Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged 27-year-old Chad Kalenakai Gahan Armitage Jr., with assault and robbery following the beating of an elderly man in downtown Hilo on Sunday afternoon.

South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a report of an assault that took place on Kilauea Avenue near the Keawe Street junction. Officers discovered the 68-year-old victim laying unconscious on the sidewalk where he was bleeding from his head and facial area.  He was transported via ambulance to Hilo Medical Center and later flown to the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu where he remains in critical condition.

Police canvassed the area for witnesses and video surveillance of the incident and shortly thereafter they positively identified Armitage as the suspect.  He was located fronting a business on the 400 block of Kilauea Avenue. Following a short foot pursuit with officers, he was taken into custody.
 
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, detectives charged Armitage with two counts of first-degree assault and second-degree robbery. His bail is set at $75,000.  He remains in police custody pending his initial appearance in Hilo District Court on July 13.
 
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective John Balberde of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2386 or via email at  John.Balberde@hawaiicounty.gov

HPD Photo