Man Charged Following Alleged Beating of Elderly Man in Hilo

A 27-year-old man was arrested and charged with assault and robbery after an alleged beating of an elderly man in downtown Hilo on Sunday.

The incident occurred shortly after 12:30 p.m. Hawai‘i Police Department’s South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a reported assault on Kīlauea Avenue near the Keawe Street junction. When they arrived on scene, officers found a 68-year-old victim laying on the sidewalk unconscious and bleeding from his head and facial area.

The victim was transported via ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center emergency room and was later flown to the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu where he remains in critical condition.

Police canvassed the area for witnesses and video surveillance of the broad-daylight incident. A short time later, officers positively identified Chad Kalenakai Gahan Armitage Jr. as the suspect and continued canvassing the downtown Hilo area trying to find him.

At approximately 5:18 p.m., Armitage was located fronting a business on the 400 block of Kīlauea Avenue. After a short foot pursuit with officers, Armitage was taken into custody.

According to a news release from the county prosecutor’s office, Armitage, who has a prior conviction for first-degree assault, was charged with two counts of first-degree assault and second-degree robbery. All three charges are Class B felonies, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors provided  notice to seek an extended term of imprisonment, alleging Armitage is an offender against the elderly. An extended prison term would mean Armitage would face the possibility of a 20 year prison term.

As a felony repeat offender, if convicted, Armitage is subject to a mandatory prison term based on his prior conviction for first-degree assault.

In addition, prosecutors also provided notice of an intention to seek a mandatory prison term in accordance with statutory sentencing guidelines in relation to imprisonment for offenses against the elderly.  

Armitage is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon, July 13, in Hilo District Court. He remains in custody in lieu of $75,000 bail.  

The initial investigation was handled by Officers Mikhail Watkins and Jayce Carvalho of the Hawai‘i Police Department South Hilo Patrol, and the felony investigation was handled by Detective John Balberde with HPD’s Area I Criminal  Investigation Section.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Malate. 

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective John Balberde of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-961-2386 or email him at John.Balberde@hawaiicounty.gov or call the police department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.

Police want to remind the public to always remain alert and aware of their surroundings, especially for suspicious persons and activity. If you witness suspicious behavior, call police. Crime can occur during daylight hours and in public places, and the public needs to remain vigilant.