UPDATE: Man Arrested, Charged After Stabbing Pair at Hilo Park

***Updated at 5 p.m. to include additional Hawai’i Police Department information and photo. ***

According to the Hawai’i Police Department, 32-year-old David Lester Bars was charged Monday at 4:31 p.m. by Area I Criminal Investigations Section detectives with attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault.

Bars was arrested early Monday morning on suspicion of those offenses.

HPD says bail for Bar was set at $260,000. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock pending his intial court appearance, set for Tuesday.

*** Original story posted at 11:32 a.m. ***

Early Monday morning stabbings have led to the arrest of a 32-year-old man in Hilo.

According to the Hawai’i Police Department, South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a 12:21 a.m. call of a stabbing during a disturbance at Wailoa State Park.

As they arrived, officers located two victims who were headed to the Hilo Medical Center in a private vehicle. Officers followed the victims to the hospital, where it was determined that they were injured when an argument became physical.

One victim, a 27-year-old Pahoa man, suffered a stab wound to the throat, while a 24-year-old Pahoa woman had a cut on her right leg.

HPD reports that additional officers who were on their way to the park noticed a man who matched the description of the suspect walking on Pi’ilani Street.

The man was identified as David Lester Bars, who has no permanent address.

Bars was arrested on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault. Officers took him to the Hilo police cellblock as Area I Criminal Investigations Section detectives continue to investigate.

Police say the male victim was treated for his injuries and remains at the hospital in serious conditions. The female victim was treated for her injuries and released from the hospital.

Anyone who witnessed the confrontation should call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Dean Uyetake by phone at 961-2379 or e-mail dean.uyetake@hawaiicounty.gov.

Individuals who prefer to remain anonymous can call the Big Island Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300.