Kona Patrol officer Dylan Chaves was recently honored as Officer of the Month for March 2025 by the Kona Crime Prevention Committee.
On October 23, 2024, Officer Chaves was investigating an unrelated incident at a clothing store when he recognized a female patron as a domestic violence victim he had previously assisted. Officer Chaves noticed that the woman was distressed and had injuries on her face. His intuition told him the victim was in need of assistance and he inquired about her well-being. As the conversation continued, it became clear to Officer Chaves that the victim was convinced her abuser would know she spoke to the police and punish her. Officer Chaves implored the woman to make a formal report but she cut the interaction short when she noticed a family member.
Later that evening the victim met with Officer Chavez and recounted that in the preceding day her abuser had held her captive for several hours, terrorizing her by wielding a hammer and threatening to strike her with it.
Officer Chaves informed the County Prosecutor’s Office and the Area II Juvenile Aid Section of the incident. Although the suspect proved elusive, Officer Chaves tracked him down and arrested him.
The man who was charged with:
- First-degree terroristic threatening
- Second-degree assault
- Two counts of abuse of a family or household member
- Kidnapping
- Violating the terms and conditions of release of bail
The suspect was initially remanded to the Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center in lieu of $326,000 bail. By virtue of the Prosecutor’s efforts, the suspect’s bail was revoked and he remains in custody pending his trial.
HPD Photo