Armed standoff in lower Puna ends peacefully

A seven-hour-plus armed standoff today in Kalapana Black Sands subdivision ended peacefully, police said.

According to Capt. Rio Amon-Wilkins, commander of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Division, 47-year-old Jameel Comier surrendered to police at about 2 p.m.

He’s been arrested on suspicion of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and first-degree terroristic threatening. Comier hasn’t been charged yet, pending further investigation by police detectives.

According to Amon-Wilkins, Vice Section officers serving a narcotics search warrant shortly after 6 a.m. “led to a standoff situation.”

Police say as they attempted to serve the warrant, Comier threatened to shoot them.

The Special Response Team — the department’s SWAT unit — and crisis negotiators were deployed to the scene.

After surrendering to police, Comier complained of a preexisting medical condition and was taken by ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment. Once released, he was transported to the Hilo Police Station for booking, processing, and continued investigation.

After the standoff ended, officers continued with the search of Comier’s residence resulting in the recovery of an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine and cocaine, and two semi-automatic pistols, police said.

According to Amon-Wilkins, nobody was injured and residents in several neighboring homes were “evacuated for their safety.”

It was difficult for police to update others from the scene because of poor radio and cellphone reception in the area, Amon-Wilkins said.

In addition to Vice and SRT, officers from Puna Patrol and Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene, as well as an ambulance and medics from the Hawaii Fire Department.

Police released a statement early during the incident asking motorists to avoid the area.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.