Police: Ocean View shooting suspect a fugitive

Police are requesting the public’s assistance to help locate 44-year-old Dorson “Buddy” Behrendt of Ocean View, but they are cautioning the public that he should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.

Behrendt is wanted for a $500,000 warrant after he was indicted Nov. 13 for allegedly shooting 53-year-old James Felder of Ocean View on Oct. 15.

Behrendt is described as 6-feet tall, 160 pounds, with blue eyes and blond hair. He’s known to frequent the South Kona and Ocean View areas.

In addition to cautioning the public to not approach Behrendt, the Hawaii Police Department reminds the public that harboring or concealing a wanted person can result in criminal charges being filed against the individual who harbors or conceals the fugitive.

Behrendt previously was free on his own recognizance — a form of cashless bail — after Kona District Judge Kimberly Taniyama on Nov. 2 granted a defense request to release Behrendt, who had previously been held on $350,000 bail.

Taniyama noted during the hearing that no probable cause affidavit was provided by prosecutors in District Court to justify the continued pretrial confinement of Behrendt, which is standard procedure at initial appearances where the suspect is in police custody.

According to police, the injuries to Felder — who was found lying on the ground near a gold Toyota van on Aloha Boulevard and Paradise Parkway in Ocean View — were so severe he couldn’t tell officers how he’d been injured.

Felder was taken by ambulance to Kona Community Hospital with life-threatening injuries. It was determined there he had sustained a gunshot wound to his face, and he was subsequently transferred to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu.

It’s not known if Felder was able to testify before the grand jury.

Anyone with information on Behrendt’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 960-3118 or at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov. They may also contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

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