Police: Suspect ransacks Kona store, shoots officer with own Taser

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Police arrested and charged a California man Tuesday with numerous offenses, including terroristic threatening and assault, stemming from an incident that occurred July 11 at a retail establishment in Kailua-Kona.

The suspect is identified as 29-year-old Simon Nicholas Boone, of Antelope, Calif.

According to police, at 4:59 a.m. Tuesday, Kona patrol officers responded to the 75-900 block of Henry Street for a report of a suspicious man with an empty soda box on each of his hands as if he was concealing a gun.

The victim told responding officers that the suspect, later identified as Boone, approached her in the store’s parking lot with his arms extended and his hands covered by two separate boxes. Boone then yelled at her, ordering her to get on the ground.

The victim feared for her life but was able to safely make it to the grocery store. Boone allegedly pursued the woman into the store and, according to police, intentionally damaged more than $2,500 worth of merchandise as he tried to reach the victim.

According to police, the store was ransacked with damaged merchandise strewn across the floor. Boone then allegedly acted aggressively toward the two officers, swinging an umbrella as if it were a baseball bat.

A struggle ensued between Boone and the officers, during which Boone removed a taser from one of the officer’s duty work belt. Boone then deployed the taser probes, causing one to strike an officer’s hand and the other to strike a female bystander in her shin. The officer and the bystander sustained minor injuries.

Boone was taken into custody and transported to the Kealakehe Police Station for processing.

Later that same day, after conferring with prosecutors, Boone was charged with numerous theft, property damage and assault offenses, and his bail was set at $63.000.

Boone made his initial appearance Wednesday in Kona District Court.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Kona Patrol Officer Joshua Stender, via email at Joshua.Stender@hawaiicounty.gov, or at the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.