A Palmerton man is scheduled to appear in court for an incident in which he threatened to use a gun and shoot another person.

William Hartzell, 58, faces charges of terroristic threats, defiant trespass, loitering and prowling at night.According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by borough police officer Shawn Leadbetter:Leadbetter was dispatched at 9:31 p.m. Feb. 1 to Alley H behind the 500 block of Franklin Avenue.Carbon County Communications provided responding units with information that the homeowner of the residence was able to confront the suspect behind his residence in Alley H before losing the suspect in the alley.The suspect was described as wearing bluejeans, a black sweatshirt and a black beanie.Upon arriving, Leadbetter spoke with the homeowner, who said the male had a distinct mole or goiter on his cheek underneath his eye and was a short, heavier man in his late 50s.After searching the area, the male suspect was not located.The homeowner provided a written statement to police stating that he was in his residence when he heard his driveway alarm, which is attached to his garage and sets off an audible noise when the motion sensor is activated.As the homeowner walked to the rear of his residence out on the back deck, he saw his fence door was open and the suspect shaking the side door of his garage, attempting to gain entry.The suspect was alarmed by the homeowner, and ran into Alley H, where the homeowner was able to initially stop him.The suspect told the homeowner that he had a gun and was going to shoot him if he didn't let go, so the homeowner let go of the suspect and contacted police.On Feb. 2, police received information that the suspect was identified as Hartzell.At 7:06 p.m. Feb. 2, Hartzell agreed to speak with police and said he was walking home from either the Convenient Food Mart or the Sunoco gas station around 9:30 p.m. Feb. 1.Hartzell admitted to drinking heavily and that he was in an altercation with a male in the alley.Hartzell was questioned regarding his intention to enter the garage, and said he stumbled into the yard and garage because he was drunk.Hartzell denied trying to enter a garage or threatening that he was going to use a gun and shoot the homeowner.Hartzell admitted that for money, he walks through alleyways at night as he rummages through garbage for recyclable equipment.The homeowner positively identified Hartzell as the man he encountered on his property.He is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing 8:30 a.m. May 3 before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton.