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Man Wanted After Threats Made Against Walmart

SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP (KDKA) - Police swarmed a local Walmart today in the midst of Christmas Eve shopping after a man threatened to cause violence.

Washington County authorities are asking the community for help to find the man that made the alleged threats against the Walmart in South Strabane Township.

Police said that man will likely face charges when they find him.

Police from South Strabane Township and other communities were taking no chances when they converged on the Walmart store at Trinity Point. They were responding to a phone call from a man that threatened to shoot up the store.

"In today's society with active shooter violence on the rise, any time somebody threatens to shoot up a place you have to take it seriously," Officer John Bruner said.

The store remained open while police watched entrances and cruised the parking lot. The caller has been identified as Charles Martin, 24, of Houston, Pa.

"Our detective unit here in South Strabane, they really worked hard to ascertain who the person was. We worked the Washington County Parole," Officer Bruner said.

Martin is wanted on charges from an unrelated warrant. The question is, why did he make the call in the first place?

"He got upset. Unfortunately, when you have a disagreement or get upset, you can't rise to a level that's criminal and that's what Mr. Martin did today," Officer Bruner said.

So far, there's been no comment from the Walmart store, although police are praising them for acting quickly.

Police are asking anyone who knows Martin's whereabouts to give them a call.

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