TOPEKA, Kan. — A Soldier Township firefighter was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections Thursday afternoon in connection with a DUI case that appears to stem from an earlier June arrest.
Tristan Michael Berg, 20, was booked at approximately 1:35 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, according to Shawnee County booking information reviewed by This Is Topeka. He was released approximately two hours later, at 3:45 p.m.
The booking lists warrant 26TR4425 and three allegations:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, first conviction, with competent evidence of blood or breath at .08 or greater
- Failure to stop at a stop sign
- Failure to wear a seatbelt, age 18 or older
The booking record lists a $5,000 professional surety bond and a court date of Sept. 21 at 9 a.m.
Berg Identified as Soldier Township Firefighter
Berg has been publicly identified by the Soldier Township Fire Department as one of its firefighters.
In an April department post, Soldier Township specifically identified him as “Firefighter Tristan Berg” while sharing a photograph of Berg being pinned by his father. Other department social-media posts have also identified Berg as a firefighter with the department.
Thursday’s Booking Appears Connected to Earlier DUI Arrest
Importantly, Thursday’s booking does not appear to represent a new alleged DUI occurring Thursday.
Publicly available booking information shows Berg was previously booked into the Shawnee County jail at 4:35 a.m. on June 21, 2026.
That booking lists the same name and date of birth and involved allegations of:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, first conviction, incapable of safely driving
- Failure to stop at a stop sign
- Failure to wear a seatbelt
Berg’s bond in the June booking was listed at $15,000 cash or professional surety.
The similarity between the June allegations and those listed under warrant 26TR4425 in Thursday’s booking indicates the latest booking is connected to the earlier case rather than a separate alleged incident.
The wording of the DUI allegation has changed between the two booking records. The June record described the allegation as DUI while incapable of safely driving, while Thursday’s record describes DUI with competent evidence of blood or breath at .08 or greater.
This Is Topeka has not independently confirmed why the allegation is now listed differently.
Berg is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Booking records and criminal allegations are not findings of guilt.
This Is Topeka will update this story if additional court records or information from Soldier Township officials become available.
