Man appears in court in arson attempt

A transient man suspected of dumping gasoline on the front door of a residence in an attempt to start a fire made a first appearance Monday in Clark County Superior Court.

Daniel C. Tiberio, 20, appeared on suspicion of first-degree arson for allegedly trying to set fire to an apartment at 3922 I St. in Vancouver on Sunday.

Police responded to the apartment about 2:45 a.m. after the resident reported that he smelled the strong odor of gasoline. He said he started looking around inside his apartment for the source but couldn’t find it. He said he then heard someone hit his front door twice. When he opened the door, he saw six males standing outside, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.

The resident said he asked the group what they were doing and they said they were looking for someone named Seth. The resident then informed them that they were at the wrong residence, court records said. The group then left and the man went back inside to call 911, the affidavit says.

He then went back outside and found his gas can had been moved closer to his front door. He also found burned paper from a pack of menthol cigarettes, according to court documents.

Police contacted two people nearby, one of whom was identified as Tiberio. The resident positively identified him as being part of the group, the affidavit says.

Tiberio reportedly told police the group went to the residence because they were looking for someone who had assaulted one of his friends. He denied pouring gasoline on the front door or having knowledge that it had occurred, court records said.

On Monday, Judge Derek Vanderwood appointed attorney Gregg Schile to represent Tiberio and set his bail at $20,000.

Tiberio is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.