State police at the Lehighton barracks arrested a Lehighton area man who threatened to shoot another person during an incident in East Penn Township.

Eugene Frances Tertel of 2007 E. Lizard Creek Road, was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Edward Lewis of Jim Thorpe on charges of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, and committed to the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 bail.A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 31 before Lewis.Police said they were called to the residence at about 5:50 p.m. Dec. 24 when Tertel returned to his home in anticipation of having Christmas dinner with his girlfriend, Susan Schaffer of Lehighton, and her family members.Police said upon arriving at the home, Tertel retrieved a .12-gauge shotgun and one shell from the second floor of the home, walked to the kitchen area with the gun in his hands and made statements that he was going to kill someone.Police said Brandon Schaffer of Slatington, a son of Susan Schaffer, confronted the defendant and attempted to disarm him, at which time a verbal and physical altercation took place. Police said Brandon Schaffer was able to disarm the defendant by pushing him, which caused Tertel to drop the shotgun.Police said Susan Schaffer was present during the altercation between her son and Tertel, and she also attempted to get the man to turn over the shotgun that he has in his possession.