Hawaiʻi Police Department
Juvenile Aid Section, Area I
Lieutenant Sandor Finkey
Phone: (808) 961-2254
Report No. 20-010203
Media Release
Big Island detectives have charged a 32-year-old Puna man for several offenses stemming from a domestic-related incident that occurred in Puna on Tuesday (February 4).
On (February 4) at 11:10 a.m., Puna patrol officers responded to a report of a female who had been threatened by her husband. Officers contacted a 28-year-old female who informed police that her husband George Anthony Cruz III had threatened to kill her multiple times with a firearm, assaulted her and at one point held her against her will. At 2:30 p.m. while making checks at a residence in Hawaiian Paradise Park, Cruz III (who was also wanted on several outstanding warrants) was located and arrested following a brief foot chase.
Detectives executed a search warrant later that evening at the residence and recovered a firearm with ammunition. Cruz III was initially held at the police cellblock but has since been remanded to the custody of the Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center.
Today (February 6) after conferring with prosecutors, George Anthony Cruz III was charged with first-degree terroristic threatening, kidnapping, felony abuse of a family household member, ownership prohibited and carrying/using a firearm in the commission of a separate felony. His bail was set at $160,000 and he is scheduled to make his initial court appearance tomorrow (February 7).