A homeless man is facing a charge of making a bomb threat, including communication, in Washougal City Hall.
Scott Daniel Gioia, 38, is accused of telling a city employee on July 14, he was going to “burn city hall down.” The statement was allegedly made after he asked to see Mayor Sean Guard to talk about his feelings on the availability of help and resources for the local transient population.
Gioia reportedly told the city employee he was “tired of having to steal food and socks.”
“If the city burns down tonight, blame it on me,” he allegedly said.
Guard was not in City Hall during that time.
Gioia is accused of placing a suspicious item near City Hall, 1701 “C” St., on July 13. It turned out to be expended fireworks wrapped in firework safety flyers that had been distributed by the Camas-Washougal Fire Marshal’s Office.
Also on July 13, a small fire was found in the bark dust outside of City Hall. Its origin was undetermined.
After Gioia was located walking away from City Hall July 14, the city employee/witness positively identified him as the person who said he was going to burn down City Hall.