John Edward Maust, 34, faces charges of kidnapping and false imprisonment after pulling a knife on three of his students and ordering them to drive him to Jack in the Box.
The 17-year old students were driving around Altadena, Ca., on Saturday night when they spotted Maust, 34, one of their teachers from the Arroyo Pacific Academy. They pulled over to say hello and the teacher, who appeared intoxicated according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, asked for a ride. The students agreed and Maust got in the vehicle.
While specifics have not been released, it appears that during the car ride, the conversation took an uncomfortable turn and the driver became worried. The teen pulled over and all three students exited the car. That’s when Maust ordered the students back in the car, because he wanted to go to Jack in the Box. Fearing for their well-being, the unnamed teens got back in the car and headed for the fast food restaurant.
That’s when the suspect pulled out a knife, the Sheriff’s Department said.
One of the students was able to call 911 and the police department mobilized. Soon, a police helicopter spotted the vehicle and ordered them to stop. Maust made the driver pull over and the teacher hopped out of the car and fled, according to authorities.
Maust surrendered himself to the Altadena Sheriff’s Department the following day. No word on whether he went to Jack in the Box first. He was arrested for kidnapping, false imprisonment and criminal threats, officials said. He is being held on $100,000 bail.
[Via KTLA]
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