A Palmerton man is in jail following a struggle with officers after he threatened to harm his wife and daughter with a gun.

Keith McFarland, 64, faces charges on two counts of terroristic threats and simple assault, and one count each of aggravated assault and resisting arrest.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by patrolman Robert DeFuso of the Lehighton Borough Police Department:

At 7:15 p.m. Nov. 3, DeFuso was dispatched to the second floor of the 100 block of South Street. The victims reported their husband and father was heading to the address, armed with a pistol and threatening their lives.

DeFuso and officer Gabe Szozda spoke with the victims, who said McFarland left a voicemail message to his daughter, stating, “All’s I want to do is talk to your mom. I’m coming over there and I got a .357 with me. Whole lot of people are going to die tonight.”

The message alarmed both victims.

As DeFuso was able to gather information, he could hear a person, later identified as McFarland, banging loudly on the door to that apartment on the lower level.

When McFarland’s wife heard the banging, her voice trembled with fear, stating, “It’s him. He’s here,” and they told us to be careful, as they were in fear for the officers’ lives as they headed to the first floor.

Once outside and on the sidewalk, DeFuso observed McFarland standing at the door to the lower apartment.

Holding him at gunpoint, DeFuso ordered McFarland to raise and show him his hands.

McFarland only raised and showed him his right hand and held his left hand at his side.

DeFuso repeatedly told McFarland to show him his hand, but he refused.

While ordering McFarland to show him his hands, DeFuso saw McFarland holding a pistol that was contained in a brown leather holster.

DeFuso repeatedly ordered McFarland to drop the pistol, however, he refused and wouldn’t comply with DeFuso’s verbal commands.

DeFuso repeatedly yelled for McFarland to drop the pistol, but he refused.

As Szozda and DeFuso advanced toward McFarland, while providing verbal commands to drop the pistol, officers were able to gain a tactical advantage on McFarland.

Szozda was able to take control of the pistol as DeFuso struck McFarland in the face and then pulled him onto the ground.

Once on the ground, officers ordered McFarland to put his hands behind his back multiple times, but he refused to do so.

Force had to be used to gain control of McFarland’s hands and put him into handcuffs.

The pistol was a .357 revolver and was loaded with five live rounds and one spent shell casing.

DeFuso was in fear of his and officer Szozda’s lives, as McFarland wouldn’t drop the pistol.

McFarland uttered at the scene that he only wanted his wife to come home, and he refused to talk to police after being advised of his rights.