Court documents filed by police identified an officer injured in a traffic collision early Monday while making a traffic stop on Hilo’s Waiakea Peninsula.
According to documents, Officer Danton Zimmerman suffered a broken right hand after his subsidized patrol vehicle was struck by a 1994 Honda Civic driven by 20-year-old Draven P.K. Torres-Souza of Keaau. Police say Torres-Souza intentionally backed his car into Zimmerman’s in the “Isles” parking lot on Lihiwai Street after resisting an order to stop for an expired safety inspection and weight tax a few minutes earlier on Kanoelehua Avenue near Kawili Street.
Police say Torres-Souza and another man fled on foot after the collision, which happened at about 12:45 a.m. Documents state that officers identified Torres-Souza as the car’s driver.
Officers arrested Torres-Souza Monday afternoon at about 3 p.m. at a studio apartment on East Kahaopea Street in the Panaewa neighborhood of Hilo. According to documents, Torres-Souza, who was hiding in a closet, resisted attempts by officers Kupono Mata and John Balberde to take him into custody. Torres-Souza allegedly caused himself, Mata and Balberde to all fall backward, and in doing so, his head struck Balberde in the face, causing pain to his nose.
While on the ground, Torres-Souza allegedly started kicking, striking Balberde on the inside of his right knee, causing an abrasion and pain, documents state.
Another man, 22-year-old Joshua Domen of Hilo, allegedly tried to prevent a third officer from arresting Torres-Souza, police said in a statement.
Torres-Souza was charged Tuesday with resisting an order to stop, first-degree criminal property damage, driving without a license, leaving the scene of an accident involving substantial bodily injury, and three counts of assaulting a police officer.
Domen was charged with first-degree hindering prosecution. His bail was set at $2,000.
Both men made their initial court appearances Wednesday in custody.
Hilo District Judge Barbara Takase maintained Torres-Souza’s bail at $67,000 and ordered him to return today at 2 p.m. for a preliminary hearing. He remained in custody Wednesday evening at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Takase granted supervised release for Domen and scheduled his preliminary hearing for 2 p.m. July 22.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.