BJ Penn Arrested for DUI, Released Pending Further Investigation

Jay Penn of Hilo, also known as BJ Penn, was arrested Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, for operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants.

At around 4:51 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, Hawai‘i Police Department officers from the Hamakua district responded to a report of a reckless driver on a business property in Honokaʻa.

Upon arriving on scene, police learned through witnesses that Penn had arrived at the business earlier in a gray Toyota pickup truck. Prior to police arrival, the 42-year-old was allegedly “observed talking loudly towards employees and later drove off the property in a reckless manner,” according to police.

While officers were at the scene speaking with the business employees about the incident, they observed Penn return to the property. Officers contacted Penn and observing signs of impairment, arrested him for operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants. Penn was later released pending further investigation.