A 33-year-old Puna man suspected of threatening a Hilo Circuit Court judge earlier this month allegedly pulled a gun on his longtime girlfriend and told her he’d shoot her if she left him. ADVERTISING A 33-year-old Puna man suspected of
A 33-year-old Puna man suspected of threatening a Hilo Circuit Court judge earlier this month allegedly pulled a gun on his longtime girlfriend and told her he’d shoot her if she left him.
That’s what 31-year-old Maryellan Higa told police, according to court documents.
Higa reportedly told officers that on Jan. 4, 33-year-old Ronald Joseph Kong of Pahoa forced her into a stolen pickup truck police later took into evidence in Hawaiian Acres. She said she didn’t want to get into the silver 2014 Toyota Tacoma, but Kong kicked her in the right side, grabbed her hair and forced her into the truck’s cab. Then, she said, Kong drove to Panaewa Park, pulled out a black .22-caliber handgun and told Higa if she left him, he would shoot her.
After police pulled the truck over and Kong eluded them on foot, Higa was taken to Hilo Medical Center where doctors said she suffered a fractured rib.
Higa also was arrested on suspicion of hindering prosecution but was released without charges.
A search of the truck turned up an improvised explosive device, which was disarmed by bomb squad technicians, a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun with a round in the chamber and four more in the barrel, a .22-caliber rifle with a round in the chamber and a .22-caliber pistol with a round in the chamber and 11 in the magazine.
The pistol had its serial number removed, documents state.
Kong, who was apprehended Sunday night in Ainaloa, made his initial appearance Wednesday on numerous explosives, firearms, drug, burglary and domestic abuse charges.
Deputy Public Defender Justin Lee requested a bail reduction, noting bail was unusually high at $25,000 on each of five drug paraphernalia charges. Hilo District Judge Harry Freitas lowered the bail on each of the charges to $5,000, which brought Kong’s bail to $367,000 on all charges he appeared for Wednesday.
He also ordered Kong to appear for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. today.
Kong has not been charged for the alleged threat made against the judge and another burglary case. Both cases were referred to prosecutors for further investigation, police said.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
