Puna Standoff Suspect in Custody

By Wendy Osher

A Glenwood man is now in police custody following an overnight standoff in Puna, on Hawai’i Island.

Police say Dasa Sivam, 64, was arrested on suspicion of terroristic threatening and was being held at the Hilo police cell-block at last report.

The incident was was first reported at 10:22 a.m. on Monday, August 20 on Kokokahi Road in the Fern Forrest subdivision.  As a safety precaution, police blocked traffic on the road between 1 p.m. on Monday, and 5 a.m. today.

According to police reports, Puna patrol officers responded when reports surfaced of a man allegedly threatening neighbors with a machete.

Upon arrival on scene, Hawai’i Island police say the suspect barricaded himself inside his house and allegedly claimed he had a large machine gun.

After hours of negotiation with the Police Department’s Special Response Team, police say the suspect emerged from the house and a confrontation ensued.

According to police reports, an officer with the Special Response Team received minor injuries when a stairway he was standing on collapsed.

The incident remains under investigation.

***Supporting information courtesy Hawai’i Island Police.