MEDIA RELEASE

A Hawaiʻi Island police officer required hospital treatment after being injured while attempting to make a traffic stop in Hilo early Monday morning (July 6).

At 12:40 a.m. Monday, South Hilo Patrol officers initiated a traffic stop on a sedan on Kanoelehua Avenue near Kawili Street. The driver of the sedan failed to stop and drove away.

The car was located a few minutes later in the “Isles” parking lot off Lihiwai Street.

As officers approached the sedan, the car attempted to flee and collided with a police vehicle. Two male occupants then fled on foot.

One of the officers was treated at Hilo Medical Center for substantial but non-life-threatening injuries and then released.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section have identified a possible suspect and are continuing the investigation.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the incident to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Clarence Davies at 961-2384 or clarence.davies@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.