Salina Man Arrested After Allegedly Pointing Rifle at Motel Maintenance Worker

A Salina man was arrested after allegedly pointing a rifle at a motel maintenance worker who was investigating a plumbing issue.

According to the Salina Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:15 p.m. on June 29, 2026, to the Budget Host Motel, 222 E. Diamond Drive, following a report that a subject had pointed a firearm at an employee.

Investigators determined that two motel maintenance workers were attempting to locate the source of a plumbing problem when they observed water flowing from underneath the door of an occupied room. The workers knocked on the door and advised the occupant that they needed to enter the room to check the issue.

Police said the occupant, identified as 70-year-old James Lee Smart of Salina, did not immediately answer the door. After approximately 20 minutes, Smart opened the door and allegedly placed the barrel of a rifle directly in the face of one of the maintenance workers, a 64-year-old Salina man.

According to the report, the worker grabbed the barrel of the rifle and pushed it back toward Smart, causing him to fall to the ground. The worker then secured the firearm and contacted law enforcement.

Officers arrived and took Smart into custody without further incident.

Smart was transported to the Saline County Jail and booked on requested charges of:

•Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon

•Aggravated battery

Authorities also discovered Smart had two outstanding Salina Municipal Court warrants for failure to appear.

No injuries were reported during the incident.