Pahoa man charged with attempted murder of police officer

Pahoa man charged with attempted murder of police officer

KAILUA-KONA — A Pahoa man has been charged with several offenses in connection with the alleged attempted murder of a Hawaii Police Department officer this week in Puna.

Albert Puʻu, 65, of Hawaiian Beaches, was charged Friday afteroon with first-degree attempted murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, first-degree reckless endangering, permit to acquire (a firearm), registration of a firearm mandatory, ownership prohibited (of a pistol magazine holding in excess of 10 rounds) and harassment.

He is being held at the Hilo cellblock on $515,500 bail pending his initial appearance slated Monday afternoon.

The charges stem from a Wednesday evening report of an assault on Oio Street in Pahoa. As officers approached the suspect’s residence, the suspect fired a single gunshot at police, striking an officer in the thigh. None of the officers present returned fire.

Thursday morning, officers arrested Puʻu after the department’s Special Response Team located him in a shed behind his residence.

The injured officer, a two-year member of the department, remains at the Hilo Medical Center in good condition.

Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or to contact Detective William Brown of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2384 or William.Brown@hawaiicounty.gov.