Verbal ault...against the law??

I was visiting my nephews and ex sister-in-law tonight, and someone down the street came down and threated to "whoop all yous a$$" as he said it, the police was called and he said he wasn't getting involved in the back and forth bickering but if he was called back up there everyone was getting a ciation for disturbing the peace. I thought a threat to do bodily harm was illegal. A promise they can't do anything about but a threat they could.