Man Dies in Ocean After Running from Police

The Hawaiʻi Island Police Department is investigating an incident in which a man appears to have died in the ocean off the Puna coastline.

At approximately 1:05 p.m., Monday, April 16, 2018, police responded to a reported “drop 911” call on Beach Road at the bottom of the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision in lower Puna.

Upon arrival, HPD officers located a group of adults and one of the men ran from them. He headed for the ocean where there was a 15-to 20-foot cliff.

Officers had a hold of him and tried to keep him from going over the edge, but he was able to escape their grasp and make it to a ledge five to 10 feet below.

Shortly after that, a large wave crashed against the side of the cliff and swept him into the ocean.

He was observed by officers to be face down in the water and not moving for an extended period before disappearing from view.

Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel were immediately summoned and responded with a helicopter, boat and jet skis. The search for the man continues.

Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing this investigation classified as a public accident.

Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Jesse Kerr at (808) 961-2379 or jesse.kerr@hawaiicounty.gov.

Video courtesy of Ikaika Marzo:

https://www.facebook.com/ikaika.marzo/videos/1772938579425337/