Woman arrested for third time on Mauna Kea

A woman who was arrested twice following alleged disturbances on Mauna Kea in July was taken into police custody again.

According to a police log, Cynthia Ann Lahilahi Verschuur, aka Cynthia Marlin, was arrested at 4:50 p.m. Tuesday at Hilo Medical Center and charged with disorderly conduct, a petty misdemeanor, and unauthorized entry to a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor.

She was released from police custody two hours later after posting $750 bail and has an Oct. 15 court date.

A police spokeswoman said Wednesday morning the incidents Verschuur was arrested for took place on Mauna Kea at about 1:30 a.m. Friday.

The spokeswoman said in an email Verschuur’s “actions at one astronomy facility caused alarm to an employee.”

She said Verschuur “then allegedly entered a government vehicle at another astronomy facility.”

The spokeswoman said she has no information why Verschuur, who told the Tribune-Herald last month she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was arrested four days later at the hospital. Verschuur said she is a student of Hawaiian language and culture and identifies with those protesting the planned building of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea, a mountain the protesters consider sacred.

Verschuur is also accused of criminal property damage for allegedly ramming into a state truck at the checkpoint near the Visitor Information Station just after midnight July 12 and of disorderly conduct and open lewdness for allegedly taking her clothes off and creating a disturbance near the same spot the night of July 13.

Both those cases have pending court-ordered mental examinations, and Verschuur is scheduled to be in court today in Waimea. Contacted Wednesday by the Tribune-Herald, she declined to comment until after that court appearance.

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