MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia man has been arrested for making threats against a staffer at the Montgomery County Republican Committee Office.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele says 39-year-old Edward Cieri Jr. threatened to “shoot up” or “blow up” the office building Saturday morning after getting into an argument with the worker over the phone.
Whitpain Township police were dispatched to the office building in Blue Bell and traced the call back to Cieri.
“This defendant crossed the line into criminal behavior when he threatened to physically harm a political staffer and threatened violence against a political office,” Steele said. “That criminal behavior will not be tolerated in Montgomery County. We are committed to a fair, safe and free election, and all of Montgomery County law enforcement is committed to acting swiftly to investigate any threat of violence related to this election and arrest the individuals involved.”
Cieri is charged with threatening to place weapons of mass destruction, terroristic threats and harassment.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 14.