Preliminary hearing set for man charged in connection with car chase in Kona

KEALAKEKUA — A preliminary hearing is scheduled for this afternoon for the driver of a vehicle involved in an officer-involved shooting incident that occurred last week in the areas of Keauhou and Napoopoo Road.

Harvey Damo Jr., 25, of Hilo, was in custody when he appeared for his initial appearance in Kona District Court on Monday. Despite requests to reduce bail by defense counsel, District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga maintained bail at $54,000.

Damo is facing charges of two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree reckless endangering, first-degree resisting an order to stop, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, fourth-degree theft and fourth degree criminal property damage.

Shevylyn Klaus, 25, also of Hilo, who was also within the vehicle at the time of the incident, was released pending further investigation.

Charges stem from an incident that occurred on Thursday afternoon. Hawaii Police received reports of a sighting of accused cop killer Justin Waiki in Kailua-Kona. At 4:58 p.m., police responded to Ka Hale Kahaluu on reports of shots fired where two individuals in a truck led police on a chase through South Kona ending at Middle Keei Road where the suspects fled on foot.

After hours of combing the countryside, Damo and Klaus were taken into custody. Damo was treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound at Kona Community Hospital.

Police are still investigating whether Damo and Klaus were known associates of Waiki and if the fugitive was somehow involved in Thursday’s pursuit. Waiki was killed in a shootout with police Friday in the South Point area following a days-long, island wide manhunt that began after the 33-year-old allegedly fatally shot Officer Bronson Kaliloa on July 17 alongside Highway 11 in Mountain View.