Police arrest man for allegedly setting off fireworks at Ala Moana Center

According to police, an 18-year-old man was arrested around 11 a.m. today near the Ala Moana Center’s food court for allegedly setting off fireworks in trash cans.

According to a Honolulu Police Department spokesman, the man was arrested on suspicion of “disorderly conduct and prohibited fireworks.”

A retired police officer who declined to give his name said he was near the See’s Candies store when he heard the first loud bang, but he couldn’t say where it came from. He said people were running and screaming when it happened and he couldn’t find the location of the explosion.

When he heard a second explosion about five minutes later, he saw an Ala Moana security officer run past him and arrest the suspect.

He said Ala Moana Center management allowed him to view the surveillance footage because he is a former police officer and was told the suspect was already under visual surveillance when he detonated the second explosive device.

“Security was on him immediately when he threw it into a central trash can,” he said. “It exploded and people ran for the exits again.”

He said the first explosion occurred near an ATM near Center Stage.

Rose Corpuz, manager of the ABC Stores branch at Ala Moana Center, said she went outside the store to see what was going on. She said she saw smoke near the escalator next to Center Stage.

“It was a very loud explosion,” Corpuz said. “People in the mall stopped what they were doing and looked near Center Stage.”

Management at the Ala Moana Center did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.

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