HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hundreds of residents in Makakilo say they hope the nightmare is finally over. Prosecutors charged a 53-year-old man for deliberately dropping screws on the roads causing thousands of dollars in damaged tires and a frustrated community.

In a Kapolei courtroom, charges were read for the man some residents say tormented them for years. George Sado has been charged for intentionally leaving screws on the roads in the Makakilo.

“It’s gotten to the point where I was afraid to go out in early morning because I’d pick up a nail,” said Makakilo resident Brenda Coston. “If I saw a movie, I was afraid to come home because on a Friday night, if I went out Saturday morning, Sunday, the nail, the light would come on in the car and I invariably had another nail.”

Coston was just one of the dozens of residents who suffered flat tires over four years. Honolulu Police say it was concentrated on a couple streets off Makakilo Drive including right in front of Palehua Villas on Panana Street.

“Just walking the streets and collecting the screws and our guys out here in the morning, collecting the screws and then the community got together and said hey this has got to stop,” said Mary Ann Laskarakis, Palehua Villas resident manager. “Enough is enough.”

Police say the suspect was identified by neighbors via the next door app. After following him, they say he was driving out of his way on some of these roads to work. The same roads that the screws were found.

The problem had gotten so bad, Makakilo Representative Kanani Souza introduced a bill this session that would make it a class C felony if you’re found dropping objects on the ground to intentionally cause harm.

“Currently it’s damage to tires, but if someone were to damage the tires and it ends up causing an accident, or something of that nature, things could progress into something more serious,” Rep. Kanani Souza said.

Right now, it’s a misdemeanor, with a fine up to $1000 or up to five days in prison, or both.

Now that Sado has been charged, residents say they can breathe a sigh of relief – hopefully.

“Well if it does completely stop, it would be just a breath of fresh air,” Coston said. “It would be so wonderful.”

“They know they can pull out, they can come home safe,” Laskarakis said. “On their way to work, they won’t get a flat tire. On their way home, they won’t get a flat tire. It’s a peace of mind.”

Sado did not appear in court, but his attorney entered a plea of not guilty. Trial is scheduled to start in April.