UPDATED (4:57 p.m. on 7/20/2015)

David Bars

A 32-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and assault in connection with a double stabbing early Monday (July 20) at Wailoa State Park.

At 4:31 p.m. Monday, detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section charged David Lester Bars, who has no permanent address, with attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault. His bail was set at $260,000. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Tuesday (July 21).

At 12:21 a.m. Monday, South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a report of a stabbing during a disturbance at Wailoa State Park.

Officers found two victims, a 27-year-old Pāhoa man with a stab wound to the throat and a 24-year-old Pāhoa woman with a cut on her right leg. Police determined that the victims had been injured when an argument became physical. They were taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.

Other officers en route to the park found a man matching the description of the suspect, later identified as Bars, walking on Piʻilani Street. Bars was arrested and taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.

The male victim was treated for his injuries and remains at the hospital in stable condition. The female victim was treated for her injuries and released from the hospital.

MEDIA RELEASE (11:22 a.m. 7/20/15)

A 32-year-old man is in police custody following a double stabbing early Monday (July 20) at a park in Hilo.

At 12:21 a.m. Monday, South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a report of a stabbing during a disturbance at Wailoa State Park.

Officers found two victims in a private vehicle bound for Hilo Medical Center, a 27-year-old Pāhoa man with a stab wound to the throat and a 24-year-old Pāhoa woman with a cut on her right leg. Officers followed the victims to the hospital. Police determined that the victims had been injured when an argument became physical.

Other officers en route to the park found a man matching the description of the suspect walking on Piʻilani Street. The man, 32-year-old David Lester Bars, who has no permanent address, was arrested on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault. He was taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

The male victim was treated for his injuries and remains at the hospital in serious condition. The female victim was treated for her injuries and released from the hospital.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the confrontation to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Dean Uyetake at 961-2379 or dean.uyetake@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.