Police are seeking information about an assault and robbery that occurred Tuesday afternoon near the new Hawaii County homeless camp located off Ponahawai Street in Hilo.
South Hilo patrol officers responded at 2:55 p.m. to a church located on the 500 block of Ponahawai after two men reported being assaulted while working as survey contractors for the county.
The men reported that just prior to calling police, they were conducting drone surveying of the county homeless camp — which was set up last week — when several homeless-looking males began walking towards them, police said.
The victims reported that the males seemed unhappy, so the victims began loading their equipment into their vehicle in an attempt to leave and avoid confrontation.
As the surveyors were attempting to drive off, they were stopped by the males, who surrounded the victims’ vehicle. The males questioned the victims about what they were doing in the area. The victims informed the males about who they were and the job the were hired to do for the county.
The males stated that they don’t care. They then began assaulting the victims while they were seated in their vehicle.
The victims received injuries to their faces, according to police. One of the males reached in and took one of the victim’s driver’s license and drone pilot license. The two victims then drove off to avoid being further assaulted.
The first suspect is described as being a local male of Asian/Pacific Islander descent, with a tanned complexion who is approximately 6-feet tall, possibly bald. He was bareback, wearing board shorts and sunglasses and has with tattoos on his arms, stomach and chest.
The second suspect is described as being a local male with a tanned complexion, tall, approximately 200-plus pounds, with short hair. He was wearing a gray shirt.
Police are continuing the investigation by checking businesses for video surveillance and canvassing the downtown Hilo area for any witnesses who may be able to identify the two suspects.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Detective Jeremy Kubojiri at (808) 961-2378, or via email at jeremy.kubojiri@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.