Court documents identify Puna patrol officers whose taxpayer-subsidized Toyota 4Runners were allegedly damaged Friday by a suspect attempting to flee from arrest as Terence Scanlan and Bryson Miyose.
According to documents, the officers spotted what they thought was an unoccupied older-model Honda four-door sedan parked at one of the gas pumps at the Minit Stop store on Orchidland Drive. The condition of the vehicle, spray-painted black with a cracked windshield, dark-tinted windows and no front license plates led the officers to believe the car was stolen, so they boxed it in with Scanlan parking directly behind the Honda and Miyose in front, documents state.
Documents state that when the suspect, 22-year-old Kade Kapika-Overturf of Hilo, left the store, he ran past Scanlan’s vehicle, got into the driver’s seat and rammed both police vehicles in an attempt to flee, as well as backing into Scanlan, while the officers were commanding him to stop and turn off the Honda.
Scanlan, who was unhurt, managed to get into the vehicle through the passenger rear door, where he discovered a 26-year-old Hilo woman, Shayla Kamahele, hiding in the back seat, according to police.
Police say Miyose broke the front passenger window with his baton and deployed his Taser on Kapika-Overturf, but Kamahele reportedly pulled at the electronic weapon’s wires.
Miyose, according to police, deployed his Taser again before the officers arrested both Kapika-Overturf and Kamahele.
While Kapika-Overturf was being booked, police found more than a quarter-ounce of methamphetamine on him, according to documents.
Kapika-Overturf was charged with first-degree assault of a police officer, two counts of first-degree property damage, plus second-degree property damage, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, drug paraphernalia, resisting an order to stop and violating probation.
The most serious charges, first-degree property damage and second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, are Class B felonies carrying maximum 10-year prison term upon conviction. Kapika-Overturf has a 2018 conviction for third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, a Class C felony, and was on probation for that conviction at the time of the alleged offense.
Kamahele was charged with second-degree hindering prosecution, a misdemeanor, as well as a previous warrant for contempt of court.
Both made their initial court appearances Monday via cellblock video.
Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk ordered Kapika-Overturn to return Wednesday for a preliminary hearing and set Kapika-Overturf’s bail at $80,050.
Kamahele was released on her own recognizance and ordered to return to court on March 3.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.