A judge has ordered a mental examination for a homeless man accused of using a baseball bat to smash a dozen televisions Monday night at the Kona Walmart store.
On Tuesday, Kona District Court Judge Andrew Wilson ordered a panel of three mental health professionals to evaluate the mental fitness of 48-year-old Alexander Springer.
According to a police log, Springer was arrested at 7:30 p.m. Monday outside the big-box store, after officers responded to a 6:49 report of a disturbance there.
Witnesses reported that Springer had grabbed a bat from the store’s stock and used it to destroy 12 televisions. Police said one of the store’s customers stopped Springer and took him outside to wait for police to arrive.
Damages was estimated at $4,081.
“I can confirm that it happened,” Walmart corporate spokesman Aaron Mullins said Tuesday. “Fortunately, there were no associates or customers that were injured.”
Mullins referred other questions to police.
A Kona Walmart employee said the vandalized televisions were display models.
Springer was charged with second-degree criminal property damage, a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison. His bail was set at $2,000.
According to court records, Deputy Public Defender Wendy DeWeese requested supervised release for Springer, but Wilson ordered his bail be maintained.
The reports from the three psychologists and/or psychiatrists are due on Aug. 12, and Springer was ordered to return to Kona District Court at 1 p.m. Aug. 19 to determine his fitness to proceed.
A search of Hawaii court records found no prior convictions for Springer.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
