VIDEO: Kahului Stand-Off Drags On Into Early Morning

By David Kvasnicka

The main police blockade on the corner of Hoomoku and Hookui Streets. Photo by David Kvasnicka.

10.30 a.m. update: Stand-off and negotiations continue. 2 women and a child reported to have been vacated from the premises before 9.30 p.m 8/10/2011.

 4.48 a.m. update 8/11/2011

The stand-off between a suspect and police in the Opukea St area in Kahului continued into the early morning hours of August 11, 2011. The incident began yesterday afternoon.

The man, who police at the scene described as a “wanted person,” refused to surrender. Incoherent yelling from the area was heard around 1 a.m as SWAT members and negotiators engaged with the suspect.

Residents reported that gunshots were fired earlier in the afternoon of Wednesday, August 10. Police say the shots were not fired by SWAT members, but they could not confirm any details about the reported gunshots. They also couldn’t confirm what type of weapon the suspect was armed with, or whether there were any hostages or other people in the residence.

Many have confirmed that the suspect is Josiah Okudara (photo attached), who was previously wanted by police in connection with a death in Waihee and a shooting. However, police could not officially confirm this.

The SWAT van as seen from the police blockade. The residence in question was two houses beyond the van. Photo by David Kvasnicka.

Lt. Wayne Ibarra of the Maui Police Department says that the suspect appeared at the residence after 1 p.m., August 10, although how the situation evolved into the stand-off is currently under investigation. Anecdotal reports suggest police were tipped off.

Ibarra said that they were seeking a “peaceful resolution.”

Streets in the area, including Mahaolu, Makamaka, and Hoomoku were blocked by police.

Click here to see our day time coverage of the Kahului stand-off/barricade incident.

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlIBars4BD8 /]