Courtesy Photo­Image Joe Burke

A call to the police early Saturday morning about a disturbance in a vehicle in the Wendy’s parking lot brought several serious charges against a 50-year-old North Platte man.

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Officers found the vehicle in the lot and performed field sobriety tests on the driver, Joseph Burke. They determined Burke was under the influence of alcohol.

During the field tests Burke threatened to harm and kill the officers, a North Platte police spokesman said.

Burke complained of pain and said he needed medical help, so police took him to the emergency room at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. At the ER, Burke again made threats, this time to the medical staff as well as the police and their families.

Police thought Burke’s threats seemed genuine so they charged him with four counts of terroristic threats. Each charge carries a maximum of five years imprisonment and $10,000 fine.

Burke was also cited for DUI and no proof of insurance. On Monday he appeared before Lincoln County Judge Piccolo. His bond was set at $25,000 and he requested a public defender.