Citizens intervene to help catch suspect after violent attack

May 30, 2010 – Hilo, Hawaii

The Hawaii Police Department has arrested 47-year-old Steve Dingle of Mountain View in the alleged stabbing death of his wife along the Hilo bayfront on Saturday.

38-year-old Catherine Dingle, who police say is the wife of the suspect, was taken to Hilo Medical Center in critical condition after witnesses say she was allegedly stabbed several times by her husband. She expired after emergency surgery and was pronounced dead at 1:05 a.m. Sunday, May 30. Police say no motive for the stabbing has been established.

Police responded to the “affray” on Kamehameha Avenue at 6:23 p.m.

A Hawaii-Tribune Herald news report detailed the bloody attack in Sunday morning’s paper. The report credited a man identified only as “Roger” for blocking Steve Dingle’s escape from the scene with his van, pulling a U-Turn on Kamehameha Avenue and rolling the suspect over the hood. Roger said Dingle dropped the knife, and other witnesses “subdued” him. Dingle was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment and subsequently arrested.

Police are asking for the public’s help in this case and ask that anyone with any information about it call Detective Derek Morimoto at 961-2380 or the Police Department’s non emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.