Salina police identify Lakewood Middle School teacher arrested at school Monday

Police identified a teacher as the staff member arrested Monday at Lakewood Middle School.

The Salina Police Department said Ryan Brungardt, who is listed as a social studies teacher on the school's online staff directory, was arrested in connection to a criminal investigation in Newton.

Salina police said detectives from Newton Police Department, as well as SPD detectives and officers, made contact with Brungardt on Monday to seize his cellphone, pursuant to a search warrant issued in Harvey County.

Police said after the phone was taken, Newton detectives were speaking with Brungardt when he forcibly grabbed the phone from the detectives and began breaking it.

A struggle ensued as Brungardt resisted officers at which time the lithium battery from the phone ruptured, causing smoke and a small fire at the school, activating the fire alarm, causing the evacuation of the building. According to police there was damage to flooring in the school.

Police said the Newton detectives deployed a Taser on the subject as he continued to resist officers after which law enforcement was able to control him and bring him into custody.

According to police, during the struggle two Newton detectives and one SPD detective received minor injuries.

Brungardt is currently being held in the Saline County Jail with the following charges referred to the Saline County Attorney: One count of aggravated arson, one count of aggravated robbery, one count felony interference with law enforcement and three counts of battery of a law enforcement officer.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Police name Salina teacher arrested in connection with investigation