Mental fitness exam ordered for Kona man accused of robbery, assault — and called himself God

A man who proclaimed himself as God during an alleged assault at a Kona hotel will undergo a mental fitness exam.

On Monday, Andrew Green appeared in Kona District Court for a preliminary hearing on charges stemming from an assault and robbery incident that occurred on Dec. 2.

During the hearing, the defense counsel asked that proceedings be suspended until Green undergoes a mental fitness exam for penal responsibility. With no objections from the state, Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya granted the motion and continued the case to Feb. 18. Bail remains at $25,000.

Green, who remains in custody, is charged with the following:

• First-degree robbery.
• First-degree terroristic threatening.
• Second-degree theft.
• First-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
• Third-degree assault.
• Fourth-degree criminal property damage.

The case stems from an incident on Dec. 2, when Green entered the lobby at the Holiday Inn Express on Sarona Road.

According to Hawai‘i Island police, the hotel’s 67-year-old night auditor reported that a man, later identified as Green, was holding a 4-foot pipe and yelled, “I am God and I can do or take whatever I want.”

Green jumped over the counter, swung the pipe twice at the victim and threatened him. The victim was not struck and was able to avoid injury.

Green then took the victim’s backpack, which was filled with miscellaneous contents, including prescription glasses valued at $600 and multiple bottles of medications, and ran away. Patrol officers reviewed surveillance video and conducted area checks, but were unable to locate Green.

Kona Patrol officers responded later the same day, just before 6 a.m., to an unrelated assault at the Kona Coast Shopping Center on Palani Road. According to police, a 53-year-old security guard said that upon arriving for work, he encountered Green sitting outside a closed business.

The security guard, who was seated inside his vehicle, told Green he needed to leave, at which point Green became agitated and began punching the victim in the head, neck and jaw, the police said.

Green then broke the rain guard off the victim’s vehicle and used it to stab the man’s forearm, causing pain and redness.

The security guard disarmed Green before the 40-year-old fled the area. The security guard was treated at the scene by Hawai‘i Fire Department medics and released.

Officers following the direction of travel provided by the security guard, and found and arrested Green near the 75-900 block of Henry Street.

While at the Kealakehe Police Station, court documents indicate that police went to advise Green of his rights. However, the suspect remained under a blanket in his cell and stated: “Does god question you? And what gives you the authority to talk to him?”

Court documents state that Green began yelling nonsensical things and told the officers God would pass judgement on them.