Man arrested for threatening developer

A man claiming to have authored a threatening e-mail to the company slated to rip out several monkeypod trees has turned himself in.

The e-mail was sent to at least one employee representing developers of The Shops at Koloa project, which will be built on land owned by the Knudsen Trust and developer David Nelson.

According to police, the e-mail stated, “it would be a great service to the community to leave the trees untouched…and it might keep you from getting killed when you are here and people find out who you are.”

Police said upon turning himself in, Andrew Johnston, of Koloa, said he recognized sending the e-mail, which the recipient described as a “death threat” was wrong.

The removal of the trees, which the developers have been court-ordered to replace with others of similar size, has been a contentious issue that has spawned protest, outcry and vandalism.

Johnston was charged with harassment and released on bail.