Man accused of making threats against Temple University police

TULLYTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- A man accused of making threats against Temple University police has been arrested.

Twenty-nine-year-old Patrick Buhler was arrested and charged with terroristic threats and harassment, He went before a Bucks County District Justice Saturday and remains in jail tonight on $100,000 bail.

He would have to post 10% of that in cash to be released.

Authorities say Buhler bought five boxes of ammunition from a Walmart in Tullytown on Wednesday night, and while in the store made comments about Temple security to another customer.

According to an arrest affidavit, the employee overheard Buhler ask a customer about, "...Temple University, who patrolled the campus, what their response time was."

The employee also told police he heard Buhler say, "...that he purchased the twenty bullets because he knows cops wear bulletproof vests."

Then authorities say Buhler allegedly claimed he would be on the news in the coming days.

The investigation revealed Buhler also purchased ammunition, knives, small cylinder propane bottles, a two-way radio, and binoculars.

District Attorney Matt Weintraub tells Action News,"I think it's possible we prevented a calamity a deadly disaster, thankfully we'll never know because we were able to prevent an even worse crime from occurring."

Police found the customer whom Buhler shared the conversation with and he confirmed it to police. Buhler was arrested at his Morrisville home Thursday morning. Police say he did not deny the conversation.

During the course of the investigation, authorities learned Buhler bought multiple weapons and ammunition from several stores.

In April of 2019, Buhler was arrested on weapons offenses in Flemington, New Jersey.

In light of the back to back mass shootings in Texas and Ohio, students at Temple University were relieved the Walmart employee followed the adage of "see something, say something."

"Its good people are aware if no one is doing anything it makes me nervous," said Temple University junior Virginia Sapp.

Bisi Oyelola, a recent graduate agreed, "Knowing that people are reporting things that does ease some tension but another shooting happens every couple of days or weeks so you never know what's going to happen."

Weintraub says this is an important reminder for people to report any information they think might be suspect to police. "Without people getting involved, we would not be able to prevent these deadly disasters."