JC Post

JUNCTION CITY- Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating a case of child abuse and criminal threat after a Fort Riley soldier was arrested on Tuesday.

Police say Brian A. Mastin, 29, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of Child Abuse and Criminal Threat.

Police Chief Tim Brown said officers learned that Mastin was suicidal, armed with several weapons, and were also advised that if police were sent to his home they would die.

Brown said the first police officers arrived on at the Mastin residence in the 1500 Block of West Ash about 1:20 p.m., set up a perimeter around the apartment building, and began evacuating residents from the area.

Police opened up a dialogue with Mastin by telephone. “And luckily at about 3:03 p.m. a police negotiator with the assistance of members of his military unit were able to convince him to come out and surrender, and he was taken into custody without any further incident,” said Brown.

There were no injuries.

Mastin is confined at the Geary County Jail without bond pending his first appearance in Geary County District Court on Wednesday.

The Junction City / Geary County SWAT Team along with members of the Junction City Drug Operations Group, Geary County Emergency Management, and Deputies from the Geary County Sheriff’s office assisted the Junction City police in the operation.