An uncle acting as a temporary guardian has been charged after police said he became intoxicated, threatened the children and assaulted two of them.

Pocono Mountain Regional Police said they arrested Jeremy L. Stout, 23, of Whipoorwill Way, Tobyhanna, on charges of terroristic threats, endangering the welfare of children, simple assault and harassment.

Police said the incident happened at 11:29 p.m. April 22 at the above address. They said they were dispatched there for a domestic case involving allegations of child abuse, having been beckoned by neighbors who called 911 after they were awakened by the eight children, ages 6 months to 13 years old, who fled their own home.

Police said the children told the neighbors their intoxicated uncle, Stout, had threatened to kill them with a knife.

Police said Stout was watching the children for the weekend while their parents were out of town.