WAILUKU - A 16-year-old boy was arrested on a terroristic threatening charge in connection with a bomb hoax in Happy Valley on Wednesday afternoon, police said Thursday.
The boy was later released to his foster family, police said.
Police and fire officials evacuated three dozen residents from approximately 21 homes and closed parts of Mokuhau Road while investigating a suspicious device found at a residence Wednesday.
Police said the boy's 40-year-old mother reported finding the possible explosive device labeled "Boom Box" on its lid in the boy's bedroom.
She had been packing clothes for her son, who is in foster care, when she discovered in his closet a black-and-silver box measuring about 6 inches wide and long and 2 inches tall. On top, it had a piece of blue duct tape labeled "Boom Box."
When she opened the box, she saw electronics, wiring and other objects, which she believed to be a homemade explosive device, police said.
She notified police around 12:50 p.m. When authorities arrived, a photo of the device was taken and sent to the U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Detail on Oahu.
After examining the photo, the U.S. Army EOD determined that the device was suspicious and sent a unit to respond, police said.
Around 1:36 p.m. Wednesday, residents were evacuated, and the American Red Cross opened a shelter at the old Wailuku Gym around 3:30 p.m. It was closed at 9:45 p.m. Wednesday after the all-clear signal was issued for residents to return home around 8:50 p.m. Twenty-five residents came to the shelter, according to the Red Cross.
Mokuhau Park was designated as a pickup point for residents who needed transportation to the gym.
During the course of the investigation, police were notified that the 16-year-old was at another residence in Wailuku at 4:43 p.m. Police went to the residence and arrested him.
At 7:44 p.m., Army EOD personnel from the 74th Ordnance Company arrived at the 2275-B Mokuhau Road residence. They determined the suspicious device was a hoax and did not contain any explosive material.
The box contained two D-sized batteries with wiring and electronics, police said.
