GORHAM — The owner of a nightclub and banquet hall in Gorham has been charged with posting a threat — including a photograph — to a member of the town’s code enforcement staff on a social networking site.

Michel Salvaggio Jr., 35, of Portland turned himself in to Gorham police Wednesday morning and was taken to the Cumberland County Jail in Portland. He quickly made bail on the misdemeanor charge of criminal threatening. He is scheduled to appear in court in Portland on Jan. 19.

Salvaggio is principal owner of the Church Performing Arts Center on School Street, which opened earlier this year.

Gorham police Sgt. Dana Thompson would not identify the code enforcement staff member who was targeted by the threat, or describe the threat in detail.

Thompson did say the threat prompted a condition of bail that Salvaggio not possess any guns. He also is barred from municipal buildings.

The performing arts center’s Facebook page includes among its wall photos a picture of a man pointing a handgun at the camera. The comment beneath the photo on Thursday read: COME TO MY VENUE OR I CAN MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CANT REFUSE.

The site also includes a statement Monday from the performance center that criticizes town officials for making it pay for “unnecessary variances and fees” and accusing a member of the code enforcement staff of using ethnic slurs.

 

Copy the Story Link