Media Release

Big Island police have charged a 47-year-old Hilo man with a variety of offenses in connection with a vehicle pursuit early Wednesday evening (April 8) that resulted in the man allegedly intentionally crashing into a police vehicle. Valentin R. Solis was taken into custody after his vehicle came to rest in the bushes in the median of Highway 11 a short distance on the Hilo side of Macadamia Road.

Just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, at the parking lot of Prince Kuhio Plaza, two plain-clothed law enforcement officers confronted Solis in connection with an ongoing investigation. Immediately upon being contacted, he fled in his vehicle, nearly running over one of the officers in the process.

South Hilo patrol officers attempted to stop the vehicle, which led them on what was described as a "normal speed" pursuit. The suspect led police through the Panaewa House Lots subdivision and eventually onto Highway 11 in the Volcano direction.

Upon reaching the area of the intersection with Stainback Highway, the suspect vehicle approached another police vehicle, which was already ahead of it, and apparently struck the vehicle intentionally. After that collision, he continued in the Volcano direction until reaching the area of Macadamia Road, at which time he struck another vehicle, hit a guard rail, crossed back across the two-lane highway and ended up in the median. He was taken into custody without further incident. 

Neither he nor the occupants of the second collision received any injuries. The police officer involved in the first collision was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was treated and released for his injuries.

Solis was charged late Thursday afternoon with one count of first-degree attempted murder (the alleged intentional collision with the officer), one count of first-degree criminal property damage, first-degree assault on a police officer, two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, resisting an order to stop, and reckless driving. He is being held in the police cellblock in lieu of $250,000 bail pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday afternoon in South Hilo District Court.

These events caused traffic to be severely affected on Highway 11 in the Volcano-bound lanes. One lane of traffic was shut for several hours to allow investigators to conduct their investigation at the scenes.

Police apologize for any inconvenience this caused for motorists trying to make it home on time.    

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed either incident to call Lieutenant Mitchell Kanehailua at 961-2252 or the Police Department’s non-emergency line 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.