Woman in critical condition after reported domestic attack

KAILUA-KONA — An Ocean View man is facing assault and abuse charges stemming from a domestic-related incident in Ka‘u last week.

Hawaii Police Department Ka‘u patrol officers first responded to the scene at 11:37 a.m. on the report of an unconscious female that had been hiking from Pohue Bay with her boyfriend.

According to Hawaii Fire Department officials, medics received a report of an unresponsive person at about 10:15 a.m on Friday. Medics arrived at 10:41 a.m. and made contact with patient at 10:53 a.m.

“There was a delay in EMS response as the patient was located one mile down a four-wheel drive access-only road,” according to fire officials.

When emergency crews arrived on scene to the Hawaiian Ranchos subdivision area, fire officials say, a bystander at the top of the road gave EMS a ride to the patient in four-wheel drive truck.

The 40-year-old woman of Alaska was transported to Kona Community Hospital in critical condition. She was later flown to Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu. As of Monday she remained in critical condition.

“She is reported to have received traumatic injuries about her head and bruising and redness about her body,” police state.

The victim’s boyfriend, Vincent Michael Nelson, 40, was arrested Friday and charged Sunday with abuse of a family or household member and first-degree assault. He was booked at the Kealakehe Police Station.

Nelson appeared in District Court Monday where the judge maintained bail at $27,000. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

Pohue Bay is an isolated beach area near the bottom of Hawaiian Ranchos with no public access by vehicle. It is billed as having the only white-sand beach in Ka‘u and is a prime nesting area for endangered hawksbill sea turtles.