FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — A Polk man is behind bars after allegedly making a threat toward an area elementary school while he was in the presence of a law enforcement officer.

Joshua David Stone, 34, of Polk, was arraigned Thursday in District Judge Patrick Lowrey’s office on the following charges:

– Terroristic Threats Cause Serious Public Inconvenience, Misdemeanor 1
– Harassment — Communicating Lewd, Threatening, Etc., Language, Misdemeanor 3

Stone’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 21.

According to a criminal complaint filed Thursday, Sugarcreek Police Lt. Ryan Ashbaugh was contacted Monday, March 12, by the Pennsylvania State Police after they were made aware of an incident involving a threat made against Sandycreek Elementary School.

Lt. Ashbaugh learned that Stone allegedly made the threat to his parole agent while at the parole office in Franklin. The parole agent gave police written and verbal statements to Lt. Ashbaugh.

According to the parole agent, Stone was drug tested March 6 and tested positive for several illegal narcotics. When Stone came to the parole office, he and the parole agent discussed a letter that was received from Sandycreek Elementary School in reference to concerns of a student that was in Stone’s care and possibly neglected.

The parole agent reported that Stone was “absolutely livid” about the letter and made statements to the parole agent that included “all of the allegations are lies”, “the school is not going to like him (Stone) when he gets out of jail,” “they were going to wish they never knew his name” and “the school would regret ever having written the letter,” according to the criminal complaint.

When the parole agent told Stone to not cause issues with the school, Stone said that they were trying to take his kids away. The agent told Stone that “in today’s society, he could not make idle threats” and Stone allegedly replied: “It’s not a threat, it’s a promise,” according to the criminal complaint.

Due to these statements, law enforcement officials contacted the school to make them aware, and staff had to take several steps and hold multiple meetings involving building security and student safety.

Thursday, Lt. Ashbaugh met with Stone to discuss the incident. Stone reportedly apologized and said that he should have never should have made the comments and that he was “blowing off steam.”

According to the criminal complaint, when Lt. Ashbaugh asked Stone if he would have been concerned for the safety of his children if he heard someone else make similar statements, Stone said yes, and he again reiterated that he shouldn’t have made the comments.

According to Franklin School Superintendent Pam Dye, the school district’s solicitor filed an order protecting the school against Stone that will trigger criminal trespass charges if he enters school property.

“Fortunately, there was no active threat to the school students, and staff and the man was in custody when he made the statements,” Dye said.

According to court documents, Stone has previously pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession, burglary and child endangerment in Erie and Venango counties.

Stone remains lodged in the Venango County Jail on $25,000.00 cash bail.