Man arrested for alleged threats that led to schools lockdown

Hawaii County police arrested a 23-year-old Kona man for suspicion of terroristic threatening in an incident that led to the lockdown of four Waimea-area public schools Monday.

Police said a 25-year-old Honokaa woman reported receiving anonymous threatening telephone calls and text messages. Some of the text messages made reference to violent actions at Honokaa High and Intermediate School and Waimea Elementary School, police said. The woman is not connected to the school.

Hamakua District Police Capt. Richard Miyamoto described the threats as vague.

“It was not a manifesto, but the schools came into mention and they had some reference to some acts of violence taking place there,” Miyamoto said. “The normal procedure is to inform the schools, and from there it’s up to them how they want to proceed.”

School officials placed Honokaa Elementary, Honokaa High and Intermediate School, Waimea Elementary School and Waimea Middle School on lockdown for about three hours Monday morning.

The lockdown was lifted about 1 p.m. after police arrested the suspect on suspicion of terroristic threatening.

Police said their investigation found that the suspect called from a residence in Kailua-Kona, where officers contacted and arrested the man.

Due to an ongoing investigation, Miyamoto declined comment as to whether or not police felt the suspect had the means to carry out his threats.