PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man was being held in the Clallam County jail for investigation of attempted first-degree murder on Tuesday after allegedly threatening to kill a person with a black powder pistol after walking 10 miles across Port Angeles, according to Port Angeles police.
Damien Joseph Cella, 31, was arrested and booked Monday evening. He appeared in Clallam County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon, when Judge Simon Barnhart accepted the probable cause for arrest and detention, provided the standard advice of rights and appointed an attorney.
Bail was set at $750,000. Conditions of release were not available late Tuesday. A motion hearing was set for Thursday.
Port Angeles police officers investigated at about 2 p.m. Monday a report of a possibly suicidal man on 10th Street between Chase and Peabody streets, according to a press release from the Port Angeles Police Department.
The initial report was that he was armed with a black powder pistol; a later report said a witness was able to secure the pistol safely.
Police said Cella told them he was upset about his friend being attacked five years ago and felt justice had not been served, so he armed himself with the pistol and planned to walk to the alleged attacker’s house and kill the person with the pistol.
Cella had already walked nearly 10 miles to the house, but when he saw children there, he did not go through with his plan, police said.
He was arrested a few blocks away from the house.
“Washington State Law states in RCW 9A.28.020 that a person is guilty of an attempt to commit a crime if, with the intent to commit a specific crime, he or she does any act which is a substantial step toward the commission of that crime,” according to the release.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@soundpublishing.com.