Ligonier police officer terminated after allegedly threatening ex-wife's husband

LIGONIER, Pa. — A Ligonier police officer is facing charges after he allegedly pointed a handgun at his ex-wife's husband and threatened to kill him last month in a grocery store parking lot.

Authorities said Cpl. Edward J. Huwalt, 61, pulled up to the victim Jan. 24 in the Giant Eagle parking lot on South Walnut Street in Ligonier.

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The victim put down his driver’s side window and Huwalt, in uniform and driving the department's marked sport utility vehicle, lowered his passenger window, according to the affidavit.

The victim said, “What's up?" the detectives wrote. The victim told the detectives that Huwalt called him a derogatory name.

"Huwalt's next words were, 'I'm going to kill you,' and a gun came up. Huwalt extended his arm across the passenger portion of his vehicle and he aimed a blue automatic pistol at (the victim)," the affidavit said.

Huwalt asked the victim "How does that feel?" the detectives said.

The victim told the detectives that Huwalt lowered the weapon when a man walked by.

During an executive session Thursday night, the Ligonier Borough Council voted unanimously to terminate Huwalt, effective immediately.

Ligonier Mayor Ormond Bellas told Channel 11 News that Huwalt’s firing was a direct result of the criminal charges that were filed Wednesday. He said it was a tough decision for the council, but the rest will have to be ironed out in the court system.

"(We) had to do what was best for borough,” Bellas said.

Following Huwalt’s firing, the Ligonier Borough Council immediately voted to promote a part-time officer to a full-time position to help fill the void.

Meanwhile, Huwalt faces several charges, including making terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and harassment.

A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 23.

WPXI