A 24-year old man has been arrested after an officer was assaulted on a traffic stop in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision of Puna.
At about 7 a.m. Sunday, an officer stopped a 1996 Geo Tracker after it passed through an intersection without stopping at a posted sign. It was discovered that the driver, Daniel Lewis Jr., of a Hawaiian Paradise Park address, was wanted for violating a court order. Lewis was uncooperative and immediately began rolling up the window and starting the vehicle. The officer reached in and got a hold of Lewis who then tried to flee through the passenger door, kicking the officer several times in the face, head and arms as the officer attempted to restrain him. During the struggle, the driver’s side window shattered. Lewis was able to flee from the vehicle on foot leaving three other passengers in his vehicle. Assisting officers converged on the area and began canvassing the neighborhood in search of Lewis.
Lewis was located two hours later in a residence on 26th Avenue. He initially attempted to barricade himself inside a room, but later elected to come out and was arrested without further incident.
Lewis was charged with assaulting a police officer 1st degree (a felony), no motor vehicle insurance, driving without a license, and the initial offense for which he was being sought for TRO-harassment. His bail was set at $5,250 and he remains in custody at the Hilo Police Detention Center pending his initial court appearance.
The officer, a 10-year veteran, was treated for injuries at Hilo Medical Center and later released.