Suspect choked victim, threatened to torch house, police say

HARRINGTON, Del. (WPVI) -- A 23-year-old Delaware man has been charged with making terroristic threats and assault in connection with two separate incidents in Harrington.

Sean Cornwell, of the 200 block of Commerce Street in Harrington, was arrested on Tuesday.

Police say the most recent incident happened when Cornwell was asked to leave a home in the 100 block of Delaware Avenue.

Five residents of the home told police Cornwell left as he was asked but later called members of the household on the phone and threatened to kill all of them by burning down the house.

As they investigated that claim, police learned of an incident in July when Cornwell allegedly choked a man after an argument and prevented that man from calling police.

Cornwell has been charged with five counts of Terroristic Threatening, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Strangulation and Malicious Interference with Emergency Communication.

Cornwell is behind bars in default of $3,900 secured bail.