By Joe Mandak

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — Police have arrested a Pennsylvania county sheriff on charges he threatened to cut off the hands of a political campaign worker and pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot a newspaper reporter.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced the charges Monday against 65-year-old Beaver County Sheriff George David.

David is in custody and awaiting arraignment on charges including terroristic threats, witness intimidation and obstructing an investigation.

Online court records don't list an attorney for the sheriff. Officials at the western Pennsylvania sheriff's office referred calls to their attorney, who did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

The county commissioners could not immediately comment on David's employment status.

The charges stem from encounters since November 2011 that were investigated by a state grand jury.

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