Man Fired, Arrested After Video Captures Him Allegedly Urinating Into City’s Drinking Water Supply

A file image of a glass of water being filled at a kitchen faucet. Cate Gillon/Getty Images

A worker for the Louisiana government who was captured on camera allegedly appearing to be urinating into the city’s drinking water supply was fired and arrested, according to reports.

Michael Mastin, 57, was fired and arrested by the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office on March 23.

The alleged incident was captured on camera a day prior at a water supply treatment plant in the city of Donaldsonville, where Mastin was employed. Donaldsonville is in Ascension Parish, which is 40 miles southeast of Baton Rouge.

The surveillance video showed him walking toward a large water pool and standing by facing it for over a minute before leaving. Just prior to that, Mastin repositioned the camera from the original position so that the pool was no longer visible.

Mastin was charged with two counts of contaminating water supplies and two counts of criminal damage to critical infrastructure.

Donovan Jackson, the sheriff’s spokesman, said that Mastin faces two counts for each of the charges because video surveillance showed he had relieved himself in the water pool on two separate occasions within the past 30 days, reported The Advocate.

Authorities don’t know whether Mastin has urinated into the water pool prior to that because the facility’s video archive only captures the past 30 days.

According to The Advocate, parish officials noted that Mastin was working on a floor of the facility that had a restroom. It is unclear why he didn’t use it. When sheriff’s investigators interrogated Mastin, he didn’t tell them a reason for his alleged actions.

Water Samples Taken

Clint Cointment, president of Ascension Parish, said the incident didn’t put the public in danger.

“At no time was the public in danger. All water samples taken to date are in good standing and meet all safe water drinking requirements,” he said in a news release, reported BRProud.

The plant serves Donaldsonville as well as some parts of Ascension Parish’s west bank.

“As Parish President, I am extremely disappointed, and I find this conduct disgusting and unacceptable,” Cointment added.

“This type of behavior will never be tolerated in parish government. Since the beginning of this administration, we have held our parish employees accountable and this is no exception. I demand accountability on behalf of the public.”

The parish reported the incident to the district attorney’s office, as well as federal and state authorities.