Transient man in court for alleged bomb threat at Washougal City Hall

A transient man was in court Friday after he allegedly left a suspicious package outside Washougal City Hall and the next day threatened to burn down the building.

Scott D. Gioia, 38, appeared in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of making a bomb threat.

Earlier this week Gioia entered city hall and asked to speak with Mayor Sean Guard about his opinions on the availability of resources for the local transient population. He told a city employee that he is “tired of having to steal food and socks,” and then stated he was going to “burn city hall down” and “if the city burns down tonight, blame it on me,” according to a probable cause affidavit.

The day before, someone had placed a suspicious item near the building that turned out to be expended fireworks wrapped in firework safety fliers. A small fire was also found in the bark dust outside, the affidavit said.

Gioia was located by Washougal police walking away from city hall on Main Street. A city employee positively identified him as the man who threatened to burn down city hall, court records said.

Gioia allegedly admitted to placing the fireworks bundle, but he denied setting the fire and making the statement that he was going to burn down city hall, according to court documents.

On Friday, Gioia tried to clarify what he told officers during his arrest, but Judge Daniel Stahnke advised him not to talk about the case until he has consulted with counsel. Stahnke set Gioia’s bail at $5,000. He will be arraigned July 22.