MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police have charged a Hilo man and a Pahoa man who were arrested following an incident that took place outside Long’s Drugs on Puainako Street early Wednesday evening (Dec. 1).

At 11:30 a.m. Friday (Dec. 3), detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section charged 31-year-old Jonathan Waipa of Hilo with first-degree criminal property damage and third-degree assault. His bail was set at $5,500.

Detectives also charged 23-year-old Jude Quirantes of Pahoa with first-degree criminal property damage. His bail was set at $5,000.

Both men are being held at the Hilo Police cellblock pending an initial court appearance Monday (Dec. 6).

The 28-year-old Pahoa woman, Lani John, was released without charges.

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Big Island police are investigating an incident that took place outside Long’s Drugs on Puainako Street early Wednesday evening (Dec. 1).

Responding to a 5:30 p.m. report of an affray, South Hilo patrol officers discovered a 31-year-old Hilo man with an injury to his head.

A 23-year-old Pahoa man and a 28-year-old Pahoa woman were also injured in the incident.

All three were treated at Hilo Medical Center and later arrested.

The Hilo man, Jonathan Waipa, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree criminal property damage and third-degree assault.

The Pahoa man, Jude Quirantes, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree criminal property damage, second-degree assault and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

The Pahoa woman, Lani John, was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault.

All three are being held at the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to call Detective Reed Mahuna at 961-2384 or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 or 329-8181 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.