Police: Sunbury man threatened to 'go postal' on Shikellamy School District

Feb. 20—SUNBURY — A Sunbury man threatened to "go postal" on the Shikellamy School District on Tuesday, and was arrested and jailed, according to city police.

Joseph Scanlon, 48, of Race Street, was arrested Tuesday evening and jailed on a felony outstanding warrant, according to Police Chief Travis Bremigen, the arresting officer.

Bremigen said he received a call from a youth career worker who said she received a text message from Scanlon saying, "I am about to get arrested tomorrow."

The woman allegedly told police she called Scanlon and he was screaming about going postal, according to court documents.

"I am going to go postal on the whole Shikellamy School District," he told the woman, according to the documents. "I have been dealing with them for three weeks and nothing."

The woman told police Scanlon was "completely unhinged," police said.

The woman said she was concerned about the statements and called police. Bremigen said he spoke to Shikellamy Police Chief Shawn Williams about the incident.

Williams allegedly told Bremigen that he also spoke to Scanlon who was yelling at him and was irate, Bremigen said.

Authorities said the man had a school bus issue, which led to the threats.

Williams said Scanlon was not listening to reason and said "if something isn't done, there would be problems tomorrow," according to court documents.

Williams told Scanlon not to be on school property or he would be arrested, police said.

Scanlon made 23 phone calls to the Shikellamy Administrative Building on Packer Island, Williams said.

Brmeigen said he spoke to Northumberland County Assistant District Attorney David Albertson and the alleged threat of "going postal" is a threat of violence toward the school district, police said.

Sunbury police and Shikellamy police placed vehicles at schools at dismissal time Tuesday, Bremigen said.

Bremigen, along with Williams, served the arrest warrant on Scanlon, Tuesday evening, Bremigen said.

Scanlon will be arraigned before Sunbury District Judge Rachel Wiest-Benner on the charges.