Attempted murder on officer charge refiled

Prosecutors have re-filed charges against a 32-year-old Kailua-Kona man accused of assaulting a Hawaii Police Department officer last spring in what was deemed a racially motivated attack.

Shannon Kaleolani Ke, 32, was indicted by a Kona grand jury on Tuesday on charges of first-degree attempted murder with the enhancement of a hate crime, disorderly conduct, first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest in connection with the March 26, 2019, incident fronting Huggo’s On The Rocks in Kailua Village.

Ke has been free since mid-December when Kona Circuit Court Judge Robert D.S. Kim ruled to dismiss the case without prejudice because prosecutors didn’t bring the case to trial within 180 days. The matter came before Kim after prosecutors determined that the 180-day period to bring Ke to trial had run up in late November, well ahead of a January trial.

“We plan to pursue the case as we did the first time,” said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chase Murray.

According to police and prosecutors, Ke assaulted Officer Randall Hancock on the shoreline fronting Huggo’s On The Rocks. Hancock and another officer had responded to the eatery around 5 p.m. March 26 to a report of a disorderly man.

While making contact with the man, identified as Ke, a confrontation ensued — resulting in Hancock and Ke tumbling into the water, where the altercation continued. The officers were eventually able to take Ke into custody without further incident.

The officer allegedly assaulted by Ke was treated at Kona Community Hospital for contusions to his head and face as well as bruising to his legs. The hate crime enhancement was filed because Ke allegedly made disparaging comments about the officer’s perceived race.

Prior to his release in December, Ke was held at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $322,000 bail.