KAILUA-KONA — A Kailua-Kona man who assaulted a Kona patrol officer and is facing an attempted murder charge with the enhancement of a possible hate crime will appear for a preliminary hearing today.
Shannon Ke, 31, appeared for an initial appearance in Kona District Court Friday on charges of disorderly conduct, two counts of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest as well as first-degree attempted murder. After the hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Sheri Lawson explained all felony charges had the included enhanced language that the defendant is subject to sentencing as a hate crime offender.
Lawson said Ke allegedly made disparaging comments about the officer’s believed race.
“There were statements made and actions taken that appeared to be racially motivated,” Lawson said. “That is why it was charged.”
The deputy prosecutor explained the enhanced language of the felony charges allows for an extended term of imprisonment.
The five charges stem from an altercation Ke had with a Hawaii Police officer March 26 outside the waterfront restaurant Huggo’s On The Rocks in Kailua Village.
Police are seeking witnesses who were in the area and may have observed and/or recorded the confrontation to contact Detective Jerome Manuel at 326-4646, ext. 262, or via email at jerome.manuel@hawaiicounty.gov or call the department’s nonemergency number at 935-3311.