By Hugh Clark
Advertiser staff writer
HILO, Hawai‘i — A Puna man, who police said rammed his four-wheel-drive truck into a police vehicle early Sunday, has been charged with first-degree attempted murder and three other felonies.
John Akio Daffron, 32, of Kea‘au, was being held yesterday in lieu of $53,250 bail. The first-degree attempted murder charge carries a penalty of life imprisonment without parole.
At 2:26 a.m. Sunday, patrol officer Jason Grouns, sitting in his patrol car in the parking lot near Cafe Pesto in downtown Hilo, observed suspicious activity at the Hilo bus terminal. The officer saw a truck with oversized wheels at the terminal rev its engine and speed toward him.
The truck climbed the curb of the bus terminal and sidewalk, crossed the Hamakua-bound lanes of Kamehameha Avenue, ran over the median strip, crossed the Keaukaha-bound lanes of Kamehameha and struck the police car head-on, landing atop the car with Grouns inside.
The officer escaped injury, although his vehicle was extensively damaged.
When Daffron got out of his truck, a second officer arrested him. Inside the suspect’s vehicle, police said they found a handgun, what appeared to be crystal methamphetamine, and a glass smoking pipe.
Police are investigating reports that a vehicle matching the description of Daffron’s truck was attempting to run cars off the road Saturday night and early Sunday.
Anyone who witnessed reckless driving is asked to call Detective Richard Miyamoto of the Hilo Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2379 or the police nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311.
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