Apr 21, 2015 2 min read

A Beallsville man was arrested Monday night after he allegedly threatened a Bentleyville woman and tried to blow up her vehicle with paper towels.

Michael David Caldwell, 27, of 2806 Main St., was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger on charges of simple assault, harassment and terroristic threats.

Bentleyville police were called about 10:25 p.m. to the home of Loretta Blackburn, Old West Road, for a domestic dispute. When the officer arrived, he could hear yelling coming from inside the home.

Blackburn and Caldwell met the officer at the door. Items were thrown and broken on the floor and Blackburn had a black eye, although she said the injury was several days old. Caldwell’s right thumb was bleeding. He told police Blackburn bit him on the thumb.

Blackburn told police Caldwell tried to blow up her car with a roll of paper towels. After he refused to leave, Blackburn went to a neighbor’s home to call police. She told the officer Caldwell said he would kill her if she called police.

Caldwell returned to her home and again refused to leave. He again allegedly threatened to kill her and went into her kitchen and got a knife, police said. Blackburn told police he stabbed the wall with the knife and tossed her son’s couch at the wall. He also reportedly punched her in the stomach.

She said she bit Caldwell when he was on top of her. Police said Caldwell denied striking or threatening Blackburn.

Caldwell was placed in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for May 5 before District Judge Curtis Thompson.