Big Island man arrested in assault case; witnesses sought

Advertiser Staff

HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police are seeking the public's help in their investigation of a case in which a woman was badly beaten Tuesday night.

The woman was catching a ride home from Pahoa with a male acquaintance when the man pulled off to the side of the road and demanded sex, Detective Grace Castillo said. When the woman refused, the driver allegedly beat her and tore off her clothes. She managed to get out of the man's white Chevrolet van, and after he drove off, the nude woman flagged down a motorist who said his name was "Rich" and took her home, Castillo said.

Puna patrol officers spotted a van later Tuesday night in Pahoa town and arrested Dean A. Dahman, 42. He was charged Thursday with kidnapping and attempted sexual assault, and was being held in the Hilo police cellblock with bail set at $20,000.

Police are seeking information from anyone who may have seen the van near the Pahoa-Kapoho Highway between 7 and 9:45 p.m. Tuesday. Detectives also are trying to locate the motorist who aided the woman. He was driving a small car and had two dogs with him.

Anyone with any information should call Castillo at (808) 961-2279, the police nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo or (808) 329-8181 in Kona.