawing baggage attendants captured themselves on video carelessly chucking luggage onto the conveyor belt at the end of a turbulent day.
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