KAILUA-KONA— An off-duty Hawaii Police Department officer has been charged with second-degree assault after a confrontation with a 72-year-old man Friday night.
Kona patrol officers responded to an 11:14 p.m. report of a disturbance at the Kalanikai condominium complex off Kuakini Highway.
Jami Harper, 39, a member of the community policing program, who lived on the second story of the three-story complex, allegedly confronted a 72-year-old man who lived in the apartment above him, police said.
After the encounter, Harper called for police and medical assistance. The injured man was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was treated for facial injuries and released Saturday.
Harper also went to KCH for a medical condition, which police did not specify. He was then transferred to Hilo Medical Center, where he remained until Wednesday. Upon his release from the hospital, he was arrested and taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.
Harper was charged with second-degree assault and posted a $2,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court at 1 p.m. Feb. 25.
Harper is being placed on unpaid administrative leave until the Office of Professional Standards finishes its investigation, according to the police department.
Harper was one of 12 graduates of the department’s 76th recruit class in 2009. He was honored by a letter from the public for his professionalism, by the chief for his participation in the 2013 Shop with a Cop event and another letter for his “assistance and good deed at the Kona Library.”
He was also the Officer of the Month in March 2012, where he “was honored for his investigation of car break-ins, resulting in the arrest of a male suspect for 15 offenses.”
No one answered the door Wednesday afternoon at either the officer’s or victim’s apartment.