Eric Casteel, former county council candidate, arrested for allegedly pulling gun on Plum Borough GOP Committee
PLUM, Pa. (KDKA) - A Plum Borough man who previously ran for a seat on Allegheny County Council is in jail and facing nearly a dozen charges.
Eric Casteel ran for Allegheny County Council District 8 back in 2021. Now the 62-year-old is in trouble with the law.
Plum Borough police were called to an incident outside a Plum Borough Republican Committee meeting at the Plum Community Center on Thursday night.
According to the criminal complaint, during the meeting, Casteel got angry, started yelling, and said, "I'll be back" before walking out of the community center.
Police said three committee members attempted to de-escalate the situation and followed Casteel outside.
The criminal complaint said the three men saw him place what appeared to be a firearm in his waistband and they started walking away. The complaint explains how Casteel approached the three men from behind with the gun in his hand and aimed the gun at one committee member with the other two members close by.
The complaint said Casteel said, "I'll shoot you."
Plum police told KDKA-TV, "The members observed Casteel retrieve a handgun from his vehicle. Casteel pointed the weapon and threatened to shoot the members."
Sam DeMarco, the chairman of the Allegheny County Republican Committee sent a statement to KDKA-TV that reads:
"During Thursday's meeting of the Plum Republican Committee, an individual took issue with the vote for a new vice chair. That individual left the meeting and later confronted three members in the parking lot. The person brandished a handgun, then left. The gun was not discharged, and the individual was later taken into custody by police. The Plum Police Department is handling the matter."
Casteel left the scene and police later took him into custody at his home. Officers recovered the loaded gun.
Casteel is facing charges of terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. He's in the Allegheny County Jail and was unable to post bail.
KDKA-TV reached out to members of the Plum Borough Republican Committee for comment.
