Man Charged in Mauna Kea Property Damage Incident

James Coleman. HPD photo.

James Coleman, 30, has been charged in connection to a property damage incident Tuesday morning at an astronomy facility near the summit of Mauna Kea.

Coleman was charged with seven offenses, including second-degree burglary, first-degree criminal property damage, attempted first-degree criminal property damage, two counts of second-degree criminal property damage, and two counts of second-degree terroristic threatening.

The Hawai’i Police Department responded to a 9:30 a.m. report of a traffic accident that involved a disorderly man near the summit of Mauna Kea at the Very Long Baseline Array radio satellite. Police learned in further reports that the man attempted to forcibly enter one of the facilities on the Mauna Kea Access Road.

Coleman forced entry into the facility while employees barricaded inside. He then attempted to ram the vehicle of a ranger from the Office of Mauna Kea Management who was attempting to intervene.