A Fairless Hills man is in trouble after allegedly threatening his sister and her family over a residence left behind by his parents.
Falls Township police responded to Blough Road in Fairless Hills at about 1 p.m. last Wednesday for reports of threats made by Joseph Matello, 64.
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The residence is jointly owned by the siblings after their parents willed it to them, according to court papers.
Matello’s sister reportedly made clear her desire to list the home that once belonged to their parents for sale. The two began arguing, according to the probable cause affidavit, and Matello pushed and spat in the face of his sister.
During the argument, Matello then pulled a gun out of a drawer in the kitchen counter and demanded that she leave the residence. Matello also threatened to shoot his brother-in-law and their children if they were to go to the residence on Blough Road, police said.
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By the time police were able to speak with Matello, it was after 2 p.m. last Wednesday and Matello argued that the altercation as his sister said could not have happened because he sold all of his firearms a year before. A few minutes later, he told a sergeant that he did have one gun, which he stored in the kitchen counter, police said.
The probable cause stated that when police checked, they found a fully loaded .380 inside a holster atop the cutlery.
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Matello reportedly maintained that he did not brandish the weapon at his sister.
Matello was charged via summons with making terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and harassment.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
