19-year-old charged with assaulting 2 officers as police respond to large Hilo fight

A 19-year-old man is charged with assaulting 2 Hawai‘i Island police officers during the weekend while they were responding to a large fight in an area of Pōpolo Street in Hilo.

Junior Salvador of Guam faces charges of:

• Two counts of assault against a law enforcement officer.
• First-degree criminal property damage.

Salvador’s bail was set at $20,000.

He made his initial court appearance Oct. 6 in Hilo District Court, during which online court records show he requested supervised release. Prosecutors objected and the court agreed, finding cause to keep Salvador detained.

His bail was maintained and a preliminary hearing in the case was set for Oct. 8.

The charges stem from an incident the evening of Oct. 4 in Hilo.

South Hilo Patrol officers responded at 5:50 p.m. to a report of the large fight in the area of Pōpolo Street in Hilo, which runs from Kukuau Street to Mohouli Street and is located between Kumukoa Street and Kapiʻolani Street.

Salvador reportedly jumped onto the hood of a police vehicle upon the arrival of officers and then threw himself onto the windshield, denting the hood and shattering glass, which struck the officer seated inside.

He then struck a female officer multiple times with a closed fist and assaulted a male officer who came to assist, injuring both officers, as police attempted to take him into custody.

Both officers were treated for their injuries at Hilo Benioff Medical Center and later released.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact South Hilo Patrol Officer Roger Carvalho at 808-935-3311 or via email at roger.carvalho@hawaiipolice.gov.