UPDATE: The school staff member who was arrested has been identified as Ryan Andrew Brungardt, a social studies teacher at Lakewood Middle School. He was booked into the Saline County Jail at 4:57 pm on requested charges including: Aggravated arson; No substantial risk to bodily harm, Aggravated robbery, Battery on LEO; Physical contact with county or city officer on duty, Interfere w/ LEO; Conceal/destroy felony evidence.
This story will be updated as more information is released.
ORIGINAL: Today, January 29, 2024, Detectives from the Newton Police Department, assisted by detectives and officers from the Salina Police Department, made contact with an employee of USD 305, at Lakewood Middle School. This was in regards to a criminal investigation that Newton Police Department was conducting.
During this contact, the employee was placed under arrest and later transported to the Salina Police Department. The name of the party, and potential charges, will be announced at a later period.
The Salina Police Department believes there is no active threat to any students or faculty at USD 305.
If you have any additional information relative to this case please call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an on—line tip at: https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, or Officer Kochanowski, case 2023-36761.