08-20-15 Police investigating officer-involved shooting incident

Hawaiʻi Police Department
Area I Operations
Major Randy Apele
Phone: 961-2341
Report No. C15024391

 

 

Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating a non-fatal officer-involved shooting which occurred in Puna on Thursday (August 20).

At approximately 1:48 p.m., Puna Patrol officers and State of Hawaiʻi Sheriff’s attempted to serve a bench warrant at a residence on Mauna Lani Tract Road when a vehicle sped towards the officers in a threatening manner. In response, a police officer fired three shots and a deputy sheriff fired two shots towards the vehicle, striking the operator. The vehicle subsequently struck another deputy sheriff before coming to rest after running into bushes on the property.

Jomal Ford, a 27-year-old male from Mountain View, was arrested at the scene for suspicion of attempted murder and for the warrant of arrest. He was taken by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of an apparent non-life threatening gunshot wound and remains in custody while detectives continue the investigation.

As is standard practice in any police involved shooting, the Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigations Section will conduct a criminal investigation into the shooting and the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an administrative investigation.


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