The victim of an early morning kidnapping and assault was lying on the kitchen floor, handcuffed, his ankles bound with zip ties and a rag with duct tape partially covering his mouth, according to court documents filed by police.
Police also say one of the alleged kidnappers, 35-year-old Joshua Ikaika Vierra of Volcano, was kneeling atop the 44-year-old victim. Police said in a statement Friday the victim resides on Oahu. But according to the police booking log, the victim — who was wanted on a contempt of court warrant for which he was later arrested — lives in Hilo.
Police say the victim’s 17-year-old son was the other kidnapper. His name was not released because he was a minor and the statement said he is in a juvenile facility on Oahu. West Hawaii Today is not publishing the victim’s name to protect the juvenile’s identity.
The victim told police, documents state, that he went to the residence on Pa Alii Street after being lured there by his son. He told police, documents state, that the other alleged assailant — whom He didn’t know — busted into the house with a “big weapon drawn,” clad in camouflage from head to toe and wearing a black mask that exposed only his eyes. The man identified himself as a federal agent, told the victim he was going to arrest him, forced him to the floor and put a boot on his neck, according to documents.
The victim told officers he asked the man to identify himself and verify that he was actually law enforcement, but he didn’t do so, documents state. According to police, the victim said the man had some sort of patch that said “federal agent” and what appeared to the victim to be an M-16 rifle and a pistol.
Police say the assault took place over several hours, but at some point, the victim placed a call to 911. According to documents, the victim tried to run but was stopped from leaving and the assault resumed.
According to documents, the victim had visible injuries to his nose and head and complained of pain to his legs and wrist. Documents state Vierra told responding paramedics he struck the victim on his left leg with a baseball bat and kicked him in the ribs.
When police attempted to interview Vierra, he asked for a lawyer after being read his rights, documents state.
The victim was treated for his injuries and released at Hilo Medical Center and was later arrested and charged with two counts of contempt of court.
Police say Hilo Criminal Investigations Section detectives executed a search warrant on the Volcano home and seized two handguns and a rife with no serial numbers — known as “ghost guns” — and a silencer. They also found a Velcro patch that read “Fugitive Recovery Agent,” according to documents.
Vierra was charged with kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening, impersonating a law-enforcement officer, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of second-degree assault and 16 firearms-related offenses.
At Vierra’s initial court appearance on Monday, Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk maintained Vierra’s bail at $250,750 and ordered him to return Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
Vierra remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
