HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS SECTION
LIEUTENANT RANDALL MEDEIROS
PHONE: 961-2252
SEPTEMBER 20, 2006

MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police have charged a 52 year-old homeless man with third-degree assault and first-degree criminal property damage.

Clifton Gay, of no permanent address, was arrested by South Hilo patrol officers shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday (September 19, 2006). 

Gay is alleged to have had an argument with another homeless man and later set the man's bedding on fire while the man was asleep.  The victim awoke before being seriously injured. Witnesses saw Gay fleeing from the area following the incident. Police searched the downtown Hilo area and arrested Gay.

Detectives from the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation section took over the investigation and charged Gay with the offenses late Tuesday afternoon.

Police ask anyone with information about this case to call Detective Richard Sherlock at 961-2379 or the Police Department's non-emergency telephone number at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

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