Pair Charged in Courthouse Arson, Terroristic Threatening Case

Kainoa Lindo and Randi-Keli Banagan. HPD photos.

The Hawai’i Police Department reports that a man and a woman who were both arrested earlier this week on unrelated offenses have been charged in connection to an intentionally set fire in Kailua-Kona.

On Wednesday at 8:45 a.m., detectives charged 22-year-old Kainoa Lindo of Honaunau with first-degree arson, conspiracy to commit arson, first-degree criminal property damage, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, and first-degree terroristic threatening.

In addition, Captain Cook woman Randi-Keli Banagan, 24, was charged with first-degree arson, conspiracy to commit arson, first-degree criminal property damage, first-degree terroristic threatening, and revocation of probation.

Police say the two individuals were charged based on three separate crimes.

First, an incident on March 3 led police to the Big Island Drug Court on Haleki’i Street in Kealakekua, where there was report of a fire. Officers learned that a passerby had extinguished the flames using fire extinguishers from the court house prior to the arrival of police and firefighters. Damage occurred to the front door and a wall, and two employees were inside the courthouse when the incident occurred.

Further investigation revealed that the occupants of a pickup truck and a sedan that were seen in the courthouse parking lot were responsible for the fire. In addition, the pickup truck had been stolen on Jan. 29 from an Ali’i Drive apartment complex. The truck was recovered in Ho’okena earlier this month.

Lindo was arrested Monday morning on suspicion of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle. Area II Criminal Investigations Section detectives continued to investigate the incident as Lindo was held at the Kona police cellblock.

Later on Monday, Banagan was arrested in connection with a gun threat that occurred Sunday at the scenic lookout off Kamehamhea III Road in Keauhou. Banagan was also held at the cellblock as detectives investigated.

Following Sunday’s gun threat incident, it was identified that Banagan was the woman who had reportedly exited a van and pointed what was described as a black handgun at a 17-year-old girl, who was with another 17-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy.

A male suspect whose face was reportedly concealed was holding what was described as a rifle, according to police. The pair then fled.

An investigation into the Sunday incident led detectives to determine that Lindo was the man in the van.

Further investigation also determined that Lindo and Banagan were responsible for the courthouse fire.

Lindo’s bail was set at $810,000. Banagan’s was set at $1 million.

Both remain at the cellblock pending their initial court appearance, scheduled for Thursday.