Suspect in case of attempted murder of officer pleads not guilty

KEALAKEKUA — A 31-year-old Kailua-Kona man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Kona Circuit Court to the attempted murder of a Hawaii Island police officer.

Shannon Kaleolani Ke pleaded not guilty to first-degree attempted murder, with the enhancement of a hate crime; disorderly conduct; two counts of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer; and resisting arrest in connection with a March 26 incident in Kailua-Kona.

He is accused of assaulting a police officer on the shoreline fronting Huggo’s On The Rocks. The hate crime enhancement was filed because Ke allegedly made disparaging comments about the officer’s believed race.

A jury trial is slated for Aug. 20.

Ke remains in custody in lieu of $322,000 bail.