GORHAM – Gorham police are continuing an investigation involving a local businessman accused of threatening a town official on Facebook.

Meanwhile, another online comment posted this week on the business’s Facebook page claims a town official made derogatory comments pertaining to Italians. The posting also indicates a lawsuit is brewing.

Detective Sgt. Dana Thompson of Gorham Police Department reported that Michel Salvaggio Jr., 35, of Portland, was charged with a misdemeanor in a criminal threatening incident. Salvaggio turned himself into Gorham police Nov. 30 and was taken to Cumberland County Jail. He was released on $250 bail, Thompson said Tuesday.

Bail conditions forbid Salvaggio from possessing guns and he is not allowed to enter any government building in the town of Gorham, according to a police statement.

Salvaggio operates the Church Performing Arts Center, a function hall located in a restored church, the former School Street Methodist Church, in Gorham Village. The church relocated elsewhere in Gorham a few years ago.

Contacted Monday at the Performing Arts Center, Salvaggio, who said he was to meet with a lawyer, declined comment. Salvaggio could not be reached by telephone Tuesday.

Thompson said police learned Nov. 29 a picture had been posted on the performing arts center’s Faceboook along with a threatening comment directed at a member of the Gorham Code Enforcement Office. But Thompson declined Tuesday to name the town employee.

Town Manager David Cole Monday also declined to reveal the name of the staff member. “I’m not going to give that kind of information,” Cole said.

Thompson described the picture as “threatening in nature. That’s all I can say about it.”

Thompson also declined to release the wording of the comment.

“It appeared yesterday to have been removed,” Thompson said Tuesday about the threat.

A picture earlier this week on a Facebook page of the Church Performing Arts Center depicts a man with a handgun pointed directly at a camera above wording, “Come to my venue or I can make you an offer you can’t refuse.”

David Galbraith, Gorham zoning administrator, said this week he is not aware of any code violations at the facility.

“Code guys haven’t been there for ages,” Galbraith said.

The town had not launched an internal investigation Monday and no town employee had received a letter about the matter, according to Cole.

The business website posting said a defamation of character lawsuit is in the works.

“Anyone else that has a problem with Italians stop by and speak your mind, and then I’ll give you a piece of mine,” it said.

The case came to the attention of Gorham police by a concerned citizen who reported it to a Gorham patrol officer. Thompson said Tuesday police are in the process of collecting more evidence and the district attorney had not seen the case yet.

Salvaggio is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Thursday, Jan. 19.

“It’s in the proper channels and it will have to play out,” Cole said.