Hawaiʻi Police Department
Area I, Criminal Investigations Division
Captain Gregory Esteban
Phone: (808) 961-2251
Report No. 19-91198
Media Release
Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating an incident that occurred in Glenwood involving the discharge of a weapon by an on-duty officer.
Today (November 19), at 2:45 p.m., officers with the Special Enforcement Unit were conducting checks in the area of Route 11, also known as the Volcano Highway, and South Glenwood Road for wanted subjects known to frequent a residence in the area and last observed operating a multi-colored early model Honda sedan. The officers entered a driveway leading to the residence in an unmarked vehicle after observing the Honda drive into the area.
The officers observed the Honda in the driveway and exited their vehicle to initiate contact with the occupants, at which time the Honda immediately reversed then accelerated towards one of the officers who was standing outside of the passenger side of their vehicle. As the Honda drove towards the officer, he immediately jumped back into the open passenger door, which was struck by the Honda as it drove past, scraping along the entire passenger side. The other officer discharged his service weapon at the Honda as it left the area and was last observed traveling south on Route 11, headed in the Volcano direction.
Additional officers converged in the area and also conducted checks for the Honda however were unsuccessful in locating it or its occupants.
The officer who discharged his weapon is a 5-year veteran of the department and the other officer is a 15-year veteran. Neither of the plain-clothed officers were injured during the confrontation with the vehicle or the weapon discharge.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene and are continuing the investigation, which is currently classified as a first degree attempted murder.
Detectives from the Office of Professional Standards are also conducting an independent administrative investigation as the result of the weapon discharge.
Anyone who may have seen the incident or may have seen the Honda, which is further described as having body panels with different colors and without license plates, driving to or from the area, or may have any other information about this incident is asked to call Detective William Brown at (808) 961-2384 or email william.brown@hawaiicounty.gov.