Lower Burrell man accused of threatening Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert online

A 55-year-old man accused of making threats on social media to harm Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert and his family was taken into custody after a search of a home in Lower Burrell on Saturday.

Matthew A. Betts was found hiding in a storage locker at a residence on Lori Drive about 2 p.m., Albert said.

According to Albert, the incident began Friday when the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department in Virginia intercepted what they thought was a threat via social media against their agency.

However, upon further investigation it discovered the threat was actually made against the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department in Pennsylvania. They contacted Albert’s office and Pennsylvania State Police about 8:15 p.m.

Albert said Betts made a threat personally against him via social media that he planned to “do a search on ancestory dot com so y’all get ended.”

“(Betts) also referenced the Thin Blue Line and said he would wipe them all out,” Albert said.

Through investigation, officials discovered that Betts had an existing arrest warrant for a 2021 DUI filed by Kiski Valley state police since November for failing to appear for hearings. In 2020, online court records show Betts pleaded guilty to making terroristic threats and was ordered to serve a 30-day to 23-month sentence in connection with a 2017 complaint filed by Lower Burrell police.

At 8:45 a.m. Saturday, deputies assisted by Lower Burrell police received information that Betts was at the Lori Drive residence and surrounded it. Repeated attempts using loudspeaker requesting Betts surrender were not successful.

Albert said deputies obtained a search warrant from Washington Township District Judge Jason Buczak and returned after 1 p.m. to search the home.

Albert said two residents inside the home denied Betts was inside, but police found him hiding “in an old storage locker that had multiple items pushed securely against the front of the locker in an attempt to conceal Betts.”

Betts was taken to the county jail where he is being held on the bench warrant for allegedly skipping the DUI hearings. However, Albert said additional charges will be filed against him in connection with the online threats.

“I want to commend the deputies for their outstanding and diligent efforts to make this arrest,” Albert said. “I would also like to thank the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department in Virginia for bringing this information forward.”