Police seek suspects in assault of 64-year-old man, witnesses of clothing store robbery and employee assaults

Big Island police are asking for help with two separate Hilo incidents, one involving an assault on a 64-year-old man and the other a clothing store robbery that also included two employees being assaulted.

South Hilo patrol officers responded at 10:55 p.m. Sept. 6 to the report of a man who was assaulted in front of a bar in the 100 block of Keawe Street in downtown Hilo.

The 64-year-old victim told the officers when they arrived that he saw two unknown men fighting and attempted to break them up. When he intervened, they began to assault him, with one of them placing him in a choke hold.

The victim was transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where he was found to have sustained substantial bodily injuries from the assault.

The clothing store robbery and employee assaults happened at about 2:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at a business in Prince Kūhiō Plaza on Pūʻainakō Street.

An employee reported that a group of 4 to 5 young males entered the store, and several of them quickly took various pieces of clothing and went to leave without paying. The employee told them they needed to pay, but they continued to exit.

The employee reported being assaulted by one of the suspects when she contacted him outside the store and tried to get the stolen merchandise back.

As the suspect started walking away, the employee grabbed onto the clothing he was carrying and they both fell to the ground.

The employee reported being assaulted by another of the suspects while on the ground.

Another store employee grabbed the suspect assaulting the employee on the ground. He was then accosted by the suspect and eventually tacked to the ground.

Two of the suspects then began kicking the second employee.

Both employees were taken Hilo Benioff Medical Center, treated for their injuries and released.

Anyone with information about the assault of the 64-year-old man outside the downtown bar is asked to call the Hawai‘i Police Department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311 or contact Detective Amy Omaya at 808-961-2381 or amy.omaya@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who might have witnessed the clothing store robbery and employee assaults should also contact Omaya using the contact information above.