Volcano Man Charged with Firearm Offenses

A Volcano man was charged with two firearm offenses after an incident Saturday night in Downtown Hilo.

The Hawai’i Police Department reports officers responded to an 11 p.m. report of a possible affray at the soccer fields off Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo, where they learned that a man reportedly exited a sports-utility vehicle brandishing a firearm after a verbal altercation took place. It was reported that the man returned to the SUV and fled the scene after showing the weapon.

Officers located the vehicle at the Keawe and Mamo Street intersection, where they arrested Joseph C. Fernandez on suspicion of terroristic threatening.

Fernandez was taken to the Hilo police cellblock as Area I Criminal Investigations Section detectives continued to investigate.

On Monday at 5:15 p.m., Fernandez was charged with possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway and possessing an unregistered firearm.

Fernandez’s bail was set at $5,500 and he remained at the cellblock pending his initial court hearing, set for Tuesday.

The potential of terroristic threatening charges continue to be investigated.