Escalante man accused of making threats

An Escalante man was arrested Monday after police say he left a threatening phone message for Garfield County Attorney Barry Huntington.

Joe Sidwell was arrested after he left a threatening message on the phone at Huntington's office Sunday evening, according to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. Sidwell also left a harassing message on the cell phone of an Escalante police officer on the same night, the sheriff's office said.

The officer who received the harassing message is the same officer who was contacted by Sidwell's wife recently when she tried to place a stalking injunction against Sidwell, the sheriff's office said.

Sidwell will face misdemeanor charges of threats to influence official action and electronic communication harassment, according the Sheriff's office. He was released from jail Tuesday after posting bail.

"The Garfield County Sheriff's Office takes threats on anyone very seriously, and we will do all we can to ensure the Mr. Sidwell is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Garfield County Sheriff Danny Perkins said.

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