A man in Portland has been arrested for threatening to bomb a building because gay people live there.
Scott Wayne Smith lives near the Hopewell Apartments, a residence for people living with HIV and AIDS.
This past Monday, he asked residents outside the building for a cigarette. Since he has harassed people there before, they ignored him.
Smith got mad and called them “faggots.” He “threatened to bomb the building and to kill ‘all you people,'” according to court documents.
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Someone called the police about the threat. The police report says that the caller “was afraid, did not feel safe with the neighbor living so close, and that he believed that Smith would do what he said.”
Some of the residents talked to KATU News about the problems they have had with Smith in the past.
“When I walked by the hedge where he lives, he was saying all kinds of hate stuff about ‘fucking faggots,’ and they should all die. Just really awful stuff,” Wade Jorgenson said.
“A lot of times he’ll be out there skateboarding and shaking his head,” said resident Donnie Blodgett. “All kinds of weird stuff. Half naked.”
Blodgett added that Smith has made threats before like: “‘I’m gonna get you, set your house on fire.'”
Smith could face a year in jail for intimidation. His bail is set at $2500.
