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Man arrested after three persons stabbed in Hilo (update) 05-23-14

Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area I
Lieutenant Gregory Esteban
Phone: 961-2252

 

Media Release (update)

A suspect remains in police custody in connection with three stabbings early Friday (May 23) in Hilo.

At 12:02 a.m., South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a bar at 168 Keawe Street and found a 28-year-old Pāhoa man and a 27-year-old Hilo woman with stab wounds. A man unknown to them had reportedly stabbed them outside the bar, damaged a car and then fled on foot toward the Wainaku area.

Minutes after police arrived at the scene, they received additional calls reporting a stabbing at a residence on the 300 block of Ohai Street in the Wainaku area. Responding officers found a 49-year-old man with multiple stab wounds.

Police immediately launched a search for the suspect, who was an acquaintance of the Ohai Street victim.

All three victims were taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. The Pāhoa man underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition. The Hilo man underwent surgery and was listed in critical but stable condition. The woman was treated for her injuries and released.

At 7:36 a.m., police located the suspect, 28-year-old Varaha Mims, at the home of a Hilo acquaintance. He was arrested on suspicion of suspicion of first-degree attempted murder, three counts of second-degree attempted murder, third-degree criminal property damage, first-degree burglary and third-degree promoting a detrimental drug. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

Detectives are reviewing video surveillance from nearby businesses on Keawe Street.

Police ask anyone with information about these cases or anyone who may have witnessed either incident to contact Detective Todd Patarayat 961-2382 or tpataray@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Joel Field at 961-2381 or jfield@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.