A man accused of calling in threats to Hawaii’s governor and the State Capitol was chased down and arrested Thursday after a brief pursuit and standoff on Oahu, according to state officials. Honolulu police and state Department of Law Enforcement (DLE) deputies took him into custody without any reported injuries, then transported him for a mental‑health evaluation. Parts of nearby roadways were temporarily shut down while deputies worked to bring the situation under control.
Chase Ends In Standoff Near Kawainui
Officers first spotted the suspect’s Ford pickup truck near Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout and followed it north, with the chase coming to a stop on Kawainui Marsh Road. There, the man got out of the vehicle and entered into a standoff with authorities while holding what appeared to be a firearm and a knife. DLE deputies arrested him shortly after 4 p.m., and officials say the case is still under investigation. According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, he had allegedly called in threats aimed at the governor and the State Capitol before officers tracked him down.
Officials Say Weapon Was A Replica, Suspect Evaluated
State officials told the newspaper the firearm the man claimed to have was later found to be a replica, and a Honolulu Police Department crisis negotiator communicated with him before deputies moved in. “We are relieved the situation was resolved safely and no one was injured,” DLE Director Mike Lambert said in comments quoted by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The suspect was taken to Adventist Health Castle for a mental‑health evaluation, DLE officials said.
Possible Charges And The Law
DLE officials said the man faces potential charges that could include terroristic threatening as investigators and prosecutors work through the details. Under Hawaii law, terroristic threatening covers threats that would terrorize another person or cause the evacuation of a public building, and certain factors can increase the severity of the offense. For the formal legal definition and penalties, see Hawaii Revised Statutes §707-716.
What Comes Next
The Department of Law Enforcement and Honolulu police say they are continuing to investigate and will coordinate with prosecutors on any formal charges. Authorities have not publicly released the suspect’s name and are asking anyone with information to contact law enforcement as the case moves forward.
