Yesterday morning, the Kamehameha Schools campus in Kea‘au briefly went under a “soft” lockdown as Hawai‘i Island police responded to and arrested a 52-year-old man walking along Highway 11 with a handgun.
 
Puna patrol officers received a report of a man walking along Highway 11 near the intersection of Paahana Street in Kea‘au holding what appeared to be a handgun.. Given that the location was in close proximity to the Kamehameha Schools campus, and out of caution, police notified school officials of the incident as they responded to the scene. During the soft lockdown people were prevented from entering the campus, for a total of nine minutes until police officers were able to safely take the man into custody. 
  
Officers contacted Hermundo Tagalicud of Kurtistown and recovered a firearm at the scene. He was arrested for firearm offenses and outstanding bench warrants. He was taken to the East Hawai‘i Detention Facility as detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section continue this investigation.
 
Police ask anyone who may have information on this case to contact Detective Christopher Jelsma at (808) 961-2255 or via email at Christopher.Jelsma@hawaiicounty.gov.