HILO — An autopsy on the body of a 38-year-old Pahoa man who collapsed in the Hilo police cellblock before dying a little more than two weeks later has ruled out foul play, police said in statement Thursday.
Clarence George Keliinui Hatori was in custody June 15 in the cellblock when he collapsed at about 9:15 a.m. and was taken to Hilo Medical Center.
Hatori was pronounced dead June 30 at the hospital. He remained there since his collapse, on life support, until his death.
An autopsy was performed July 1, police said, and the medical examiner determined that, although foul play was ruled out, she will await toxicology results and additional analysis before making a determination as to the cause of death.
Hatori had been the subject of a June 13 wanted bulletin from police for a June 10 strong-arm robbery on Wainaku Avenue in Hilo. The alleged victim, 47-year-old Tony Nakagawa of Hilo, said Hatori had taken a paper bag from him containing $40,000 by force, that he and Hatori had struggled for possession of the bag, and that Hatori got into his car and drove away, dragging Nakagawa, who suffered minor leg injuries.
Hatori turned himself in to police at the Hilo station at about 1:15 p.m. June 14, and was charged with two counts of contempt of court and arrested on suspicion of robbery.
He was have appeared in court on the contempt charges later in the day when the cellblock collapse occurred. The robbery investigation was still ongoing and Hatori had been released pending results of the investigation due to his medical condition and hospitalization.
Police say detectives are continuing to investigate Hatori’s death, which is classified as a coroner’s inquest.
Hatori was the brother of Randall Hatori, who was 39 when he died in police custody during an arrest Feb. 4, 2014, in Kona. Clarence Hatori filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county and police in February.
The suit alleges police delayed seeking medical attention for Randall Hatori while he lay incapacitated on the ground after being beaten, kicked and tasered by officers.
County attorneys have denied any police wrongdoing in Randall Hatori’s death.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.