Suspect in road rage incident charged with terroristic threatening, firearms offenses

On Thursday morning, 25-year-old Lorne Raymond Hisatoshi Ito of Hilo was charged following a report of a road rage incident in Keaʻau on Wednesday.

After a consultation with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Ito was charged with the following offenses:

• Three counts of first-degree terroristic threatening
• Reckless driving
• Resisting order to stop motor vehicle
• Place to keep firearm
• Permit to acquire firearm

The charges stem from an incident reported shortly before 8 a.m. on Nov. 19 when police dispatch received a report of a road rage incident on Highway 130 near ʻŌpūkahaʻia Street in Keaʻau.

The 37-year-old female caller reported a vehicle driving recklessly, almost colliding with her, and that the male driver had brandished a firearm, causing her and her teenage daughter to feel threatened.

Puna patrol officers responded to the area in attempts to locate the vehicle, which was last seen heading toward Hilo. One of the officers who had just completed their shift and was heading toward Hilo observed the vehicle traveling toward Hilo on Highway 11, driving erratically and overtaking vehicles near the Kīlauea Street extension in Hilo.

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle; however, the operator disregarded the lawful order to stop. A short distance later, the suspect vehicle struck another vehicle near the one-lane bridge on Kīlauea Avenue. The suspect then exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot.

The officer gave the suspect, later identified as Ito, loud verbal commands to stop. Ito then turned toward the officer, reached into his pants pocket, and pulled out a pistol. The officer continued to give Ito commands to drop the pistol.

As additional officers from the South Hilo and Puna divisions arrived on the scene, Ito dropped the pistol and was arrested without incident. Area I Criminal Investigation Section personnel responded to the scene to continue the investigation.

The vehicle Ito was operating was recovered pending execution of a search warrant, and the firearm was determined to be operable. There were no reported injuries as a result of this incident.

Ito’s total bail was set at $62,000. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Friday afternoon, Nov. 21, in Hilo District Court.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective Duane Rapoza Jr. of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2383 or by email at duane.rapoza@hawaiipolice.gov.