Honolulu prosecutors review officer’s use of baton in arrest

HONOLULU (AP) — Prosecutors are again looking into the case of a Honolulu police officer seen on video repeatedly hitting a man with a baton before arresting him.

Deputy prosecutors initially declined to pursue charges against Officer Ming Wang in the September 2014 incident. But Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro ordered his staff to re-examine the case.

Dave Koga, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office, said Kaneshiro disagreed with the deputy’s decision to decline and assigned the case to another deputy to review and possibly send to a grand jury. Koga said he wasn’t able to elaborate further.

The video shows Jamie Kalani Rice, 41, kneeling next to a monk seal on a Nanakuli beach. It was recorded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration volunteers who told police Rice was harassing the endangered animal.

The video shows Wang approach Rice and pull out pepper spray and a baton. Rice eventually walks away and Wang follows him. The officer then can be seen hitting Rice with the baton until Rice hits the ground.

Wang arrested Rice for allegedly harassing a monk seal and resisting arrest, but prosecutors dropped the resisting arrest charge. Rice later told a judge that he thought the seal was sick and never meant harm toward it.

Wang said in his police report that Rice refused his orders to step away from the seal. He also said he told Rice that he was under arrest, but Rice kept walking.

Wang said he used pepper spray on Rice, but that it was not effective. He then hit Rice in the right thigh with the baton after Rice ignored his command to get on the ground, he wrote.

Rice was later treated for broken bones in his right hand.