MEDIA RELEASE
In response to a 12:21 a.m. report of a disturbance at the 1000 block of Kuahiwi Place in Hilo on Monday (May 9), police arrived to find numerous people confronting a 47-year-old male victim fronting a residence. One of the male suspects, as well as the victim, were both armed with baseball bats. An officer ordered the male suspect to drop his bat, although he refused to obey their commands and was arrested for Terroristic Threatening in the first degree following the deployment of one of the officers’ Conducted Electrical Weapons (CEW), more commonly known as a “Taser.†This male suspect was later identified as 24-year-old Jake Gassett, of Hilo.
The remaining suspects fled the scene in two pickup trucks, one of which was stopped by South Hilo Patrol officers fronting Mohouli Park. This vehicle was being operated by 19-year-old Travis Anzai of Hilo. The second truck, which was being operated by 52-year-old Betty Anzai of Hilo, was stopped on Komohana Street. Also in this second vehicle was a 20-year-old male passenger, Darcy Alameda, of Hilo.
Further information was then obtained that Travis Anzai had wielded a shotgun, although had thrown it back into one of the trucks upon officers’ arrival to the scene. He was initially arrested for having an open container of beer in his vehicle and Terroristic Threatening in the first degree. A rifle case that was observed in his vehicle was recovered while police continued their investigation.
Betty Anzai consented to a search of her vehicle where officers recovered a 12-guage shotgun shell, a baseball bat, and an expandable baton. Both Betty Anzai and Darcy Alameda were arrested for Terroristic Threatening in the first degree. Alameda was also arrested for an unrelated Contempt of Court bench warrant and Deadly Weapon when a pair of brass knuckles was found on his person.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation and recovered a shotgun from Komohana Street and 3 other shotgun shells within Travis Anzai’s vehicle.
After conferring with the Prosecutors Office, Darcy Alameda was released pending further investigation.
Travis Anzai was charged with two counts of Terroristic Threatening in the first degree, Open Liquor Motor Vehicle, Unloaded Firearm, and Place to Keep Ammunition. His bail was set at $31,250.
Betty Anzai was charged with Terroristic Threatening in the first degree, Place to Keep Ammunition, Unloaded Firearm on a Highway, and Felon in Possession of Ammunition/Firearm. Her bail was set at $46,000.
Jake Gassett was charged with Terroristic Threatening in the first degree. His bail was set at $2,000.
Their initial court appearance was yesterday (May 11).
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