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Philadelphia man arrested after threatening to ‘shoot up’ Montco Republican committee office: DA

Philadelphia man arrested after threatening to ‘shoot up’ Montco Republican committee office: DA

Edward Cieri Jr., 39, of Philadelphia was arrested and charged with threatening to place a weapon of mass destruction, two counts of terroristic threats and harassment. | Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office

A 39-year-old Philadelphia man is facing charges after officials say he threatened the office of the Montgomery County Republican Committee over the weekend.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Whitpain Township Police Chief Kenneth Lawson announced the arrest of Edward Cieri Jr., 39, of Philadelphia, for threats he made against a Montgomery County Republican Committee employee and his office.

Officials say on Saturday, October 26, Whitpain Police were dispatched at 11:18 a.m. to the Montgomery County Republican Committee office on Penlyn Blue Bell Pike in Whitpain Township.

An employee reported that a man called the office and called the employee a homophobic slur.

In response, the employee ridiculed the male caller.

They say the caller then threatened to shoot the employee and told him he would “shoot up the place” or “blow it up.”

Whitpain police traced Cieri’s phone call.

“This defendant crossed the line into criminal conduct when he threatened to physically harm a political staffer and threatened violence against a political office,” District Attorney Steele said. “This type of criminal behavior will not be tolerated in Montgomery County. We are committed to a fair, secure and free election, and all law enforcement agencies in Montgomery County are committed to acting quickly to investigate any threat of violence related to this election and arrest individuals. involved.”

Cieri was arrested and charged with threatening to place a weapon of mass destruction, two counts of terroristic threats and harassment.

He was arraigned and his bail was set at $35,000 without bond with the following conditions: he must have no contact with the victim, he must stay away from all Republican Committee offices and he must not possess a firearm.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 14.