A 53-year-old Hilo man who claimed to be COVID-19 positive and coughed in the face of Hawaii Police Department officers is in police custody.
At 9:45 a.m. Thursday, South Hilo patrol officers arrested a man in the parking lot of the South Hilo police station. The suspect, identified as Gregory Storm, was wanted in connection with a resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle case that occurred earlier in the day.
While being taken into custody, Storm told the arresting officers he had the COVID-19 virus and coughed intentionally in their face, according to police. The suspect was subsequently transported to Hilo Medical Center for minor injuries where he was treated and released.
Storm was examined by Hawaii Fire Department medics and Hilo Medical Center staff and determined that there were no symptoms of the COVID-19 and it is not believed that he actually carried the virus.
Storm was charged Thursday afternoon with resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle, driving without a valid driver’s license, second-degree reckless endangering, prohibited acts during emergency management, two counts of second-degree terroristic threatening and having no no-fault insurance.
Storm remains in police custody in lieu of $3,025 bail.