Hilo woman charged after intentionally hitting police vehicle

Hawaii Island police on Monday charged a 38-year-old Hilo woman with assault of a law enforcement officer and other offenses after allegedly ramming a Hawaii Police Department vehicle early Sunday in Puna.

Jaclyn Kanani Ann Kama was charged with two counts of first-degree attempted-assault against a law enforcement officer, first-degree criminal property damage, second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, and ownership/possession (ammunition) prohibited, according to the Hawaii Police Department. Her bail was set at $107,000 pending an initial court appearance.

The charges against Kama stem from an incident shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday, when Puna Patrol officers responded to the area of South Enos Road in Mountain View for a report of suspicious activity involving several individuals and vehicles.

As officers approached one of the vehicles to investigate, they contacted a woman in the driver seat. According to police, officers were able to confirm her identity as Kama, and determined that she had an outstanding no-bail warrant of arrest. Officers informed Kama that she was under arrest and requested she exit the vehicle. Kama refused numerous verbal commands from the officers and allegedly accelerated the vehicle toward a parked police vehicle, striking it, and placing the officers in danger.

Kama then reversed the vehicle off the edge of the roadway, where it became stuck, according to police. Kama was then taken into custody.

No one was injured during the incident, police said.

The vehicle Kama was operating was recovered and towed to the Hilo Police Station pending execution of a search warrant, which police said Tuesday resulted in the recovery of approximately 17.6 grams of methamphetamine, 16 grams of dried marijuana, a glass smoking pipe with residue, and firearm ammunition.