HILO — The Hawaii Police Department’s Special Response Team responded Tuesday morning to Fern Acres subdivision on a report of a suspect with a hostage.
The incident was reported about 8 a.m. and occurred on a property at or near the corner of Hibiscus and Orchard streets in the upper Puna subdivision.
Police say a man with a rifle threatened a woman during a verbal dispute and refused to allow her to leave the property.
“It was a domestic argument that the suspect … had threatened to use a firearm,” Maj. Samuel Jelsma, the Puna District commander, said at the scene.
“Puna District patrol responded, and based on the fact that there was a firearm involved, we also activated the Special Response Team,” Jelsma said, referring to the department’s SWAT unit.
When the opportunity presented itself, the tactical team entered the property and apprehended the suspect, identified as 48-year-old Eric Ragraola of Mountain View, without encountering any resistance, police said.
No shots were fired, and no one was injured.
Traffic was diverted in the area with the assistance of Fern Acres Neighborhood Watch for the duration of the incident, which lasted approximately three hours.
Ragraola was arrested on suspicion of terroristic threatening and had not been charged as of Tuesday afternoon. The investigation is continuing.
A check of Hawaii court records turned up no criminal convictions for Ragraola.
Anyone with any information about this incident to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311 or to contact Detective Tuckloy Aurello at 961-2385 or tuckloy.aurello@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
