HARRISBURG, Pa. – The acting commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) addressed concerns about how state lawmakers were notified after a Lebanon County man made death threats against them.
In a statement issued Thursday, PSP Lt. Col. George Bivens said that although the investigation and threat mitigation against Adam Berryhill were handled properly by state police, a review of the process revealed a breakdown in the notification process to the affected legislators.
42-year-old Berryhill of Lebanon City was charged May 6th with terroristic threats for allegedly threatening to shoot over a dozen state Democratic lawmakers, including two representing parts of Berks County.
Bivens said miscommunication between various departments led to the delayed notification process and, in turn, prompted law enforcement officials to reevaluate how they alert lawmakers to threats made against them.
State Senator Judy Schwank, who represents parts of Berks County, told 69 News Wednesday she was deeply disappointed she was not made aware of the threats sooner and said she learned about her inclusion not from police but from a colleague.
Lt. Col. Bivens full statement, and the changes to how threat notifications will be handled in the future, can be viewed here:
Adam Berryhill was in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing, which he waived.
He remains in custody at Lebanon County Jail unable to post $250,000 bail.