Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged a 42-year-old man with assault and theft after investigating a weapons incident in which two people were stabbed in Hilo.
 
On June 20, patrol officers responded to a call alerting them of a weapons incident behind a business in the 300 block of East Maka‘ala Street in Hilo. Arriving officers contacted a 44-year-old woman with a laceration to her arm and a 52-year-old man with a puncture wound to his torso.
 
In the course of investigation, police determined that a man, later identified as 42-year-old Kunia Hassard, of no permanent address, armed with an edged weapon approached the woman and attacked her, cutting her arm. The suspect then cut the man, who was attempting to stop the attack on the female victim. After cutting the male victim, the suspect stole a bicycle belonging to a witness and fled the scene.
 
Both victims were transported to Hilo Medical Center where they were treated for their injuries and are in stable condition. The victims and Hassard are acquaintances and the reason for the attack is currently under investigation.
 
Continuing their investigation, detectives with Hawai‘i Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigation Division located Hassard in Hilo on June 22 and arrested him without incident. Detectives also recovered the stolen bicycle.
 
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office on June 23, detectives charged Hassard with the following offenses:

• Two counts of first-degree assault
• Third-degree theft

Hassard’s total bail was set at $52,000. He is currently being held at the Hawai’i Police Department East Hawai’i Detention Center pending his initial court appearance scheduled for today.
 
Police ask anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Detective Paul Mangus via email at paul.mangus@hawaiicounty.gov.

HPD Photo