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GREENSBORO — A man irate about his home being annexed into the city was arrested Tuesday night on charges he threatened to shoot members of City Council.

William Marshburn, 57 of 4693 Long Valley Road near Summerfield was arrested outside the Melvin Municipal Office building Tuesday night while protesting City Council.

He showed up after making the threat to a city staff member Monday, city officials said.

Marshburn was charged with nine counts of communicating threats — one for each council member and one count of disorderly conduct.

According to city officials, Marshburn called Fred Boateng, a senior planner with the city's planning department on Monday, upset that "he was being forced into the city" through annexation.

During the discussion, he threatened to come to Tuesday's meeting and "shoot all the council members," according to a city e-mail.

The conversation, which was on a speaker phone, was heard by three members in the planning department, the e-mail states.

Planning Director Dick Hails said in an e-mail that Marshburn is among a group of citizens angered at annexation provisions requiring new citizens to disconnect their wells and hook into the city's public water and sewer system within five years of annexation at their own expense. The annexation is set for June 30.

Police Chief Tim Bellamy said when alerted of the threat, officers visited Marshburn's home earlier Tuesday to discuss the matter, but didn't make an arrest.

But Tuesday night, Marshburn showed up at the council meeting with a bull horn and a backpack, officials said. When searched by security, Marshburn began cursing loudly at police officers, who recovered a can of mace from him and arrested him, city officials said.

The ordeal took place outside the building and did not disrupt the meeting.

During his hearing before a Guilford County Magistrate Marshburn stated "they better watch out," referring to the council, court documents state.

As a result of his behavior, the magistrate raised his bond from $20,000 to $200,000. Court documents state Marshburn has a mental condition and was unstable.

Bellamy said he got calls from several city council members prior to the meeting with concerns over the threat.

"Based on other city council shootings in the country and city workers in Reidsville getting shot at (Monday), it raised a concern," Bellamy said.

"We take these threats very seriously."

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com