SALINA—A Salina man is in custody after an altercation with employees at a local motel.
Just after 2p.m. Monday, police responded to the Budget Host Motel, 222 E. Diamond Drive in Salina in reference to a subject who pointed a gun at a maintenance worker, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.
It was determined two maintenance workers of the motel were investigating a plumbing issue when they observed water running under the doorway of an occupied room.
The workers began knocking on the door advising the occupant they needed to enter the room to check on the issue. The occupant, identified as 70-year-old James Lee Smart of Salina, would not immediately open the door. After about 20 minutes, Smart opened the door and placed the barrel of a rifle in one of the worker’s face. The worker, identified as a 64-year-old Salina man, grabbed the barrel and shoved the rifle back at Smart causing Smart to fall to the ground.
The worker secured the gun, and law enforcement was contacted. Smart was taken into custody and booked into the Saline County Jail in reference Aggravated Assault with a Deadly weapon and Aggravated Battery. Smart also had two Salina Municipal Court warrants for failure to appear.