43-year-old Ebn Wandell, of Hilo was charged with terroristic threatening following a January 24 incident involving a suspicious bag at a Hilo shopping center. Hilo patrol officers responded to a possible bomb threat. Upon arrival they determined that four minutes earlier a man, later identified as Wandell, walked into the center’s management office with a bag, making statements it contained a bomb. Wandell left the bag in the office and then fled the area on foot.
When the HPD Bomb Squad arrived on scene they determined that the bag was empty. Wandell later returned to the property, where police located and arrested him. After conferring with the County Prosecutors Office, Wandell was charged with one count of second-degree terroristic threatening. His bail is set at $1,000. Wandell remains in police custody pending his initial Hilo District court appearance today. Anyone who may have further information on this incident is encouraged to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311 or contact Officer Greg Matias via email at greg.matias @hawaiicounty.gov. HPD Photo