A Sebring man was arrested after allegedly sending a threatening email to a village council member, according to the Sebring Police Department.

Jeffrey Harper, 53, was taken into custody at his Lake Park Blvd. home and charged with telecommunications harassment and inducing panic, both first-degree misdemeanors.

According to a police report, on March 20, Sebring police were alerted to an email received by the village council clerk that threatened a mass shooting. The email, sent from an account under the name J. Harper, stated, “Sorriest place on earth mass shooting coming.” The email was sent on March 19.

A detective identified Jeffrey Harper as a potential suspect. Harper has a history of involvement with the Sebring Police Department, including a felony OVI arrest, according to the report.

When detectives contacted Harper at his residence, he initially denied using Yahoo email, but later admitted to using it “a little bit,” the report stated. Harper then went on a “tangent” about local police and a situation involving his siblings and inheritance and claimed he had recently been released from prison and had developed hepatitis and diabetes. He denied sending the threatening email.

Following consultation with the prosecutor’s office, a warrant was issued for Harper’s arrest. He was taken into custody.

According to the police report, Harper initially said, “I don’t understand I wrote an apology letter,” and then changed his story, denying knowledge of the threats. He complained about various medical issues, but emergency medical services personnel determined his vitals were normal, with slightly elevated blood sugar.

Harper was taken to the Mahoning County Jail and is scheduled to appear in Mahoning County Court on Thursday.