According to the Hawai’i Police Department, a 39-year-old Hilo man was arrested for assaulting a police officer. Immediately following an altercation that took place July 29, close to Carlsmith Beach Park/Four Miles in Keaukaha, police on Hawai’i Island detained and accused Justin Siliva Lealao, 39, of committing multiple violations, according to a police department release.
Lealao was allegedly involved in a criminal activity that took place in the Keaukaha community of the Carlsmith Beach Park/Four Miles area. The arrival of law enforcement at the location, approximately 7 p.m. July 29 was sparked by a report that stated “vehicles congregating, burning rubber on the roadway and drinking in the area,” the release reported. An officer who was there said Lealao’s vehicle was blocking the flow of traffic in the area.
The report from the police department said a uniformed officer approached Lealao, “who exhibited signs of being under the influence of alcohol,” and had a chat with him. Following the officer’s allegation that he observed open liquor bottles inside Lealao’s vehicle, the officer ordered Lealao to exit the vehicle.
In spite of this, Lealao “became aggressive” and “physically resistant and combative” as officers attempted to remove him from the vehicle. According to the department’s release, Lealao allegedly made an attempt to seize control of an officer’s taser and kicked one of the officers in the knee as they were removing him from the vehicle.
When the defendant was reportedly trying to steal the taser, one of the probes from the weapon accidentally went off, causing a police officer to sustain injuries. Brass knuckles were also reportedly found on Lealao, as stated by the police department. The search warrant the police conducted on Lealao’s vehicle resulted in the discovery of the brass knuckles, as well as a large number of empty and mostly full liquor bottles.
Lealao was taken into custody by the police department July 31 on suspicion of first-degree assault against a police officer, resisting arrest, possessing a lethal weapon in the presence of a police officer, driving under the influence of alcohol, possessing an open container of alcohol, driving with a suspended or revoked license and driving without no-fault insurance, the release reported. Lealao was also suspected of driving without no-fault insurance.
The bail for Lealao was set at $4,300 by the judge, according to the police department release.
The injured officer was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of injuries to the knee and hand before being released, the department reported. Witnesses are asked to contact Detective Christopher Jelsma, of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, by calling 808-961-2386 or sending an email to Christopher.Jelsma@hawaiicounty.gov.
