A California high school teacher believed to have been drunk was nevertheless arrested and charged with kidnapping after he allegedly pulled a knife on some of his students and demanded a ride to a local Jack in the Box fast-food restaurant, police said.
The students, all 17, said they were driving and noticed one of their teachers, John Edward Maust, 34, standing in the street and slowed to say hello, NBC Los Angeles reported. Mr. Maust reportedly asked for a ride and they agreed. But during the trip, the students reportedly became concerned about statements he made and stopped the car.
“After the juveniles existed the car, the teacher said he wanted to go to Jack in the Box and ordered the juveniles back into the car,” the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department said in a statement. The teacher then reportedly pulled a knife on the students, and they got back in the car.
One of the teens dialed 911 — and when Mr. Maust saw a helicopter from the sheriff’s department flying overhead, he exited the vehicle and took off on foot, police said.
He was arrested on kidnapping, false imprisonment and criminal threats and given a bond of $100,000, CBS Los Angeles reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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