KAILUA-KONA — Police have been unable to secure enough evidence to arrest or charge anyone in relation to a suspicious device that was left at King Kamehameha Mall.
KAILUA-KONA — Police have been unable to secure enough evidence to arrest or charge anyone in relation to a suspicious device that was left at King Kamehameha Mall.
On Dec. 9, Hawaii Police Department officer blocked off a portion of Kuakini Highway between Palani Road and Kaiwi Street and called in an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Oahu after the device was reported. A bomb threat was never called in nor did an explosion occur.
The device was removed from the mall, and after being shut down for most of that Friday, traffic on Kuakini Highway resumed as normal a little after 5 p.m. The road closure had backed up traffic throughout town.
Detective Walter Ah Mow, who took the lead on the case, told WHT shortly after the incident that the investigation was ongoing and a suspect(s) was being developed.
Nearly three months later, however, police have been unable to secure enough evidence to arrest or charge anyone in the incident.
“All person(s) of interest at this point were interviewed, however, (it was) determined that they were not involved,” Ah Mow wrote in an email to WHT Friday. “Forensic (analysis) was conducted on the homemade device, however, no physical evidence was developed to identify the responsible person(s).”
WHT received a photograph of the homemade device in question from a private citizen. HPD confirmed the photo contained the device in question.
Police request anyone with information on the device or the person or persons behind crafting it contact Ah Mow at 326-4646, ext. 238, or via email at walter.ahmow@hawaiicounty.gov.