Kona man arrested, charged with harassment, resisting arrest after trying to provoke fight

A 44-year-old Kailua-Kona man was arrested and charged after he attempted to provoke a fight earlier this week at a Kailua-Kona business.

Matthew Larrua was charged July 29 with harassment and resisting arrest. His total bail was set at $6,000. He also made his initial court appearance Wednesday in Kona District Court.

Kona patrol officers responded at 12:30 p.m. July 28 to a report of a disorderly man attempting to provoke a fight at a business located in the 75-5000 block of Aliʻi Drive in Kailua-Kona.

Officers contacted a victim upon their arrival. The man reported that a man he was not familiar with repeatedly shoved him in what appeared to be an unprovoked attempt to start a physical altercation.

The suspect remained in the area and was identified by the victim as Larrua.

Larrua became uncooperative when officers attempted to make contact with him, allegedly charging toward one of the responding officers in an apparent attempt to flee.

He was taken into custody after a brief struggle, during which Larrua continued to resist efforts by officers to place him in handcuffs.

No officers were injured during the arrest.

Larrua sustained a minor laceration to his head after making contact with the ground during the struggle and was treated and released at the scene by Hawaiʻi Fire Department personnel.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Kona Patrol Sgt. Joel Furuto at joel.furuto@hawaiipolice.gov or call the department’s non-emergency dispatch line at 808-935-3311.