Police are investigating as arson a fire at a Kona courthouse.
Police are investigating as arson a fire at a Kona courthouse.
At about 7 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to a report of a fire at Big Island Drug Court on Halekii Street in Kealakekua.
Arriving officers learned passersby extinguished the flames with fire extinguishers from the courthouse before police and firefighters arrived.
Two employees were in the courthouse when the fire was set but no injuries were reported.
Damage was confined to the front door and a wall.
Investigation revealed the fire was deliberately set by a local male wearing board shorts and a hoodie. He fled in a pickup truck that appears to be primer gray with a black tailgate, black rims and a black front bumper grill.
Police also want to question the occupant or occupants of a sedan who might have seen the suspect.
Anyone with information about the fire, the identity of the suspect or the identity of the occupant or occupants of the sedan is asked to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311 or Detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, extension 238, or walter.ahmow@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.