MEDIA RELEASE

Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted in connection with an assault that occurred on January 28, 2011 in the Puna District.

Keola Bergau

Puna patrol officers responded to a Seaview Road address in Nanawale Estates to a reported affray at about 3:45 pm. A 53 year-old Pahoa man sustained injuries as a result of the assault and was subsequently transferred to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu where he was initially listed in critical condition. His condition has since been upgraded to stable.

Police are looking for Keola Bergau of Pahoa in connection with this assault. Bergau is described as a local male about 5 foot 10, 120 pounds, black hair with brown eyes. It is believed that Bergau’s appearance may have been altered, as his hair length may have changed since the above picture was taken in 2005.

Police ask that anyone with information about Bergau’s whereabouts 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 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona 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. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (3/2/11)

Keola Lance Kahele Bergau

Detectives have charged a 25 year-old Puna man who was wanted in connection with an assault that occurred in the Puna District.

On March 2, 2011 at 10:20 am, Keola Lance Kahele Bergau turned himself in at the South Hilo District station after he learned he was wanted in connection to this investigation.

At 3:15 pm, detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section charged Bergau for assault in the first degree. His bail was set at $50,000.00 and he is presently being held in the East Hawaii Detention Center pending his initial court appearance scheduled for March 3, 2011.

The assault charge stemmed from an incident in which Puna patrol officers responded to a Seaview Road address in Nanawale Estates to a reported affray at about 3:45 pm on January 28, 2011. A 53 year-old Pahoa man sustained injuries as a result of the assault and was subsequently transferred to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu where he was initially listed in critical condition. His condition has since been upgraded to stable.