A city man is behind bars after allegedly throwing hot coffee on a Black man while also threatening to shoot and stab him.

Richard D. Hofer Sr., 64, was arraigned Monday by Magisterial District Judge Paula M. Aigner on a single felony count of ethnic intimidation, two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, single misdemeanor counts of making terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment, as well as a single summary harassment charge. He was remanded to the Blair County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Logan Township police were on patrol about 10:55 p.m. Sunday when they were dispatched to the Logan Valley Mall bus stop near JCPenney for a report of a disturbance, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

The caller told officers he was outside KFC when he heard an older male, later identified as Hofer, call a Black male, the victim, a “n*****” at least five times. The caller reported hearing Hofer tell the victim “if you’re here when I come back, I’ll kill you. I’ll f***ing shoot you,” the police report stated.

The victim told officers he is unhoused and Hofer approached him several weeks ago and offered him a job. Hofer paid for him to stay at a motel and after several days, the victim became upset with Hofer for not telling him what the job was and left. Officers noted having information that Hofer was paying for the victim to stay at the motel, court documents state.

The victim told officers he was asleep on the bus stop bench when Hofer threw hot coffee on his chest and called him racial slurs. Hofer also threatened to “whoop his a**” while holding a weapon, “possibly a stick,” the report stated.

Officers took Hofer into custody and informed him it was reported he threatened to shoot the victim. Hofer said he didn’t have a gun and that he had threatened to stab the victim in the eyes. Hofer also allegedly admitted to throwing hot coffee on the victim and using racial slurs, but later said he was “just bluffing” when he threatened to stab the victim, according to the affidavit.

Hofer is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Matthew Dunio on July 10.