Hawai‘i Island police have charged 61-year-old Kelley O. Calvert, of Kurtistown, with attempted murder following a neighbor dispute in Tiki Gardens in the Ainaloa subdivision of Puna on March 13, 2022..

Puna patrol officers responded to a report of a male victim that had reportedly been threatened with a large kitchen knife and then intentionally struck with a vehicle being operated by Calvert.  The 58-year-old victim was transported via ambulance to Hilo Medical Center, where he was treated and later released.

During the course of the investigation, it was reported that Calvert had gone to the victim’s residence yelling about killing a dog. He then verbally threatened to kill the victim. Calvert then left the area.  Later he returned and stopped his vehicle in front of the victim’s residence, exited and threatened to kill the victim.  Calvert then began chasing him with a large kitchen knife. The victim retreated to his property; meanwhile Calvert got back into his vehicle and intentionally drove directly towards the victim, striking him and colliding with a parked vehicle. After striking the victim and the parked vehicle, Calvert again left the area.

When officers later responded to Calvert’s residence they observed his vehicle in the open carport and saw Calvert immediately retreat into the residence.  They verbally engaged with Calvert who was seen holding a large kitchen knife.  He initially refused to exit the house and verbally threatened them. After negotiating with officers, Calvert exited the residence and was arrested. During the course of being taken into custody, Calvert physically resisted arrest and assaulted one of the officers. The officer was treated by medics.   

After conferring with the County Prosecutors office on Monday, March 14, 2022, detectives charged Calvert with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree terroristic threatening, first-degree assault against a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest. He is being held in lieu of $272,000 bail, pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, March 15, 2022, in Hilo District Court.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene to continue the investigation. Search warrants were later executed on Calvert’s residence, as well as his vehicle.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Blaine Morishita at (808) 961-2385 or via emai at Blaine.Morishita@hawaiicounty.gov.

Photo credit: HPD