Lehighton Borough Police are charging a homeless man who threatened to blow himself up and charged at officers at the tent city section near the D & L trail on Monday.

Police chief Troy Abelovsky, issued a release Monday night in the case against 43-year-old Jason John Shiffert.

The incident began at 8:10 a.m. when Lehighton Borough Police Units responded to a complaint of burning in the wooded, rear area of the 400 block of North First Street near the D & L Trail.

Officers heard someone yelling and small explosions coming from the direction of the Lehigh River. They encountered a man lighting multiple fires in the area and saw small propane tanks near the fires, in what appeared to be an attempt to cause explosions.

Police said Shiffert threatened and physically charged at officers with a hatchet in hand, as well as threatened to blow himself and the officers up by exploding the propane tanks.

Officers created a perimeter and requested additional units.

The man retreated into his large tent and continued to threaten to kill himself and others. Jim Thorpe Police, Franklin Township Police and the Pennsylvania State Police Tactical Unit arrived on location to assist. The PSP Aerial Drone Team was deployed.

The man emerged from his tent holding a 20-pound propane tank that had been lit on fire.

The Tactical Units deployed less-lethal devices and were able to take him into custody with minimal injury to the subject.

He was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

No officers were injured during this event.

All activity along the Lehigh River, D & L Trail, and Norfolk Southern Railroad was temporarily shut down during the incident.

Charges include aggravated assault, a felony 2; causing or risking a catastrophe, a felony 3; terroristic threats, misdemeanor 1, and reckless endangering, a misdemeanor 2.

He is in Carbon County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.

“The Lehighton Borough Police Department is appreciative of the assisted manpower for this incident from many local agencies including, but not limited to, the Franklin Township Police, Jim Thorpe Police, Pennsylvania State Police Tactical Unit, Lehighton Fire Department, Lehighton Ambulance Association, Lehighton Fire Police and the Carbon County Communications Center personnel,” Abelovsky said.