Man accused of threats in Target

A 33-year-old Pahoa man is in custody after having allegedly threatened to start killing customers Tuesday afternoon at the Target pharmacy in Hilo.

According to court documents filed by police, Jonathan Michael Doherty made the threats to an off-duty police officer after pointing a laser at her.

Doherty is charged with second-degree terroristic threatening, a misdemeanor. His bail was set at $2,000 and he made his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon.

Deputy Public Defender Austin Hsu asked Hilo District Judge Harry Freitas to grant supervised release to Doherty, who has no prior felony convictions.

Deputy Prosecutor Glenn Shiigi asked the judge to maintain Doherty’s bail, saying Doherty’s listed residence couldn’t be verified and noting two prior shoplifting offenses, plus convictions for contempt of court and failure to appear.

“Essentially, Corina McLellan, who’s the off-duty police officer, was at the pharmacy area of Target in Hilo,” Shiigi told the judge. “The defendant began to point a green-colored laser at her, causing her to feel alarmed. McLellan thereupon contacted the defendant and began to taunt her, stating ‘What’s in my bag? What do I have in my bag?’ The defendant began to pace around the aisle and started to state out loud to McLellan, ‘People are going to start dying around here. I’m going to start killing anyone,’ causing (McLellan) to fear for her safety and for the safety of the others in the store.”

Freitas maintained Doherty’s bail and ordered him to return to court 1:30 p.m. Oct. 19 to set a trial date.

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