Standoff suspect makes initial court appearance

Court documents name three officers who allegedly were endangered by a shot fired by a fugitive who later turned the pistol toward his own head during an armed standoff Thursday in Puna.

Officers Keaolapule Fessenden-Grace, Elik Vodovov and Bryson Miyose all were in the vicinity when Joseph Diego Soares reportedly fired the shot from the driver’s window of his disabled silver 2005 Ford Explorer sport-utility vehicle after turning off Highway 11 onto Mauna Loa Drive at the entry to Aloha Estates.

The 35-year-old Soares allegedly led officers through three other subdivisions — Kopua Farm Lots, Eden Roc and Fern Forest — in an attempt to evade capture on a warrant for revocation of probation, documents state.

Police say Soares got out of the disabled vehicle, put the pistol to his own head and fled on foot for about a mile up Mauna Loa Road with officers in pursuit.

The department’s SWAT unit and crisis negotiators were called in, and the residents of several Aloha Estates homes were evacuated for their own safety.

According to documents, the Mountain View man — who was taken into custody without injuries after an hourslong standoff — told police, “I don’t want to go back to jail since I’m a convicted felon. There’s another gun in my truck down the road.”

Officers executed a search warrant on the vehicle and reportedly found a loaded rifle, .30-.30 ammunition, 2.16 grams of cocaine and 0.6 grams of methamphetamine.

Soares made his initial court appearance Monday on two counts each of reckless endangering and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, plus 10 firearms-related charges.

Hilo District Judge Bruce Larson maintained Soares’ bail at $260,000 and ordered him to return Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.

Soares remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.

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