BY NATE KING
Salina Post
A Salina Public Schools employee was arrested earlier this week after Newton Police detectives executed a search warrant for the employee's cellphone.
At approximately 11:45 a.m. on Monday, detectives from the Newton Police Department were assisted by detectives and officers from the Salina Police Department, at Lakewood Middle School, 1135 Lakewood Circle in Salina, regarding a search warrant for the cell phone belonging to a 35-year-old USD 305 employee, identified as Ryan Brungardt.
Brungardt is a social studies teacher at Lakewood, according to the school website. Newton Police detectives were following up on a crime that was allegedly committed in Newton by Brungardt, according to Newton Police Deputy Chief Scott Powell.
"Upon arrival at the school, contact was made with the employee, and his phone was seized," said Salina Police Captain James Feldman. "As the Newton Police Department detectives began talking with him, Brun forcefully grabbed the phone from Newton detectives and went to break his phone."
According to a release from SPD, when Brungardt broke his phone in half, the lithium-ion battery was ignited and started a small flame and smoke, triggering the fire alarms to go off.
Feldman said Brungardt's forceable retrieval of his phone led to a wrestling match with three other officers.
"The struggle continued and Newton detectives were forced to tase him [Brungardt] during the incident as he continued to resist," Feldman said.
The struggle occurred in the office of the school's resource officer and resulted in minor injuries to officers and minor damage to the linoleum flooring.
Feldman told Salina Post Newton Police Department detectives are still reviewing the phone to determine its viability.
According to the Saline County booking report Brungardt is being held on requested charges of aggravated arson; No substantial risk to bodily harm, aggravated robbery, Battery on Law enforcement officer; physical contact with county or city officer on duty and Interfere with a law enforcement officer; conceal/destroy felony evidence
The Salina Police Department believes there is no active threat to any students or facility of USD 305.
Check the Post for additional details as they become available.
Last Updated 1/30/2024 10:30 a.m.
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Original reporting from Monday, Jan. 29
On Monday, Jan. 29, detectives from the Newton Police Department were assisted by detectives and officers from the Salina Police Department, in the arrest of an employee at Lakewood Middle School in Salina.
According to Newton Police Deputy Chief Scott Powell, Newton Police detectives were following up on a crime that was allegedly committed in Newton by an unamed USD 305 employee.
Powell tells Salina Post Newton Police officers had a search warrant for the employee's phone, however, when officers attempted to execute the warrant, the suspect tried to destroy his phone.
"They tried to destroy the phone, which punctured the lithium battery, which apparently started a fire," Powell said.
During this contact, the employee was placed under arrest and later transported to the SPD.
When Salina Post spoke with Powell, NPD detectives were still in Salina.
According to a statement issued by SPD, potential charges will be announced at a later period.
The Salina Police Department believes there is no active threat to any students or facility of USD305.
Salina Post will update this story as more information becomes available.