HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUNA PATROL DISTRICT
SERGEANT SAMUEL JELSMA
PHONE: 966-5835
JULY 23, 2003
H-56569/ABUSE FAM MEM
MEDIA RELEASE
A 46-year-old Puna man has been arrested and charged with several offenses resulting from a domestic dispute that led to a standoff with police Friday (July 18, 2003) at his residence in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
Puna patrol officers arrived at the residence of the suspect, identified as Barton Bumatay, about 12:30 p.m. to arrest him in an abuse case. Officers found him sitting down holding a machete to his throat and making threats to kill himself and to blow up the property.
During an attempt to arrest him, Bumatay charged at an officer with the machete and verbally threatened to cut him. Taunting police to shoot him, Bumatay grabbed other weapons and held them to his throat, making further threats. After about an hour, officers were able to talk the suspect down and subdue him.
Because of his suicidal behavior and threats against police, Bumatay was committed to the Hilo Medical Center for a psychological assessment. Police also recovered several homemade explosive devices that had been placed near the driveway entrance of his property.
On release from the hospital Monday (July 21, 2003), Bumatay was arrested for various criminal offenses and charged with abuse of a family member, terroristic threatening and reckless endangering. He was also charged with harassment in an unrelated case involving another Puna resident that occurred between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Friday.
He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $6,500 bail.
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