Officer Hurt in Booby-Trapped Pot Patch
Police say a Federal Task Force officer suffered puncture wounds when he stepped on a booby trap made of nails on Wednesday.
The unidentified officer was chasing a wanted suspect on foot in Fern Forest when he stepped on the trap, police said.
Police were conducting warrant sweeps in the Ainaloa subdivision at about 10:30 a.m. when the officer ran into a marijuana patch near Azure Drive where he stepped on the homemade device.
A booby-trap device in a marijuana patch increases the offense to first-degree commercial promotion of marijuana, a class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, police said in an Aug. 21 media release.
The extent of medical attention required by the injured office was not released.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Lieutenant Mark Farias of the Area I Vice Section at 961-2253 or mfarias@co.hawaii.hi.us.
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. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.