Man Allegedly Threatens Stroudsburg Pub Ahead of Candidate Visit, Caught Thanks to Caller ID

State Police say Dominick Michael Dilberto, 29, of Bushkill, called Newberry's Yard of Ale on Main Street in Stroudsburg at 11:44 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 and made threats, along with racial slurs, to the bartender who answered. The call came before a planned meet-and-greet there with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti.

Police say he did not single out Davis or Cognetti, though they list both Davis and the bartender as victims, and court documents say Davis was diverted from the event. It is worth noting that Davis is the state's first Black lieutenant governor, per PennLive, and that the call included racial slurs. Police have not described a motive.

Investigators got his number from caller ID. Yes, he allegedly threatened a bar from a phone that announced who he was. (Yes, the name sounds like a certain cartoon office worker. Even Dilbert's pointy-haired boss would have blocked his number first.) Investigators then got a court order to confirm his identity and another to track his phone's location. Trooper Gabrielle Van Wie of the State Police Political Violence Threat Unit filed the charges. He was arrested at home without incident and declined to comment on the call.

He faces terroristic threats (a misdemeanor), harassment, and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned Sunday, Oct. 18 before District Judge Paul Gasper, who set bail at $20,000, and WFMZ reports he could not post it. His preliminary hearing is Thursday, Oct. 29. Court paperwork also cites an active terroristic threats case and multiple assault convictions, per WFMZ.

Davis said threats against elected officials and candidates, "from both parties," have "skyrocketed," which means fewer chances for voters to meet their leaders in person. Dilberto is charged, not convicted, and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.