‘Suspicious device’ under investigation

Police continue to investigate a “suspicious device” found on a vehicle in a Waimea tow yard Tuesday morning, but say it wasn’t an explosive.

“All I can say is that it was determined that it could not be an explosive device in its current form,” police Capt. Randal Madieras said.

The investigation is ongoing but he said it appeared to be a dummy bomb, intended to look like a real one.

The owner of the vehicle disputes that.

William Gilroy of Captain Cook, who owns the car police impounded Saturday, said the device was a simple water fuel cell, a system to improve gas mileage by mixing fuel and water.

“If I’m a bomber, why hasn’t the FBI contacted me?” asked Gilroy, who visited West Hawaii Today on Wednesday. Police and bomb experts responded to a report of a possible explosive on the car Tuesday in Waimea, which prompted a tow yard to be evacuated.

Gilroy said he was confused by the whole ordeal and didn’t understand why officials would suspect a bomb. He talked about the chain of events that put him in fear for his life.

He said the incident began Saturday along Saddle Road during “Freedom Ride 2016,” when people drove cars without license plates or safety stickers to demonstrate the right to travel freely.

Gilroy said he was driving his car, which had a fluorescent “no trespassing sign” mounted where other vehicles have a license plate, when a police officer began following him along Saddle Road near the Mauna Kea recreation area and then signaled him to pull over.

He had a passenger call 911 to confirm it was an officer, as the vehicle was not marked. With the number of police shootings of residents, he was concerned for his safety, he said. He added he slowed to move over in an attempt to find a safe place to stop, but the officer got in front of him and slammed on his brakes, forcing Gilroy to stop.

Gilroy said the officer started screaming numerous instructions, including to put their hands up and turn off the car, but he and his passenger were stunned by the maneuver and aggressive behavior and were slow to respond.

That led to the officer drawing his handgun and pointing it at both people, Gilroy said.

“I really thought he was going to shoot me, actually,” he said.

The officer returned the pistol to its holster and approached Gilroy’s door, opened it, reached across Gilroy’s body, striking him in the chest as he did so, Gilroy said, then took the keys from the ignition and slammed the door, which left the car in the middle of a lane on Saddle Road.

“I haven’t committed a crime,” Gilroy said, adding that he was confused by the stop and alarmed by the drawn weapon.

Police said that traffic laws about license plates, stickers and licenses apply to all motorists and stated their stances more than one time prior to Saturday’s well-publicized Freedom Ride.

Gilroy for some time refused to provide an ID on grounds, he said, he didn’t commit a crime, but eventually provided one from the Kingdom of Hawaii. It’s not a form of identification recognized by the state.

Gilroy was not arrested, although the car was towed under Hawaii County Code section 24-12, also known as Aliyah’s Law.

“In essence, what they did was stole his car,” said Paul Komara, one of the group’s organizers.

A complaint was filed on behalf of Gilroy. Police said they received the complaint, which was forwarded to the chief’s office, but didn’t comment further.

Komara said the Freedom Ride was hosted to show that a unified group of people will not be abused by their government. He said the incident was a violation of Gilroy’s rights and there would be legal action against the towing company and law enforcement.

Tow Guys east of Waimea owner David McCullough told West Hawaii Today he saw the device after a call from the vehicle owner, Gilroy, saying he should examine the front end. He found what he thought was a bomb and called police.

Gilroy disputes that. He said he called to ask who the person was who towed his vehicle, as that person could be subject to fines. The vehicle was marked as private property and included signage that moving it would incur a $10,000 fine. He said he hung up the phone because the tow company owner seemed very upset.

As for the water fuel cell, it was disconnected at the time, Gilroy added.

The tow truck driver originally thought that, McCullough said, but his discovery of wires and a toggle switch to the battery changed his mind.

Members of the Hawaii Police Department, FBI, ATF and Army responded to the scene. The area was closed off Tuesday afternoon and the investigation stretched into the evening.

Madieras said officers might contact Gilroy during the course of the investigation, but their immediate concern was with the device itself Tuesday.

Four explosive ordnance disposal soldiers from the 303rd Ordnance Battalion were sent to the scene from Oahu, said Army Maj. Leslie Waddle.

A spokesman for the ATF said that if the device was determined to be an attempt to look like a bomb, there is the possibility of federal charges.

The vehicle was taken by police to their impound lot for continued investigation.

McCullough said things were “as back to normal as can be” at the lot Wednesday.

“As a result of this incident, approximately 12 homes and their 21 occupants in the Nani Waimea subdivision were displaced while personnel worked to identify and safely disassemble the suspicious device. Police apologize for the inconvenience caused to those residents but, given the circumstances, it was the prudent thing to do,” the Police Department said in a press release.

But Komara said this whole incident was an example of the United States becoming a police state. He and Gilroy said a lawsuit could be coming, although Gilroy said he didn’t have legal representation. He said he feels targeted by law enforcement.

“We, the people, are the government,” Komara said. “These people are our trusted servants.”

Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.