WHITPAIN TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — A Philadelphia man was arrested for allegedly threatening an employee of the Montgomery County Republican Committee and its office.

It happened on October 26 shortly after 11:15 a.m. in Whitpain Township.

Police say they were called to the Montgomery County Republican Committee when a staff member reported that a man had called the office and insulted him.

The employee then reportedly taunted the caller, and that’s when police say the suspect threatened to “shoot up the place” or “blow it up.”

Whitpain Township police then traced the call to Edward Cieri Jr., 39, of Philadelphia, investigators say.

Cieri was arrested and charged with threatening to plant weapons of mass destruction, two counts of terroristic threats and harassment.

“This defendant crossed the line into criminal behavior when he threatened to physically harm a political staffer and threatened violence against a political official,” District Attorney Kevin Steele wrote in a statement. “We are committed to a fair, secure and free election, and all Montgomery County authorities are committed to acting quickly to investigate any threats of violence related to this election and arrest those involved.”