Full Notification

Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section
Lieutenant Gregory Esteban
Phone: 961-2252
Report No. C15028573


Media Release

A 26-year-old Volcano man has been charged with two firearm offenses in connection with a confrontation late Saturday (September 26) in Downtown Hilo.

In response to an 11 p.m. report of a possible affray at the soccer fields off Kamehameha Avenue, South Hilo Patrol officers learned that during a verbal altercation, a man reportedly exited a sports-utility vehicle brandishing a firearm. He then reportedly returned to the SUV, which fled the scene.

Police located the car at the intersection of Keawe Street and Mamo Street. Joseph C. Fernandez was initially arrested on suspicion of terroristic threatening. He was taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.

At 5:15 p.m. Monday (September 28), after conferring with prosecutors, detectives charged Fernandez with possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway and possessing an unregistered firearm. His bail was set at $5,500.He remained at the cellblock pending his initial court hearing scheduled for Tuesday (September 29).

Detectives continue to investigate possible terroristic threatening charges.