×

Lahaina man who reportedly ran off with street preacher’s Bible arrested

WAILUKU — A man was arrested after he allegedly knocked a Bible out of a street preacher’s hands in Lahaina and ran off with the book before it was recovered by bystanders.

Morgan Henderson, 37, of Lahaina was charged with second-degree theft and harassment.

During Henderson’s initial appearance Tuesday in Lahaina District Court, convening in Wailuku, Deputy Prosecutor Peter Hanano asked for bail to be kept at $5,000, saying Henderson was both a flight risk and danger to the community.

At 4:10 p.m. Sunday, the victim was preaching from the Bible on Front and Dickenson streets in Lahaina when Henderson started shouting at the victim about reading the Bible, Hanano said. “At some point, the verbal abuse escalated,” and Henderson allegedly punched the victim in his upper body and shoved him, knocking the Bible out of his hands, Hanano said.

He said Henderson picked up the Bible and began running away, as bystanders chased the defendant and recovered the Bible.

A Lahaina patrol officer located Henderson in a parking lot on Dickenson Street and arrested him.

Hanano said Henderson has an extensive criminal history with convictions for crimes of violence including three counts of abuse, four counts of third-degree assault, as well as fourth-degree criminal property damage and two counts of violating an order for protection.

He is on probation for misdemeanor abuse and faces an allegation that he violated his probation, Hanano said. He said Henderson also faces revocation of his bail in a pending abuse case after he failed to report for supervision after being released from jail in October.

Deputy Public Defender Andres Tobar asked for Henderson to be released on supervision. He is working two jobs and has been on Maui for 20 years, Tobar said.

Judge Blaine Kobayashi maintained bail at $5,000.

“Based upon the defendant’s violent criminal history of convictions for abuse and assault, the defendant clearly poses a danger to our community,” Kobayashi said.

Henderson was ordered to have no contact with the victim and not to go within 100 yards of Dickenson and Front streets. He also was ordered not to consume alcohol or illegals drugs and to report for supervision if released from jail.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
     
Support Local Journalism on Maui

Only $99/year

Subscribe Today