Plum man held for trial on charges of threatening 3 with gun at Republican committee meeting

A Plum man who ran for Allegheny County Council in 2021 was held for trial Wednesday on charges stemming from allegedly threatening three men with a gun outside a Plum Borough Republican Committee meeting in April.

The preliminary hearing for Eric Casteel, 62, had been continued four times from May 10 until it was held Thursday before District Judge Linda Zucco. Casteel was held for trial on three counts each of terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

In a criminal complaint, police accused Casteel of threatening Plum Councilmen Mike Doyle and Paul Dern and council candidate Jerry Purcell outside a Republican committee meeting April 27 at the Plum Community Center on Center New Texas Road.

Lisa Buckiso, vice chair of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County, issued a statement the next day, saying the incident stemmed from Casteel being upset about the vote for a new vice chair.

Police said the men told them Casteel placed a firearm in his waistband and then approached them with it in his hand, aimed it at Dern and said, “I’ll shoot you.” Casteel fled after one man called 911; police arrested Casteel at his Valley Fields Drive home, the complaint said.

At Casteel’s home, police found a loaded gun in the trunk of his son’s car, according to the complaint. Police Chief Lanny Conley said the gun was registered to Casteel, who has a concealed carry permit.

Casteel’s attorney, Julia Marie Gitelman, could not be reached for comment.

Casteel’s formal arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 12. He is free on a nonmonetary bond.

Casteel ran for Allegheny County Council in District 8 in 2021. He lost to Plum Democrat Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis.