Pāhoa man charged following 8-hour standoff with police

Hawai’i Island police have charged 47-year-old Jameel Comier with firearms and drug offenses, following a nearly eight-hour-long standoff at a residence located off the 12-4200 block of Kalapana Street in the Blacksands Subdivision, in Pahoa, on Nov. 28.

On Thursday morning, November 30, 2023, at 9:30 a.m., after conferral with Hawai’i County Prosecutors Office, Area I Vice Section officers charged Comier with the following offenses:

• two-counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the second-degree
• carrying/use of firearm in commission of a separate felony
• drug paraphernalia

Comier’s bail was set at $101,000.

The charges against Comier stem from an incident which occurred on Tuesday shortly after 6:30 a.m., when members of the Area I Vice Section executed a narcotics-based search warrant on the residence and property of Comier, and as officers approached the residence, Comier threatened to shoot officers.

Due to the circumstances and threats made by Comier, officers’ set up a secured perimeter and notified the neighbors of the potential danger. Under advisement of police, some residents voluntarily evacuated their residences. The department’s Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiators were activated and responded to assist in apprehending Comier.

Negotiators were able to successfully talk Comier into a peaceful surrender, and he was taken into custody at approximately 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.

Comier remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for the afternoon of Dec. 1 in South Hilo District Court.

Area I Criminal Investigation Division personnel are continuing this investigation and ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Officer Louie Ondo of the Area I Vice Section at 808-961-2315, or via email at [email protected] or the police department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.