BUTLER TWP — A Butler man remains jailed on $50,000 bail on charges he threatened to shoot a dispatcher at the state police barracks last week.

Matthew P. Dec, 40, has been in the Butler County Prison since Thursday when state police arrested him in the case.

Police said the suspect called the barracks at 1:34 p.m. Thursday and spoke with dispatcher Teresa Maker.

"Dec expressed that he was displeased with public officials," according to court documents, "and that the Butler County Sheriff and State Police were covering up crooked public officials."

The defendant grew angry and started yelling at Maker when she asked him for more information, police said. He hung up but called back about 3 minutes later.

He again hung up when Maker tried to transfer his call to a supervisor.

Dec called the barracks a third time; this time speaking to dispatcher Kim Campbell. During the call, documents said, he "threatened to shoot (Campbell) with a high powered rifle."

Dec is charged with terroristic threats and harassment. A preliminary hearing is set for 10:15 a.m. Thursday before District Judge Kevin O'Donnell.