A 27-year-old Pahoa man on probation for a prior conviction for first-degree assault is in police custody, accused with the violent beating of an elderly man Sunday afternoon in downtown Hilo.
A 27-year-old Pahoa man on probation for a prior conviction for first-degree assault is in police custody, accused with the violent beating of an elderly man Sunday afternoon in downtown Hilo.
Police responded shortly after 12:30 p.m. to a reported assault on Kilauea Avenue near the Keawe Street junction. Officers found the 68-year-old victim lying on the sidewalk unconscious and bleeding from his head and face.
The victim was taken by ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center emergency room and later flown to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, where he remains in critical condition, police said Tuesday.
Police canvassed the area for witnesses and video surveillance of the broad-daylight incident. Officers identified Chad Kalenakai Gahan Armitage Jr. as the suspect and located him at about 5:18 p.m. in front of a business on the 400 block of Kilauea Avenue.
After a short foot pursuit by officers, Armitage was taken into custody. He was charged Tuesday morning with two counts of first-degree assault and second-degree robbery.
Bail is set at $75,000, and Armitage remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for today in Hilo District Court.
Armitage was convicted in 2019 of first-degree assault and was still on probation when Sunday’s incident occurred.
Both first-degree assault and second-degree robbery are Class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment upon conviction.
Police are asking witnesses to the assault to contact Detective John Balberde the Hilo Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2386 or John.Balberde@hawaiicounty.gov, or to call the police department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311.
Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
