Man charged with arson in threat to torch house

An Oahu grand jury indicted a 63-year-old man Tuesday for attempted arson after he allegedly doused his Kaneohe home with gasoline and told family members that he was going burn it down, according to a court document.

The grand jury indicted Elmer K. Drew Jr. on a first-degree charge of attempted arson. His bail was set at $100,000. Arraignment is set for Monday in Circuit Court.

On the afternoon of May 3, police said, Drew got into an argument with a 60-year-old woman about financial problems. The argument escalated when Drew grabbed a gasoline can and started dousing flammable liquid all over the house. Police said some of the liquid got on the woman.

Drew told her to wake up a family member, 36, and tell the relative to leave because “he was going to light the house on fire.”

The younger family member was alerted and, in an attempt to defuse the situation, went into Drew’s bedroom, where Drew was allegedly observed pouring gasoline all over the bedroom floor.

Drew told the relative to leave the house or the relative “was going to burn down with the house,” the court document said.

The 60-year-old woman left the home after the younger family member told her to leave. Police said the relative attempted to calm Drew and grabbed a match Drew was striking. The relative tried to take Drew outside, but he allegedly grabbed a garden pick and told the relative to get out of the house.

A police officer who responded to a call about an argument at the Auna Street home said he could smell a strong odor of gasoline, the court document said.

Drew surrendered to police at about 2:25 p.m.