HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM
OFFICER JOHN “MASA” PAGAY
PHONE: 974-4952
MARCH 17, 2005

MEDIA RELEASE

Police are looking for the culprit or culprits who are making false bomb threats at high schools in Pahoa and Hilo.

In the past month, Big Island police and fire units have responded to one bomb threat made at Pahoa High School, four at Hilo High School and three at Waiakea High School.

The latest bomb threat, called in to Hilo High at 7:58 a.m. Thursday (March 17, 2005), was traced to a public phone located in the Safeway store at the Prince Kuhio Plaza.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen the caller or who knows the identity of the caller to call School Resource Officer John “Masa” Pagay at 974-4952 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept strictly confidential.

Police are taking the threats seriously. A spokesman said the police will seek felony charges against anyone, adult or juvenile, who makes a bomb threat. Anyone making such a threat can be charged with first-degree terroristic threatening, a felony offense punishable by up to five years in prison.

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