Bail set for man arrested in arson probe of Saturday explosion in Port Angeles

Police: Lit firecracker dropped into linseed oil can

PORT ANGELES — A 50-year-old Port Angeles man who allegedly dropped a lit firecracker into a linseed oil can Saturday morning at The Tempest apartments, creating an explosion, was in the Clallam County jail late Monday afternoon for investigation of first-degree arson.

John Harold Hann had $25,000 bail set earlier Monday at his first Superior Court appearance.

A formal charge of first-degree arson, a Class A felony, could be filed against Hann at a court hearing at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The incident occurred at the multi-unit facility owned by Serenity House of Clallam County at First and Albert streets east of downtown Port Angeles.

Serenity House Executive Director Doc Robinson said Monday there was no significant damage at the facility, which Robinson said provides permanent, supportive housing for homeless individuals who are physically, emotionally or mentally disabled.

Several tenants were evacuated at about 8 a.m. Saturday after it was reported that a fire had been intentionally set.

The Port Angeles Fire Department and city police department responded.

A surveillance camera at The Tempest showed Hann picking up the can of Linseed oil that was sitting on top of a fire alarm, lighting the can and walking away, according to Port Angeles Police Officer Luke Brown’s report.

“I saw the can flame up and then explode,” Brown said.

Linseed oil was sprayed over a second-floor wall at the apartments, and the wall above the fire alarm was charred, Brown said.

Hahn was arrested east of Port Angeles and booked at 8:57 p.m. Sunday into the Clallam County jail.

Hann said he lit a firecracker in a “bone dry” can to celebrate a Tempest resident’s birthday, Officer Sean Ryan said in his report.

“John admitted to placing the firecracker in a blue and yellow can,” Ryan said.

“John characterized his actions as a prank and insisted that he was not being malicious.”

In setting $25,000 bail Monday, Judge Lauren Erickson said there was a risk that Hann would not appear in court.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Steve Johnson said Hann has had “roughly” 58 failure-to-appear warrants filed against him between 1994 and 2018.

Robinson said two other people might have been involved in the incident.

Deputy Police Chief Jason Viada said the incident continues to be investigated.

It is the second arson investigation at a Serenity House facility in fewer than three months.

Denise Kathleen Kovacevic, 40, has been charged with first-degree arson for allegedly setting a March 29 fire at a fourplex at Serenity House’s Evergreen Family Village, 2203 W. 18th St., where Kovacevic had an apartment.

Three units were damaged, two heavily.

A forensic health report from the state Office of Forensic Mental Health Services determined April 18 that Kovacevic, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a 2009 or 2010 zip-line mishap, “lacks the capacity to understand the legal proceedings against her and lacks the capacity to assist defense counsel.”

Competency restoration treatment for Kovacevic was ordered April 19 by Superior Court Judge Brent Basden.

Kovacevic has a possible bed date at Western State Hospital the week of July 18, according to the minutes of a Superior Court hearing Friday.

Her next court hearing is July 12.

________

Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.

More in Crime

Jury convicts man of second-degree rape

Vasquez to be sentenced Aug. 8 in case that began in 2019

Tina Marie Alcorn, right, talks with attorney John Hayden during Alcorn’s first appearance on Tuesday in Clallam County Superior Court after extradition from Arkansas in connection with the 2016 homicide of George Cecil David in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Woman charged in decade-old murder

Alcorn, 54, extradited in woodcarver’s death

Port Townsend man sentenced to two years in prison

O’Donnell pleads guilty to residential burglary, second-degree theft

Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies respond to unrelated firearms incidents

Man, 18, turns himself in after allegedly shooting from moving vehicle

Trial date moved for man charged with attempted murder

The trial date for a Port Angeles man charged… Continue reading

Woman sentenced to nearly 12 years for burglaries

Jury convicts Woods after nine-day trial

Man pleads guilty, sentenced to 15 years

Port Angeles man robbed Dollar Tree store in March 2024

Cape George fires under investigation

Sheriff’s office requests information from public

Man charged with attempted murder appears in court

A Port Angeles man accused of shooting at a… Continue reading

Police: Man dies following assault in Sequim

A man died after he was allegedly assaulted in the… Continue reading

Next court date set for man charged with murder

The man accused of killing a Port Angeles woman… Continue reading