Police arrest teen found on school bus with a pellet gun and marijuana
A 15-year-old male was arrested Wednesday morning after police found him with a pellet gun and marijuana after they conducted a traffic stop on a school bus, according to the Maui Police Department.
The teenager was released into the state Sheriff Division’s custody pending a hearing.
No one was hurt in the incident and there was no lockdown needed on the Maui High School campus, as the incident occurred off campus, a state Department of Education spokesperson said Wednesday morning. But parents reported seeing lots of police cars in the area during morning drop-off.
The spokesperson said that on a bus from Kihei to Maui High, a student called their mother to tell her they thought they saw another student with a gun.
Police were notified, and at around 7 a.m., they intercepted two school buses coming in from Kihei between Kahului School and Maui High School, the DOE spokesperson said.
Maui police said in a news release that officers conducted a traffic stop, during which Juvenile Crime Prevention Division investigators recovered a pellet gun and 1.35 grams of marijuana and placed the juvenile under arrest at 7:38 a.m. for terroristic threatening in the first degree and promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree.
On Wednesday, there was an increased presence from the Juvenile Crime Prevention Division on the Maui High campus, police said.
In a letter sent out to families and the Maui High community, Maui High said the school will have counseling services available to any student who may want to talk to someone about the incident.
Maui High said in the letter that any student in possession of a firearm on campus shall be dismissed from school for no less than one calendar year. Firearms include air guns, BB and pellet guns, paintball guns, crossbows or any other instrument which will expel a projectile.
Hawaii Administrative Rules define a firearm violation as a Class A offense, the letter said.
Maui High said the case has been referred to police for further action.
“We ask that you remind your child about contraband items that may be harmful and pose a health and safety risk to themselves or to others. Please do your part by securing dangerous items at home to prevent easy access,” the letter said.
MPD adds that anyone who witnesses suspicious activity on campus is urged to contact school staff, their school resource officer or the Maui Police Department at (808) 2446400, or 911 in an emergency.
“The Maui Police Department wants to assure the community that one of the department’s top priorities is ensuring our schools are safe,” MPD said. “The department has emergency plans and procedures in place to prevent and respond to an emergency event.”