A longtime North Kohala resident is appealing to Big Islanders for help locating a man who allegedly assaulted and knocked him unconscious March 17 on a trail near Puako Bay.
A longtime North Kohala resident is appealing to Big Islanders for help locating a man who allegedly assaulted and knocked him unconscious March 17 on a trail near Puako Bay.
Ben Fisher, 54, contacted West Hawaii Today this week reaching out to the Big Island community to encourage approximately 10 possible witnesses to come forward with information. He hopes then the man who punched him from behind will be brought to justice.
“I’m steadfast that I want to see justice served on the person who did this to me,” said Fisher, who is also a Hawaii Fire Department lifeguard. “This person needs to pay his dues because it could happen to someone else and that person could be hit to the ground in a way that they could become a quadriplegic or even die.”
Fisher said the attack occurred around 5:30 p.m. while he was making his way along a trail leading from Paniau, also known as “Ruddles,” surf spot to Holoholokai beach. He had just completed a run and was returning to his vehicle.
Initially, Fisher said he came upon a group of about 10 people, several of whom he knew, and began talking to a longtime friend. He then noticed two men in the group appeared “hostile,” and, shortly thereafter, one confronted him, prompting Fisher to put his hands up in a “gesture of peace,” he said.
The next thing Fisher said he remembers is his T-shirt being soaked in blood and his friend picking him up off the lava and coral. He did not see his alleged attacker.
Though injured and possibly having suffered a concussion, Fisher said he walked to his vehicle and drove himself to the South Kohala police and fire substations. There, he filed a police report but declined medical treatment.
A visit to the dentist the next day determined he suffered soft tissue damage in his face, but no broken bones. He is continuing to heal.
South Kohala Police Capt. Aimee Wana confirmed Tuesday that police initiated a third-degree assault investigation in connection with the St. Patrick’s Day incident.
While she said no arrests have been made, police are looking for a 27-year-old Kawaihae man in connection with the reported assault. He is described as Hawaiian, 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing about 240 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, she said.
Fisher also said that some witnesses, whom he indicated fear retaliation, pointed to a 27-year-old Kawaihae man as the attacker. He also learned the man, whom he does not know, approached him from behind and punched him once in the left side of the face.
West Hawaii Today is not identifying the 27-year-old because he hasn’t been charged with a crime. However, a check of the Hawaii Criminal Justice Center shows he has six charges on his record.
“There were nine to 10 people there that witnessed what happened,” Fisher pleaded. “I’m asking anyone with information to come forward.”
Anyone with information on the case should call Officer Richard Nery at the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.