Man arrested for smashing girlfriend’s car with axe; school locked down as precaution

A 55-year-old man was arrested on Feb. 15 following incidents at a shopping center and at his house in Waimea, where he smashed his girlfriendʻs car with an axe.

While police were looking for the suspect, the nearby Waimea Elementary School went into lockdown at 1:51 p.m. out of an abundance of caution. Officers assisted in making sure the campus was clear and the school lifted the lockdown at 2:28 p.m. after learning the suspect was in custody, according to the Hawaiʻi Island police.

The incident began earlier on Wednesday with a report of a man at a Waimea shopping center hitting a car with a hand tool, possibly a hatchet. Upon arrival, officers learned the man had ran away. In the course of investigation, police determined the identity of the suspect and after making a check of his residence on Kaomoloa Place, officers were unable to locate him. 

Around 1:30 p.m., the suspect’s girlfriend reported that he was back at home and was smashing her car. The man ran away again before officers arrived. Officers initiated an extensive search of the adjacent areas on foot and by vehicle.

At 2:24 p.m., the man was located by South Kohala patrol officers and Area II VIce officers and arrested for terroristic threatening.

There is currently no threat to the Waimea community. The investigation remains on-going and no charges have been filed at this time.

Police ask anyone who may have information on this case to contact Officer Robert Sakata at 808-887-3080 or by email at Robert.Sakata@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can call the islandwide Crime Stoppers line at (808) 961-8300.