UPDATE: Maui Mall Parking Lot Evacuated Over Suspected Ordnance

Maui Mall County Service Center, April 8, 2014. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

UPDATE: 8:08 p.m. 4/8/2014

Maui police released an update after an incident involving a report of unexploded ordnance within a vehicle in Kahului, and have since classified the case as second-degree reckless endangering.

Police say a 26-year-old Pukalani man decided to take a hand grenade and 12-inch mortar round in his vehicle and drive it to the Wailuku Police Station for disposal at around 11:54 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8.

“Along the way, he felt that it was unsafe to continue driving with the ordnance in his vehicle and parked within the Maui Mall where he called for police assistance,” police said in a department press release.

Maui Police Lieutenant William Juan said the grenade and mortar belonged to the man’s late father.

According to Lieutenant Juan, the individual was not arrested and the case is being forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Police say an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was notified of the incident and responded at approximately 6:45 p.m. for proper disposal.

When patrol officers from Wailuku initially arrived on scene, they located the vehicle parked in a stall near Kamehameha Avenue, and cordoned off the area by setting up a 600-foot perimeter, according to police reports.

The incident forced the closure of the Maui County Department of Motor Vehicles for the remainder of the day. It also resulted in a closure of a portion of the Maui Mall parking lot, part of the Safeway parking lot in Kahului, and a section of Kamehameha Avenue between Alamaha Street and Hoʻohana Street.

“Remember, should you encounter any suspected unexploded ordinance, do not attempt to remove or transport the item and contact the Maui Police Department for assistance,” police said.

Maui Mall County Service Center, April 8, 2014. Photo by Wendy Osher.

(Original Post: 4/8/2014)

Maui police have closed off the parking lot of the Maui County Service Center and a portion of East Kamehameha Avenue because of suspected explosive devices in one of the vehicles in the lot.

The incident was reported at around 12 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the parking lot fronting the Maui County Service Center, located within the Maui Mall in Kahului.

Maui Communications Director Rod Antone said this means that ,“all county employees working in the service center have been told to evacuate as well as members of the public that were there for service center business.”

According to Antone, the devices were said to be a mortar round and a grenade.

County officials say Maui police have contacted the US Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit to secure the suspected explosives.

In the interim, the parking lot at the location is temporarily cordoned off, along with a portion of East Kamehameha Avenue between Hobron Avenue and Alamaha Street.

The rest of the Mall remained open for business.

Maui police will be releasing more information about the circumstances regarding the incident following an investigation.

***Additional photos are available on our Facebook page.

Maui Mall County Service Center, April 8, 2014. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui Mall County Service Center, April 8, 2014. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui Mall County Service Center, April 8, 2014. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui Mall County Service Center, April 8, 2014. Photo by Wendy Osher.