COM 0819.002 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Santiago Vasquez, 39, was killed December 22 after Officer John Weber responded to a disturbance call at Vasquez' Leilani Estates home. Three members of another family apparently had forced their way into Vasquez's home and attacked him and a woman. Weber arrived at the home to find Vasquez fighting the intruders with a knife. He was shot allegedly after ignoring orders to drop the weapon. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court yesterday, alleges the County of Hawaii failed to properly train Weber, 37, and that he used excessive force when he shot Vasquez twice. The family claims Vasquez was acting in self- defense from his attackers and that the shooting was reckless and unjustified tpalwww.hawaiipolice com/ archives /Archive2001 /dec01 /pupa shooting 19- 22- 01.html HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT HILO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION ASSISTANT CHIEF WENDELL PAIVA PHONE: 961 -2346 DECEMBER 22, 2001 (WnTA RELBAS i Criminal Investigation Section detectives are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred shortly before 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 22, 2001, at Rupono Street, Leilani Estates Subdivision, Puna, Hawaii. The shooting occurred when Puna Patrol officers responded to a disturbance call at a residence located at Rupono Street. Upon arrival at the residence police observed a male, later identified as a resident of the Rupono Street house, armed with a military type dagger. The male was observed to have been attacking another male and was ordered by a police officer to drop the weapon. The male disregarded the officer's command and was observed slashing the knife at the other male person. The officer then shot the male holding the knife. The male suspect as tentatively identified as a 39- year -old male who resided at the Rupono Street, residence. He was transported to the Hilo Medical Center by Fire Department Paramedics and was later pronounced dead. Criminal Investigation Section detectives continue to investigate the circumstances of the disturbance which caused officers to respond to the location as well as the circumstances of the shooting. Internal Affairs personnel are also conducting an administrative investigation in the facts of the shooting. b(pY /archivesstarbulletin com /9007/01 /AO /newstbriefs html Hilo police officer honored for pot busts Big Island police officer John Weber, who works in the Hilo Vice Section, received a distinguished- service award from the Office of National Drug Control Policy recently. Its director, John P. Walters, presented Weber with a citation and a plaque during a White House ceremony in the Old Executive Building on Jan. 18. The citation recognizes Weber for his "professional achievement in the superior pertormance of his duties" last year. During 2006, Weber initiated 27 search warrants for marijuana growing operations, Big Island police said. The warrants led to 57 arrests; the seizure of 8,228 marijuana plants, 24 weapons, $35,000 in cash and three homes; and the eradication of 13 large indoor marijuana growing operations and 14 outdoor