Pāhoa man taken into custody without incident following eight-hour standoff

A Pāhoa man was taken into custody Tuesday after an eight-hour standoff with authorities at a residence in the Blacksands Subdivision in Puna.

On Tuesday morning, shortly after 6:30 a.m., members of Hawai‘i Police Department’s Area I Vice Section executed a narcotics-based search warrant on the residence and property of 47-year-old Jameel Comier.

As officers approached the residence, located off of the 12-4200 block of Kalapana Street, Comier threatened to shoot them, according to a press release from police Tuesday evening.

Due to the circumstances and threats made by Comier, officers set up a secured perimeter and notified the neighbors of the potential danger. Some residents voluntarily evacuated their residences under advisement of police.

The department’s Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiators responded to assist in apprehending Comier.

Negotiators were able to successfully talk Comier into a peaceful surrender, and he was taken into custody at about 2 p.m. After being taken into custody, Comier complained of a preexisting medical condition and was transported to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment. Once released, he was transported to the East Hawai’i Detention Facility for booking, processing and continued investigation.

Officers continued with the search of Comier’s residence resulting in the recovery of an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine and cocaine and two semi-automatic pistols.

There were no reported injuries as a result of this incident.

Area I Criminal Investigation Division personnel are continuing this investigation and ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Detective David Poohina of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-961-2385, or via email at [email protected] or the department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.