Police: Theft accusation led to stabbing at A-Bay

Police say an argument over stolen food and clothes early Wednesday morning at Anaehoomalu Bay ended with the accuser hospitalized with a stab wound to the abdomen and the alleged assailant jailed for felony assault.

Christopher Haskins, 43, of Kailua-Kona was originally booked for suspicion of attempted second-degree murder, but was charged on Thursday with first-degree assault.

According to police, the 36-year-old victim told police that he’d been drinking with Haskins at the popular South Kohala beach when he discovered that food and clothing worth about $200 had been taken from his backpack.

The victim reportedly told police he confronted Haskins about the theft. Haskins allegedly responding by throwing the man against a wall and stabbing him in the abdomen with a hunting knife, then fleeing on foot.

Officers found Haskins hiding in bushes a short distance away, police said, and took him into custody.

The victim was taken to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea. He remained hospitalized in stable condition after being treated for a one-inch laceration on the right side of his abdomen.

Haskins was charged with first-degree assault, a Class B felony punishable by 10 years imprisonment, upon conviction. His bail was set at $5,000 and he remains in police custody pending his initial hearing scheduled for Friday in Kona District Court.

In August, Haskins was sentenced to 27 days in jail, time already served, on a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a May incident, according to court records.

Potential witnesses to Wednesday’s incident are asked to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 861-8300.

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