A 31-year-old Puna man with a history of fleeing police when they attempt to stop him for traffic violations is in custody for a Saturday traffic incident in Hilo.
A 31-year-old Puna man with a history of fleeing police when they attempt to stop him for traffic violations is in custody for a Saturday traffic incident in Hilo.
Joshua Michael Corbin, of no permanent address, was charged with felony resisting an order to stop.
He waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Hilo District Court, which means his case goes to Hilo Circuit Court. Hilo Circuit Judge Harry Freitas reduced Corbin’s bail on the charge from $10,000 to $6,000 despite the objection of the prosecution.
At 8:30 p.m. Saturday, patrol officers seeking Corbin for an unrelated incident saw him on the Puainako Street extension driving in the opposite direction. Police stopped Corbin’s car, but as officers approached on foot, they heard Corbin screaming obscenities as he looked back at them.
Corbin then took off, speeding and driving recklessly, police said, and officers decided not to pursue him out of concern for the public’s and Corbin’s safety.
Corbin was arrested Sunday evening at a Keaau home after a domestic abuse complaint. He was charged with that, as well.
In September, police put out a bulletin for Corbin, saying he was wanted for sexual assault on the Big Island and in Texas, as well as for traffic offenses. That bulletin described Corbin as “a danger to the community” and advised the public to not approach him.
During that time frame, Corbin posted a Facebook Live video of himself behind the wheel of a car, claiming to be the subject of a police pursuit. He’s seen driving erratically, honking his horn and crossing double-yellow lines, although no police are seen nor are sirens heard. The video went viral, receiving thousands of views.
Corbin turned himself in to police the following day and was charged with six traffic offenses, including reckless driving, resisting an order to stop and failure to obey a police officer. He was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, but that charge, to date, has not been filed.
In a deal with prosecutors, Corbin pleaded no contest in October to reckless driving and other, less serious charges and was fined $500.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.