Police investigating discharge of officer’s weapon
Hawaii Island police are investigating the discharge of a weapon by an on-duty officer Thursday afternoon in Kailua-Kona.
Officers from the Area II Vice Section were conducting operations at a business establishment in the 73-5000 block of Olowalu Street when they observed several parties exiting the business with a large quantity of high value items shortly after 5:20 p.m. The individuals appeared to be trying to quickly load the items into a vehicle and leave the area.
Officers attempted to contact the parties to further investigate the incident. As officers approached the vehicle and identified themselves as police officers, the driver of the vehicle abruptly reversed in an attempt to flee the area. Officers ran after the vehicle, which stopped, and they attempted to make contact a second time. As officers again identified themselves as police officers and attempted to remove the parties from the vehicle an officer’s service weapon was discharged.
All occupants were removed from the vehicle and subsequently arrested on suspicion of theft.
No one was injured during the incident, police said.
The officer who discharged the weapon is seven-year veteran of the department. The officer was placed on administrative leave pending the completion of the administrative investigation.
Detectives from the Office of Professional Standards are also conducting an independent administrative investigation as the result of the weapon discharge.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or may have information about this incident should call Detective Sheldon Nakamoto at (808) 326-4646, ext. 228, or email Sheldon.Nakamoto@hawaiicounty.gov.
