Court documents reveal names of officers allegedly shot at during Volcano incident
Court documents filed by police identify officers involved in the apprehension of a man alleged to have held off police for about 24 hours in an armed standoff last week in Volcano.
Court documents filed by police identify officers involved in the apprehension of a man alleged to have held off police for about 24 hours in an armed standoff last week in Volcano.
The suspect, 58-year-old Shawn Edward Page of no permanent address, is charged with three counts each of attempted first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, plus first-degree criminal trespassing and third-degree criminal property damage.
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According to the documents, a yard maintenance worker reported to police on the morning of Oct. 9 that he saw a maroon Scion sedan enter the property and park in the carport of the Nahelenani Street house. The yard worker called the home’s owner first, who told the yard worker he was the only person allowed on the property, which police previously said was vacant.
Puna Patrol Officer Jason Lin, the first officer to respond, reportedly saw Page within the home holding a large silver revolver in his right hand. Page allegedly yelled at Lin, “Do what you gotta do, and I’ll do what I got to do.”
Hawaii Police Department Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz said last week Page was wanted for questioning about a previous incident involving his dog. The chief said Page’s dog was seen inside the house with him, although no mention of the dog was made in court documents.
The Special Response Team — HPD’s SWAT unit — was reportedly nearby in Fern Forest tracking a wanted fugitive with the assistance of federal partners including the FBI Hawaii SWAT Team and U.S. Marshals, and they, as well as crisis negotiators, were called in.
Documents identify the officers by “Officer” plus their first initials and last names. The first two SRT personnel to approach the house were Officer Kupono Mata and an “Officer J. Stender” — which could either be Sgt. Joseph Stender or Officer Joshua Stender.
As the two officers came to within five feet of the house, shots were fired at them through a closed door, documents state. Neither was hit, and both reportedly retreated. They were the victims of one of the three attempted first-degree murder charges.
The second incidence of attempted first-degree murder was for shots fired at the SRT vehicle.
Documents state that Sgt. Christopher Fujimoto and Officers Alexis Molina, Patrick Robinson and Sy Keltner were in the armored vehicle about six to eight feet from the house. Three others, Sgt. Kelena Hookano and Officers Darren Abalos and Shea Nactor, were standing by the vehicle, according to documents. One of the shots reportedly struck the front passenger side of the SRT vehicle, while another allegedly kicked up dirt, narrowly missing Abalos.
Robinson was reportedly operating a DJI Avata drone, which made it into the living room, according to documents, and was providing video from the interior. The drone video showed Page pointing a firearm at the drone, then electing to swipe at the drone instead, reportedly knocking it out of the air and disabling it.
The criminal property damage charge was for the downed drone, which police said cost $629.99.
An entry party was organized with Hookano, Molina, Mata and Officer Richard Nery Jr., documents state. Molina reportedly entered the front door, then breached the interior bedroom door, at which time the suspect allegedly fired three or four shots at the entry team as they retreated to the front door.
None were hit, although Moszkowicz said last week one officer returned fire, allegedly discharging his firearm twice, and another officer reportedly fell and suffered a large laceration from broken window glass.
Neither the officer who discharged his weapon nor the injured officer were identified in the documents.
SRT and crisis negotiators reportedly attempted to communicate with Page for 19 hours before Page left the house on his own and was apprehended uninjured in nearby woods.
Page refused to be advised of his rights and requested a lawyer.
“No statement was obtained, and no questions were asked,” according to a document.
Page made his initial court appearance Monday, via video from the Hilo courtroom basement. He requested to be arraigned with the charges being read aloud, a right most criminal defendants waive.
Paige was being held without bail, and Deputy Public Defender Jared Auna requested “reasonable bail” be set.
“Given the level of these charges, I would propose, maybe $10,000 per charge,” Auna said.
Deputy Prosecutor Herbert Mukai argued that due to “the facts and circumstances that surround this case … no bail is justified.”
Hilo District Judge Mahilani Hiatt maintained Page’s no-bail status, citing the seriousness of the charges and the possibility that Page — who has no prior felony convictions, but does have a stray dog conviction — might flee.
Hiatt ordered Page to return at 2 p.m. Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.