Officer charged with assault pleads not guilty

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KEALAKEKUA — The off-duty police officer who allegedly assaulted a 72-year-old man pleaded not guilty Thursday in 3rd Circuit Court.

KEALAKEKUA — The off-duty police officer who allegedly assaulted a 72-year-old man pleaded not guilty Thursday in 3rd Circuit Court.

Jami Harper faces a charge of second-degree assault stemming from a Jan. 22 incident where he and his upstairs Kalanikai apartment complex neighbor had a physical confrontation that sent both men to the hospital.

Harper is due back in court for a pretrial conference May 20. Trial is set for July 26.

During Harper’s preliminary hearing March 10, testimony said Harper and his neighbor had an altercation outside the victim’s apartment. Both sides said the other was the aggressor.

Following the altercation, the victim was treated and released from the hospital while Harper spent four days in the hospital for an unspecified medical condition.

Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.