Suspect Charged With Setting Hilo Man on Fire

Dalston Cortez. HPD photo.

Hawaiʻi Island police have charged a 24-year-old Hilo man for an assault after he allegedly setting another man on fire.

Investigators learned that this incident occurred Friday afternoon, March 16, 2018, while the victim was visiting an acquaintance at an Akolea Road home in Hilo.

At about 1:30 p.m., the suspect arrived at the residence of their mutual acquaintance and reportedly threw an unknown flammable liquid on the victim before lighting the victim on fire.

The incident is suspected to have been related to a previous disagreement between the two men who know one another.

The victim, a 30-year-old Hilo man, was taken by private vehicle to the Hilo Medical Center, then flown to Oʻahu Friday afternoon for further treatment. The victim remains in fair condition at the Straub Medical Center with second and third-degree burns on his lower torso and upper legs.

At 6:55 p.m, Saturday evening, March 17, the suspect, Dalston Cortez, was arrested after turning himself into the Pāhoa Station. He was taken to the Hilo cellblock while detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation.

At 12:45 p.m., Monday, March 19, police charged Cortez with one count of first-degree assault. His bail has been set at $10,000, and he remains in police custody pending his initial appearance scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, March 20, in District Court.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or may information about it is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Todd Pataray of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2382 or [email protected].

This information was provided by the authorities. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.