Hilo man arrested after assault on Manono Street

(BIVN) – A 32-year-old Hilo man has been charged in connection with an assault on Manono Street that sent a 62-year-old Hilo man to the hospital earlier this week.

Wallace Manuarii Tahutini, 32, was arrested for the alleged attack which allegedly took place between Tuesday evening May 28 and early Wednesday morning May 29.

Police say the shooting victim remains hospitalized in stable condition.

From the Hawaii Police Department:

On May 29, 2024, at approximately 8:27 a.m., South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a parking lot in the area of ​​the 300 block of Manono Street, Hilo, after receiving a report of a group of women who discovered the badly beaten body. of a 62-year-old Hilo man who was lying in the back of his pickup truck.

Responding officers found the victim had both eyes closed and swollen, a swollen forehead and a large laceration on the bridge of his nose. Hawaii Fire Department medics transported the victim to the Hilo Medical Center emergency room for treatment. By interviewing the victim, he was able to positively identify the suspect, Wallace Manuarii Tahutini, 32, of Hilo, as the person who attacked him.

Agents familiar with Tahutini canvassed downtown Hilo, where Tahutini is known to frequent, and located him in a county parking lot in the area of ​​the intersection of Kamehameha Avenue and Pauahi Street . Tahutini was arrested for assault without incident and was transported to the Hawaii Police Department Detention Center in East Hawaii for booking, processing and further investigation by Criminal Investigation Section detectives of zone I.

As they continued to investigate, detectives learned that the victim had sustained significant and serious bodily injuries to various parts of his body, including his head, face, shoulder and upper arm. He remains hospitalized in stable condition.

On Thursday, May 30, Tahutini was charged with the following offenses:

• First degree assault (two counts)
• Second degree assault

Tahutini remains in custody at the Hawaii Police Department's East Hawaii Detention Center pending his first court appearance scheduled for Friday afternoon, May 31. Bail was set at $120,000.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Detective David Poohina at (808) 961-2385, or by email at [email protected] or through the department's non-emergency number at (808 ) 935-3311.

“Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000,” police added. “Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information remains confidential.