Teacher arrested on kidnapping charges

Altadena Sheriff Station detectives arrested a high school teacher on kidnapping charges following an incident with three of his students in Altadena Saturday night.

According to a press release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, John Edward Maust, 34, turned himself in at the Altadena Sheriff Station on Sunday, June 8, at about 1:30 PM.  Maust is on the faculty website at the Arroyo Pacific Academy in Arcadia.

According to the release, three 17-year-olds recognized their teacher, Maust, while they were driving in the area of Ganesha Avenue and East Mariposa Street on Saturday, June 7, 2014, at about 9:35 PM.  Maust was standing on the sidewalk and appeared to be intoxicated, the release said.

When the juveniles stopped their car to say hello, the teacher approached them and asked for a ride, according to the press release.  The release said:

During the ride, a conversation with the teacher caused the driver to become worried, and therefore pulled over. After the juveniles exited the car, the teacher said he wanted to go to “Jack in the Box,” and ordered the juveniles back into the car. Fearing for their well-being, the juveniles re-entered the car. It was at this time the teacher then pulled out a knife on them.

During the ordeal, one of the juveniles was able to call 911. Shortly after, the teacher saw the LASD helicopter overhead, and ordered the driver to stop the car. The teacher then got out of the car and fled the location.

Maust was arrested for kidnapping, false imprisonment, and criminal threats. He was booked at Crescenta Valley Station and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the LASD Altadena Station Detective Bureau, Detective Taylor at (626)798-1131. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.