Pahoa man, 45, arrested for arson

A 45-year-old man was arrested after a domestic dispute Sunday night in Pahoa, according to Big Island police.

Around 4:15 a.m. Monday, police arrested Peter Lopes for second-degree terroristic threatening, first-degree arson, third-degree assault and first-degree promoting a detrimental drug.  He remains in police custody while detectives continue the investigation.

At around 7:59 p.m. Sunday, police and Hawaii Fire Department personnel responded to a Hawaiian Beaches home on Ohiki Street after receiving a report of a structure fire.  They discovered a house fully engulfed in flames.  Police learned that the occupants, a 41-year-old Pahoa woman and Lopes, had exited the home prior to the fire and were uninjured.

A police investigation revealed that Lopes had allegedly threatened to set fire to the house.

Police found Lopes at a nearby home with a head injury unrelated to the structure fire.  He was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment.

Lopes was arrested after he was discharged from the hospital.  The structure was deemed a total loss at $180,000.

Police ask that anyone with information on this case or who may have witnessed this incident contact Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383 or nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.  Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe.  Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID.  All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.