Innocent, says man held in threat case

FAYETTEVILLE — A man police accused of shattering a storefront window in downtown Fayetteville and threatening to bomb the federal building in the city pleaded innocent Friday in Washington County Circuit Court.

John Scharnhorst III, 45, of Fayetteville is charged with terroristic threatening, criminal mischief and aggravated assault on a family or household member, all felonies. Scharnhorst also faces misdemeanor charges in Fayetteville District Court of harassing communications and terroristic threatening.

Scharnhorst is accused of throwing objects through the front window and door of Terra Tots on Block Avenue about 10:45 a.m. March 28, according to a police report. He was angry the store no longer sold shoes his wife makes, and he threatened to kill employee Nathan Hill, according to the report.

Hill had locked the store when he saw Scharnhorst approaching. Scharnhorst drove off after seeing Hill had a weapon, according to the report.

Police stopped Scharnhorst near the John Paul Hammerschmidt Federal Building at 35 E. Mountain St. and arrested him, according to the report. Scharnhorst then made a “vague threat” that led police to believe there was a bomb nearby, the report said. The building was evacuated for about two hours.

Jennifer Creel, owner of Terra Tots, told police Scharnhorst had been making threats at her store and on Facebook for about nine months after a dispute over consignment sales.

Scharnhorst was being held at the Washington County jail in lieu of $352,000 bond.