OCEAN VIEW— A man is dead after calling police, attacking them and becoming unresponsive after they arrived on scene Monday, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
OCEAN VIEW— A man is dead after calling police, attacking them and becoming unresponsive after they arrived on scene Monday, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
He was identified as Jonathan Watson, 46, who lived on the 92-2600 block of Hukilau Drive in Ocean View.
Hawaii Police Department Area II Maj. Mitchell Kanehailua said it appeared Watson, who called police at 9:53 a.m. Monday to notify them he had been shot, was alone at his home at the time.
When officers arrived, Watson had a bandage on his left leg and “came out of the house in an aggressive manner and began fighting with the officers. The officers took him into custody,” according to a police statement.
Officers entered the home to look for victims or suspects, and Watson began kicking at them and became unresponsive, the release said.
Police attempted CPR until fire department personnel arrived a few minutes later and took over unsuccessful efforts to revive him, according to police. Watson was later taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m.
Police have requested an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. The case is classified as a coroner’s inquest.
On Tuesday police were investigating the home, hand-built of lava collected and shaped by Watson. It stands in one of the large fields of a’a, with a dramatic view that encompasses South Point.
The building has few nearby homes, and several residents did not want to speak on the record out of concern they could be targeted. Watson was reclusive and willing to help out and work at other people’s property, some neighbors said. He was often called upon to use his masonry skills, but the neighborhood was typically quiet with not a lot of people coming and going.
“No one uses this road,” one neighbor said about the rural area.
As of Tuesday afternoon there was no indication that anyone else was involved, Kanehailua said. The investigative section has started an inquiry, as is standard when there is an in-custody death. Kanehailua said the goal was to look for evidence of firearms, and officers had already recovered one.
The Office of Professional Standards is also performing an administrative investigation.