Gun threat brings police

A Luzerne County property owner threatened to go get a gun and shoot people during his informal assessment review on Monday afternoon, prompting staffers at the Plains Township reassessment center to hit a panic button to summon police, county officials say.

The property owner became angry when he learned that he had to wait until next year to file a formal assessment appeal on the property in question because he had missed the 40-day appeal deadline, according to Sarah Garner, of the county’s reassessment company, 21st Century Appraisals Inc.

Garner said the property owner loudly and repeatedly cursed at employees and made “threatening movements.” He ignored initial requests for him to leave the building, she said.

“He threatened to shoot employees and burn down the building,” said Garner, a regional office coordinator.

The property owner left the building before police arrived and raced out of the parking lot, allegedly almost hitting vehicles, Garner said.

Plains Township police could not be reached for comment Tuesday on what, if any, charges will be filed against the property owner. Garner said workers supplied the name of the property owner to police. At the very least, police planned to meet with the person because he has several appointments at the center for future formal appeals, she said.

“We’re still more than happy to provide what service we can and provide due process, but we want to ensure our staff is safe,” Garner said.

Security guards screen visitors for guns and other weapons before they enter the reassessment centers in Plains Township and Hazleton, Barr said.

Some county officials have become increasingly concerned about threatening behavior stemming from the reassessment.

When county Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla was in the restroom during a break in last week’s commissioners’ meeting, a woman said she’d like to go in and “smash her head into the toilet.”

Petrilla said the threat, whether idle or serious, had no chance of being carried out because a county sheriff deputy stood watch while she was inside, but she’s concerned that some have carried their anger over reassessment “to a personal level that’s uncalled for.”

“I think some people have taken it to an extreme. I’m just the official who inherited this, and I’m trying to do the right thing,” she said.

County Assessment Director Tony Alu said he has received several threatening phone calls because of reassessment.

Another claimed to know where Alu hangs out and said, “I’m going to beat the s--- out of you.”

While leaving the courthouse about two months ago, men started yelling negative comments in his direction. At first he thought they were referring to someone else, but he realized nobody else was around him. He thinks it was either anger over reassessment or mistaken identity.

Someone also kicked Alu’s car door. Alu said he can’t prove it was connected to the reassessment, but the damage occurred during last month’s emotional commissioners’ meeting in Ashley. Alu said the auto body shop said the door was kicked in, based on the shape of the denting and lack of paint damage.

“To say it doesn’t bother me would be a lie,” said Alu, who has a reputation for being upbeat. “Some of the people, the way they talked to me, I could never talk to someone like that.”

Garner, of 21st Century, had the same take on the property owner who threatened workers on Monday.

“I really must say that, overall, the property owners have been very good to work with,” Garner said. “This is an oddity, rather than a norm.”

Alu stressed that he understands some callers are emotional and upset about the countywide revaluation project, and he is willing to listen to anyone.

“I treat everyone with respect, and I’d hope they would do the same in return,” he said.

Alu and Petrilla say they have not felt the need to report previous threats to authorities. Sheriff deputies provided security during last week’s work session and commissioners’ meeting.

“People on the street have been very supportive. People come up to me no matter where I am, telling me to stay strong and do the right thing by seeing it (reassessment) through,” she said.