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Standoff Police arrested a 45-year-old man last night after a seven-hour standoff that disrupted traffic in McCully and diverted parents trying to pick up their children at a nearby school.
wrenches McCully
The 7-hour incident ends peacefully
but affects Lunalilo SchoolBy Treena Shapiro and Nelson Daranciang
tshapiro@starbulletin.com | ndaranciang@starbulletin.comThe man was arrested at about 6:30 p.m. for terroristic threatening after he allegedly threatened officers with a knife at 906 Pumehana St. Officers who responded to a spouse abuse call at about 11 a.m. were kept at bay after the suspect refused to leave the apartment. Officers closed all streets surrounding the apartment.
The Honolulu Police Department's Specialized Services Division, or SWAT team, was called to assist because the man said he had a gun. But a firearm was not seen by officers. No one else was in the apartment, police said.
It was the second time in less than four months that a barricade situation near Lunalilo Elementary School interfered with parents' attempts to pick up their children. The school is a block away at 810 Pumehana St.
In November a barricade situation on Nanea Street across from the elementary school forced administrators to lock down the school and keep the children on campus about an hour after the school day ended.
Students were released from school on time yesterday, but school officials and police diverted them away from police operations, which closed off Pumehana Street between Waiola and Algaroba streets.
"It used to be a safe school, but it seems like it's not safe anymore," said Thomas Floriano as he picked up his 7-year-old daughter.
Marijayne Delacruyze, who was picking up her 9-year-old niece, agreed.
While some of the younger children do not understand what is going on, "whenever get stuff like this, we explain it to her" or she just keeps asking about it, Delacruyze said.
Now her niece is sometimes afraid to go to school, Delacruyze said. When physical education class is held outside, she is often afraid "something might go on."
Alan Lacad said he was concerned for his 5-year-old son's safety as "any parent would be," but he noted these things could happen at any school in a residential area. "Lunalilo is a good school," he said.
Tia Daiban and her 6-year-old son could not go to the gym across the street from the school as they usually do because it was in the area cordoned off by police.
She said she was worried after the first barricade situation. "It's very sad to be having it all the time."
However, Daiban said she is not considering sending her son to a different school, especially since the police and school staff do a good job of protecting the children. "I don't know if I go somewhere else, it's not going to happen there," she said.
Star-Bulletin reporter Rosemarie Bernardo
contributed to this report.