WAILUKU — Maui police are investigating severe injuries that left an 18-year-old youth unconscious as an assault that may have occurred early on Christmas Eve near Polipoli State Park.

Police said Maui firefighters recovered Jesse Jarvie of Kihei at the bottom of a 60-foot cliff at about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, an hour after his older brother reported him missing.

A statement released by police Lt. John Jakubczak, with the Criminal Investigation Division, gave few details, but said the victim was in the Maui Memorial Medical Center Intensive Care Unit.

Jesse Jarvie's father, Dennis Jarvie, said the two brothers and a girlfriend had been in the remote Polipoli area at a gathering of some 50 people that included a disc jockey.

The teenager's father said a neurosurgeon who examined his son said that Jesse showed signs of being the victim of a deliberate attack.

The surgeon found a piece of metal in his head, leading the doctor to believe that the young man was struck with an object of some kind, Dennis Jarvie said.

"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time," the elder Jarvie said by telephone Friday night. "Jesse is a good kid. He just turned 18 two weeks ago and works (in construction). He was getting his act together."

Jesse Jarvie's jaw was broken in four places, he is missing half his teeth and has a fractured skull, his father said.

"Anyone with information needs to come forward. I can't believe there were 50 people at this party, and no one heard or saw this."

Dennis Jarvie said his son does not have a history of getting into fights with other young people.

Police said they initially classified the incident as a miscellaneous accident, since they were not able to interview the victim because of the nature of his injuries and "the condition of his sobriety."

Jakubczak's statement said they were "looking into the possibility that the victim may have been assaulted."

Anyone with information is asked to call the MPD Criminal Investigation Division at 244-6425.