After conferring with Office of the Prosecuting Attorney on Wednesday, April 1, police charged 43-year-old Erick Jason Smith with first-degree terroristic threatening and obstructing government operations. His bail was set at $12,000.
Smith’s charges stem from a March 31 incident where police responded to a report that a man, later identified as Smith, entered the post office and informed an employee that a box he left at the counter contained a bomb. He then left the area on foot.
As a precaution, officers immediately secured and evacuated the building and surrounding businesses. At the direction of the Hawai‘i County Police Department, Kea‘au Intermediate School initiated an evacuation, conducting a school safety drill in which all students were safely relocated to the Kea‘au High School parking lot.
Police later located Smith in the area and arrested him for first-degree terroristic threatening. He was transported to the Hawai‘i County Police Department’s East Hawai‘i Detention Facility.
Members of the Hawaii Island Bomb Squad responded to the scene and conducted an assessment of the package, determining that there was no explosive threat.
Smith is scheduled to make his initial Hilo District Court appearance today.
Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.
HPD Photo
