Man hospitalized, another in custody after downtown Hilo stabbing

A 25-year-old Hilo man is in police custody and another 25-year-old Hilo man is hospitalized after a St. Patrick’s Day stabbing on Keawe Street in downtown Hilo.

Donovan Sieb is charged with attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault for the incident, which took place at about 8:40 p.m. Saturday. He’s scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon in Hilo District Court.

He remains in custody at the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $275,000 bail.

Police Lt. Miles Chong of the Hilo Criminal Investigations Section said the incident took place on the sidewalk near Spencer Health and Fitness Center, when Sieb allegedly approached a group of people and started an argument with them.

“The suspect punched the victim and the group then moved the suspect away,” Chong said. Chong said Sieb then stabbed the victim, identified by a police spokesman as Joseph Cook.

According to Chong, security personnel from nearby Hilo Town Tavern “assisted in helping to keep the suspect there” until police could arrive and apprehend Sieb. He said the altercation did not start in the popular downtown Hilo watering hole.

Chong said a knife was recovered at the scene.

The police spokesman said Cook was taken to Hilo Medical Center in serious condition with a deep laceration to his throat, which required surgery. Chong said Cook was later flown to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu for further treatment. He didn’t have an update on Cook’s condition.

This is a developing story. A more detailed story will appear in Tuesday’s edition of the Tribune-Herald.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.