LIHUE — A Waimea man was arrested for threatening a 10-year-old boy Friday morning. According to Kauai Police Department, the incident occurred about 7:15 a.m. A 51-year-old adult male reportedly walked onto a school bus at a bus stop in
LIHUE — A Waimea man was arrested for threatening a 10-year-old boy Friday morning.
According to Kauai Police Department, the incident occurred about 7:15 a.m. A 51-year-old adult male reportedly walked onto a school bus at a bus stop in Anahola and threatened to punch a juvenile male if he bothered his children again.
The youth was not injured during the incident. It was reported to police by Kapaa Elementary School officials.
The KPD school resource officer at Kapaa High School was notified at 7:52 a.m. and conducted an investigation. The suspect was located by the Waimea High School SRO about 2 p.m. and arrested for making a second-degree terroristic threat. He was released on bail and the incident remains under police investigation.
Kapaa Elementary has also opened its own investigation into the incident.
“The school immediately notified the student’s parents as well as the bus company to ensure the safety and well-being of student bus riders remain the highest priorities each morning and afternoon,” said Kauai Area Complex Superintendent Bill Arakaki.
The mother of the boy who received the threats, who did not wish to be named, said the students were on a Roberts Hawaii School Bus that was en route from Anahola Hawaiian homes to Kapaa Elementary School. Her 10-year old son and the suspect’s 8-year-old son have a history together of name calling. Her son was detained two years ago for striking the suspect’s son, she added.
“I have been telling my son not to even talk to this kid,” she said.
Apparently the suspect told her son that if he ever heard of him bothering his kids again, he was going punch him in the mouth.
There were four juvenile witnesses who were interviewed by police, the mom said. She filed a police report at Kapaa Elementary on Friday morning.
“This is not acceptable to me and I just want the public to know about situations like this that should not be happening,” she said.
Roberts Hawaii School Bus did not return calls prior to deadline.
Reporter Lisa Ann Capozzi contributed to this story.