Suspect Apprehended After Encounter with Students in West Maui
UPDATE: 2:45 p.m. 3.5.17:
The male suspect has since been identified by Maui Police as Nicholas Slot of Lahaina. He was arrested and subsequently charged for the offense of Robbery in the Second Degree. His bail was set at $20,000.
Original Post: 8:43 a.m. 3.4.17
A letter was sent home to parents of Sacred Hearts School on Maui after an incident on Friday in which an unknown individual reportedly approached a group of students on campus and took an iPad from a fourth grader.
Police were notified of the incident and were able to apprehend a suspect. A police chaplain was also called to speak with students who were reportedly shaken up and upset over what had happened.
According to the letter for parents, obtained by Maui Now, the incident occurred at around 10 a.m. on Friday, March 3, 2017, when an unknown male confronted three fourth grade students on the bench outside of their classroom.
“The man put his hand on one of the students and took the iPad he was working with,” the letter stated. Another student ran to alert a teacher, who approached the man and was able to retrieve the iPad before the suspect fled.
According to the letter, school administrators say everyone is fine, but they plan to prosecute the suspect to the fullest extent possible. In the meantime, the school has been in talks with police about safety plans and drills and has obtained a donation of security cameras that are in the process of being installed.