Kohala officer of quarter honored

The Hawaii Island Safety and Security Professionals Association saluted police Sgt. Richard Toledo as Kohala officer of the quarter for April-June during a ceremony July 10.

Toledo, a South Kohala supervisor and 24-year veteran of the Hawaii Police Department, was honored for actions that brought a dangerous situation under control and avoided potential serious injury to officers and residents.

On May 26, police responded to a report of a man standing on the road swinging an object in Waimea.

When officers arrived and tried to reason with him, the man was confrontational and noncompliant, police said. He made threats and pointed what appeared to be a flare gun at an officer. As officers retreated and called for backup, Toledo, the on-duty supervisor, headed to the scene.

Meanwhile, the agitated man picked up a wooden staff about 6 feet long and attempted to charge officers and their vehicles, police said. Toledo then arrived at the location, tackled the man and cuffed him.

Once the man was secured, police confirmed he was armed with a loaded flare gun.

The suspect was arrested for resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, carrying a deadly weapon, promoting a detrimental drug and two counts of terroristic threatening.