Costa faces more charges

By JOHN BURNETT

Tribune-Herald staff writer

An 18-year-old Hilo man arrested and charged in October for allegedly making online threats against Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii security officers has had his second brush with the law in less than 48 hours.

Jeremy James Costa was arrested late Thursday afternoon in Waiakea Uka. He’s charged with first- and second-degree terroristic threatening, harassment and attempted criminal property damage.

He remained in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $50,000 bail Friday afternoon.

According to court affidavits, the targets of the alleged threats were Capt. Randall Medeiros, the former commander of the Criminal Investigation Division who’s now in charge of departmental training, and Officer Gabriel Wilson, a Hilo patrolman.

Police say Costa confronted Medeiros shortly before 5 p.m. at the site of a house Medeiros is building near Costa’s home.

“He actually squared off with Medeiros; he had an aggressive posture (and) challenged him to a fight,” said Maj. Sam Thomas, head of police administrative services.

The documents state that Costa told Medeiros, “I’m going to kill you” at least four times. Medeiros reportedly asked Costa, “Do you know who I am?” Costa angrily replied, “Yeah, Medeiros, I know you one (expletive) cop,” and then shouted another obscenity.

Medeiros, a trained crisis negotiator, “tried to talk him down,” Thomas said, and then contacted police dispatch for help.

As Medeiros talked to the dispatcher, Costa allegedly yelled, “Bring all my boys” because he would “take them all,” the affidavits state.

Costa also reportedly picked up a baseball-sized rock and hurled it at Medeiros’ vehicle. The projectile fell short of its mark.

When officers arrived and handcuffed Costa, he allegedly tried to kick Medeiros and narrowly missed.

During the drive to the police station, Costa reportedly threatened Officer Gabriel Wilson. The alleged threats included: “I’m gonna come down and blow up the police station”; “If you give me a gun, I’ll shoot you in the head right now”; “I’ll remember all you guys on my street. If you don’t let me go, I’ll shoot all you cops”; and “You don’t think I’ll do it, just wait and see what happens.”

Hilo District Judge Barbara Takase ordered a mental evaluation for Costa during his initial appearance Friday afternoon at Hilo District Court and set a return date of Feb. 14 at 1:30 p.m.

Costa also has a hearing Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. on a court-ordered mental evaluation in the Kamehameha Schools’ case.

Now a senior at Waiakea High School, Costa was expelled from Kamehameha in August and allegedly tried to enter the school’s Keaau campus twice in October. On Oct. 24, he was reportedly intercepted by security and turned away.

That night, he allegedly posted threats on Facebook aimed at school security, including “rent a cops must die.” The posts also referred to the 2007 Virginia Tech campus massacre.

Costa was arrested the following morning at the corner of Kilauea Avenue and Haihai Street and charged with first-degree terroristic threatening. Police said he was trying to hitchhike to the private school’s campus, wearing a school uniform shirt and carrying books. When confronted, Costa allegedly tore off the shirt and challenged officers to a fight.

Kamehameha Schools has been granted a temporary injunction to keep Costa away from the campus and from school functions on- or off-campus.

Costa was also arrested late Tuesday night at his family’s home and charged with domestic abuse. A court document states that the victim is his 68-year-old father, James Costa. Arraignment is set for March 8 before Hilo Family Court Judge Anthony Bartholomew.

Costa was free on a combined $11,000 bail when the latest incident occurred.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.