Fake guns bring
about 3 arrests
at gunpointThe suspects are the first to
be charged under the city's
new anti-replica ordinance
Three men were arrested by police at gunpoint in Manoa yesterday and became the first to be charged under the city's new law that prohibits carrying unconcealed replica guns in public.
Jamieson Pond, 20, of Manoa, charged with violating the replica gun ordinance and criminal trespass, appeared yesterday in Honolulu District Court, and was released and ordered to return for arraignment on Sept. 4.
Andrew Park, of Honolulu, and Kory Takekawa, of Kalama Valley, both 19, posted $100 bail and are scheduled to make initial court appearances next week. Both are charged with violating the replica gun ordinance and criminal trespass.
A fourth man arrested yesterday, Blake Isobe, 19, also of Manoa, was charged only with criminal trespass. He appeared in court and also is to be arraigned Sept. 4.
Criminal trespass is a misdemeanor charge. Penalties for carrying or displaying an unconcealed replica gun in public could lead to a petty-misdemeanor charge that carries up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Police officers went to the University of Hawaii Press, a collection of portable buildings at 2840 Kolowalu St., just after midnight yesterday on a report that some males were possibly "casing" the area, said Capt. Marie McCauley, commander of the Honolulu Police Department patrol district that covers Manoa.
McCauley said police have been working with campus security to combat crime at the university.
Burglaries, thefts and vandalism have been reported at the buildings in the past nine months, said Bill Hamilton, University of Hawaii Press director.
When the officers arrived, they saw four males between two portable buildings. One fled but was later caught and arrested on Woodlawn Drive, McCauley said.
One of the three who did not flee was holding what appeared to be a silver handgun in his right hand. With guns drawn, the officers ordered him to put the gun on the ground, then ordered all three to the ground, McCauley said.
She said the officers recovered what appeared to be a second handgun from the waistband of one of the other suspects, and found another handgun on a railing near the third suspect. All weapons were found to be so-called airsoft guns that propel plastic BBs or pellets.
McCauley helped push the replica gun ordinance through the Honolulu City Council and a similar one relating to air guns because of previous incidents in which the public and police mistook the replica guns for real firearms.
Mayor Jeremy Harris signed them into law July 16.
Yesterday's incident highlights the need for the ordinances to protect police and the public, McCauley said.
"It's very dangerous, it's midnight and the officers arrive and they (the suspects) have guns," she said.
Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz, who authored the replica ordinance, said the Council passed the measure to protect the public. He said he hopes yesterday's arrests send a message that police are serious about enforcing the law.
