A city man was taken into custody for allegedly pouring gasoline throughout a building’s basement and threatening to burn it down while people were inside.

Giuseppe Failla, 32, was arraigned June 27 by Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones on two misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and single misdemeanor counts of simple assault, making terroristic threats causing the evacuation of a building, harassment and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was remanded to the Blair County Prison after being unable to post $150,000 bail.

Altoona police were dispatched about 11:40 p.m. June 26 to a building along the 300 block of 23rd Avenue for a report of a disturbance between two residents. The caller told officers a man, later identified as Failla, had poured gasoline around the building’s basement and was weakening its support beams, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

On scene, officers noted the building’s first floor had an “overwhelming odor of gasoline.” The caller told officers that she and Failla

had an argument, after which Failla went to the residence’s basement. The caller said Failla had yelled up the stairs that he was going to “burn the f***ing house down.” She told officers that Failla frequently talked about burning down the house and had poured gasoline on the floor during previous incidents, the police report states.

When officers yelled down into the basement for Failla, they received no response. The caller told officers the stairs leading into the basement were not safe because Failla had tampered with them. She then led officers to a rear basement door, where they were still unable to make contact with Failla, the report states.

After the building was evacuated, the Altoona Fire Department and additional officers arrived on scene with breaching tools. As officers began to open the door, Failla began to talk to them before meeting the officers outside, the report states.

In an interview, Failla said he and the caller had an argument about one of his friends stopping by. After the argument, Failla said he went into the basement and the caller began throwing his belongings down the steps. Failla said one of the thrown items knocked over a gallon of gasoline. When Failla was searched, officers located a glass smoking device with residue, the report states.

Failla is scheduled for a preliminary hearing July 8 in front of Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio.