A Butler man threatened to hire people to “take everyone out” on staff at the district court office in Butler Township, as well as Lewis Stoughton, the magistrate in Chicora, state police said.

Matthew P. Dec, 54, was arrested Tuesday, June 6, in relation to a threatening phone call police said he made that afternoon to Kevin O’Donnell’s district court office in Sunnyview Circle.

During the call, police said Dec made various threats, including one where he called an employee a communist.

Dec was charged with felony aggravated assault, five counts of misdemeanor terroristic threats and four counts each of simple assault, harassment and reckless endangerment.

He was placed in Butler County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Eagle staff writer Steve Ferris contributed to this report.