HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS SECTION, AREA II
CAPTAIN ROBERT HICKCOX
PHONE: 326-4646, EXT. 263
JULY 12, 2006
REPORT NO. C06021373

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE

Police have charged a 31-year-old Kona man with second-degree assault in connection with a stabbing late Tuesday night (July 11, 2006).

Justin Marcus Walthall, who lives in Kailua-Kona but has no permanent address, is being held in the Kealekehe police cellblock in lieu of $2,000 bail.

At approximately >11:45 p.m.,> >Hawaii> police officers responded to the reported stabbing in the >>c>>>>ounty> >>>p>>>>arking lot>> in Kailua-Kona. Officers initially encountered a 31-year-old homeless man walking across >>Kuakini Highway east>> of the parking lot. He was carrying a knife.

After getting the man to put the knife down, officers spoke with a 39-year-old Kona man, who reported that he had been walking across the county parking lot when the other man bumped into him with the knife. The victim reported that when he asked the man what the problem was, the man pulled out the knife and began slashing at him. The victim said he ran away but sustained a 3-inch laceration to his left forearm while trying to defend himself.

The victim was treated for the knife wound at >>Kona> Community >Hospital>> and then released. At 12:45 a.m. Wednesday (>J>>uly 12, 2006), p>olice arrested Walthall on suspicion of attempted murder>. The offense was later> downgraded to assault and >Walthall>> was charged at 3:>>15 p.m. >>Thursday (>>July 13.)>> >