Man arrested after elderly couple held hostage

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff

Police arrested a 21-year-old man tonight, ending a hostage situation involving an elderly couple at Round Top Drive, police said.

Police arrest a 21-year-old Hawai'i Kai man tonight for terroristic threatening, kidnapping and auto theft. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

SWAT team members went into a home at 2325 Round Top Drive shortly before 8 p.m. and arrested the suspect, said Specialized Services Capt. Doug Miller.

The man may have been armed with a knife at one point, Miller said.

When the arrest was made, an 80-year-old man was brought out of the house safely. His 70-year-old wife, who had also been held hostage, walked out of the house at about 7:30 p.m., a police spokeswoman said. Miller said the couple sustained no injuries.

Police had closed off Round Top Drive while they attempted to talk the suspect into releasing the couple.

Shortly after 2 p.m. today, police said they attempted to stop a man driving a stolen car in the Tantalus area when he ran out of the car and entered the house.

SWAT team members and negotiators converged on the home and called the couple, said Specialized Services Capt. Doug Miller. Miller said the couple said they were in good condition, but police do not know if they were saying that under duress.

Police also talked to the suspect, but Miller would not reveal what was said other than he made no demands. Police did not believe the man was armed, but waited him out for safety sake, Miller said.

Traffic was stopped at the bottom of Round Top at Makiki Heights Drive, but Round Top residents were being allowed to travel home from the Tantalus Drive end.

The suspect, from Hawai'i Kai, was arrested for terroristic threatening, kidnapping, auto theft and other possible charges, Miller said.