Armed and dangerous Puna man arrested in ʻĀinaloa incident that results in response of Special Response, Crisis Negotiation teams

A 39-year-old Puna man known by police to be armed and dangerous was arrested following an ʻĀinaloa incident that involved a stolen vehicle and Hawai’i Police Department Special Response and Crisis Negotiation teams.

Isaac Kamali‘i of Puna was taken into custody by Hawaiʻi Island police following the incident that also temporarily shut down a portion of Aloha Drive to ensure the safety of residents and officers the evening of Oct. 16 in the Puna subdivision community.

A Puna Patrol officer attempting to locate the stolen vehicle involved observed a car matching the description parked in an open carport shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday at a residence in the 16-2000 block of Aloha Drive.

Kamali‘i, who also was previously identified as the suspect in the case, was seen standing near the vehicle.

The officer drove a short distance to await backup. Upon returning with additional officers, Kamali‘i was no longer outside and officers observed the residence’s window curtains being drawn closed.

Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team members were activated to assist because of the potential threat posed by Kamali‘i and other individuals known to frequent the residence.

Officers established a perimeter around the residence while negotiators made loud verbal commands for those inside to exit.

Kamali‘i exited the residence at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday and was taken into custody without further incident.

He was arrested for:

• First-degree theft.
• Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.

Officers confirmed that no other individuals were inside the residence and the vehicle in question — which was recovered following Kamali‘i’s arrest and is pending execution of a search warrant — was the one reported stolen Oct. 14 from a home on Gardenia Drive in ʻĀinaloa.

Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Crime Reduction Unit is continuing this investigation.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Officer Jayce Carvalho at 808-961-2272 or via email at Jayce.Carvalho@hawaiipolice.gov.