Hawaii Island police are investigating an incident that occurred in Glenwood involving the discharge of a weapon by an on-duty officer.
At 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Special Enforcement Unit were conducting checks in the area of Route 11, also known as the Volcano Highway, and South Glenwood Road for wanted subjects known to frequent a residence in the area and last observed operating a multi-colored early model Honda sedan. The officers entered a driveway leading to the residence in an unmarked vehicle after observing the Honda drive into the area.
The officers observed the Honda in the driveway and exited their vehicle to initiate contact with the occupants, the Police Department said in a press release. The Honda immediately reversed then accelerated toward one of the officers, who was standing outside of the passenger side of their vehicle.
As the Honda drove towards the officer, he immediately jumped back into the open passenger door, which was struck by the Honda as it drove past, scraping along the entire passenger side. The other officer discharged his service weapon at the Honda as it left the area and was last observed traveling south on Route 11, headed in the Volcano direction.
Additional officers converged in the area and also conducted checks for the Honda however were unsuccessful in locating it or its occupants.
The officer who discharged his weapon is a five-year veteran of the department and the other officer is a 15-year veteran. Neither of the plain-clothed officers were injured during the confrontation with the vehicle or the weapon discharge.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene and are continuing the investigation, which is currently classified as a first degree attempted murder.
Detectives from the Office of Professional Standards are also conducting an independent administrative investigation as the result of the weapon discharge.
Anyone who may have seen the incident or may have seen the Honda, which is further described as having body panels with different colors and without license plates, driving to or from the area, or may have any other information about this incident is asked to call Detective William Brown at (808) 961-2384 or email william.brown@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
