Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged 32-year-old Wallace Manuarii Tahutini with two counts of assault following a recent incident in Hilo.
On May 29, South Hilo patrol officers responded to a Manono Street parking lot after a female reported that she discovered the severely-beaten body of a 62-year-old man who was laying in the back of his van.
Officers found the victim to have both eyes swollen shut, his forehead to be swollen, and a large laceration on the bridge of his nose. Hawai‘i Fire Department medics transported him to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room for treatment. While interviewing the victim, he was able to positively identify Tahutini as the person who assaulted him.
Officers familiar with Tahutini canvassed the downtown Hilo area where he is known to frequent and located him in a County parking lot where he was arrested for assault, without incident and was transported to the Hawai’i Police Department East Hawai’i Detention Center for booking, processing, and continued investigation by Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives.
During their investigation, detectives learned the victim had sustained both substantial and serious bodily injuries to various areas of his body, to include the head, face, shoulder, and upper arm.
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section charged Tahutini with the following offenses:
- First-degree assault (two counts)
- Second-degree assault
Tahutini’s bail was set at $120,000.00. He remains in custody at the Hawai‘i Police Department East Hawai’i Detention Center pending his initial court appearance scheduled for today.
Police ask anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Detective David Poohina at (808) 961-2385, or via email at david.poohina@hawaiicounty.gov.
HPD Photo