A 39-year-old Hilo man accused of assaulting a police officer Saturday night at a Keaukaha beach had a nearly full bottle of tequila, three empty liquor bottles and a set of brass knuckles in his truck, according to court documents filed by police.
Justin Siliva Lealao allegedly parked his black Toyota pickup truck in the middle of Kalanianaole Street and was blocking traffic at about 7 p.m. Saturday by Carlsmith Beach Park
Officers responded to a report of people “drinking, smoking and burning rubber” in the Carlsmith parking lot, according to the documents.
Officer Alexis Amon-Wilkins reported she activated her emergency lights and siren to get through the line of cars. She then got out of her vehicle and approached Lealao’s truck on foot.
Amon-Wilkins saw an open bottle of Casamigos tequila in the truck’s console and an empty bottle of Casamigos on the front passenger floor board and noted that Lealao wasn’t wearing a seat belt, the documents allege.
Amon-Wilkins reportedly directed Lealao to pull the truck to the side of the road so other vehicles could drive through, and Lealao complied.
Lealao allegedly appeared intoxicated and refused Amon-Wilkins’ instructions to get out of the truck and submit to sobriety testing.
As Amon-Wilkins and Officer Jared Cabatu removed Lealao from the truck, he became aggressive and combative, allegedly kicking Amon-Wilkins in the knee and attempting to take her Taser, which caused the electronic weapon to discharge. One of the probes struck Amon-Wilkins in the leg.
Amon-Wilkins was treated at Hilo Medical Center for knee and hand injuries and was released a short time later.
A search warrant was executed on the truck and allegedly turned up a pair of brass knuckles and more empty liquor bottles, specifically two Crown Royal peach whiskey bottles.
Lealao was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where his blood was drawn for alcohol testing, according to the documents.
Lealao was charged with DUI, assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, carrying a prohibited deadly weapon, having open containers of liquor in a vehicle, and driving after his license was suspended and without insurance.
At his initial court appearance Monday, Hilo District Judge Mahilani Hiatt denied a request to free Lealao on supervised release — a form of cashless bail — and maintained his bail at $4,275. Hiatt ordered Lealao to return to court today for a preliminary hearing.
The most serious charge, assaulting a police officer, is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment, upon conviction.
Lealao, who has no prior felony convictions, remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
