KEALAKEKUA — A Kailua-Kona man who allegedly assaulted a Kona patrol officer is being charged with attempted murder with the enhancement of a possible hate crime.
Shannon Ke, 31, made his initial appearance Friday in Kona District Court on charges of disorderly conduct, two counts of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest as well as first-degree attempted murder. After the hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Sheri Lawson explained all felony charges had the included enhanced language that the defendant is subject to sentencing as a hate crime offender.
“There were statements made and actions taken that appeared to be racially motivated,” Lawson said. “That is why it was charged.”
The deputy prosecutor explained the enhanced language of the felony charges allows for an extended term of imprisonment.
The five charges stem from an altercation Ke had with a Hawaii Island police officer Tuesday evening outside Huggo’s On The Rock’s in Kailua-Kona.
As a result of the altercation, the officer was taken to Kona Community Hospital for contusions to his head and face as well as bruising to his legs, said police spokesman Alan Richmond on Friday. Richmond said the officer was since released into the care of his primary physician and it is unknown when he’ll be cleared to return to work.
The incident Tuesday began when officers were called to a report of a disorderly man, later identified as Ke, who was on the shoreline, fronting the local eatery.
“When arriving on scene, patrol officers found the male party on the rocky ledge overlooking the ocean,” officials stated. “While making contact with him, a confrontation ensued causing the responding officer and the male to tumble into the water where the altercation continued.”
On Friday, a woman near the restaurant spoke about what she observed a few nights earlier.
“The guy was on the rocks,” the witness said. “He was aggressive, had a big bottle of vodka with him and was shouting at the ocean.”
The witness called the nonemergency police number that evening to address the situation. However, she didn’t see what occurred between the officers and the defendant.
“When it did happen, the whole restaurant stood up,” the woman recalled.
The witness said she recognized Ke as someone she’s seen walking around town.
“I think he fishes here at night,” she said. “I told officers the past encounters have been friendly.”
Officers were eventually able to take Ke into custody that evening.
Ke appeared in court Friday with Deputy Public Defender Ann Data. She requested his bail be reduced because of his indigent status.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Rhodes opposed the request.
“He has numerous criminal contempts and resisting arrests,” Rhodes said.
The set amount, he added, is appropriate to the charges and takes into account the defendant’s likeliness to not obey court orders.
Bail was maintained at $322,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday.
This is not Ke’s first run in with the Hawaii Police Department. Last year he pleaded no contest to resisting arrest.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.