ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio – Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack confirms to River News Network that a local mayor was arrested Thursday for allegedly threatening to blow up the Belmont County Courthouse.
Holloway, Ohio Mayor Joseph Schaeffer was arrested after making the alleged threat.
A county official tells River News Network that Schaeffer allegedly threatened an employee of the auditor’s office, allegedly telling the employee that he would bring a bomb to the courthouse.
The official said Belmont County Sheriff’s Deputies acted swiftly to surround the courthouse to make sure the person who allegedly made the threat could not enter.
Belmont County officials tell River News Network that employees in the auditor and treasurer’s offices have been targeted by some members of the public with complaints, some quite harsh, over increased property taxes.
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