A 29-year-old Scranton man faces charges after police said he sent harassing messages to his ex-girlfriend, including one threatening to kill her.

Police responded to 1018 Wood St. on Saturday around 4:46 p.m. for the report of threats, according to a criminal complaint.

Officer Nicholas Brett met with Marissa Whritenour, who relayed that she had been harassed and threatened over the span of three months by her ex-boyfriend, Austin Van Wert, after he was released from prison, police said.

Whritenour showed Brett messages featuring harassing statements accusing her of having sex with multiple men, according to the criminal complaint.

Brett also observed messages from Van Wert threatening to assault Whritenour, including one sent on July 3 at 4 p.m. stating, “I will kill both of you,” after Van Wert accused her of having a sexual relationship with her neighbors, police said.

Whritenour told Brett she was scared for her life and had not been able to sleep since the threat on Friday, according to the criminal complaint.

One of the last messages stated Van Wert was going to show up at Whritenour’s home, police said.

Brett provided Whritenour with a victim resource card, informed her how to obtain a protection-from-abuse order, and told her to call 911 should Van Wert show up.

About five minutes later, county dispatchers received a call from Whritenour, who said Van Wert was standing outside her residence.

Patrolman Anthony Roberto and Brett responded to the scene and noted Van Wert was irate and started screaming that he hadn’t done anything wrong and just wanted to see his kids, according to the criminal complaint.

As officers tried to place Van Wert in custody, he tensed his body and began to scream, police said. He also refused to put his hands behind his back and repeatedly tried to reach into his right shorts pocket, officers added.

Van Wert aggressively pulled his hands back when officers attempted to handcuff him, leading Brett to grab him and take him to the ground, according to the criminal complaint.

Police charged Van Wert, 5 Plum Place, with terroristic threats, resisting arrest and harassment.

As of Monday, Van Wert remained in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15 at 10:15 a.m.