(BIVN) – a 44-year-old Mountain View man in connection with assaulting two police officers at the Keaʻau Shopping Center on Friday night.
Police say Justin Santagati has since been charged with the alleged assaults, as well as disorderly conduct.
From the Hawaiʻi Police Department:
At 8:19 p.m., Puna patrol officers responded to a disturbance call at a shopping center in the 16-500 block of Kea‘au-Pāhoa Road. While at the scene, officers were approached by 44-year-old Justin Santagati who became disorderly and aggressive towards officers and refused to comply.
Officers then placed Santagati under arrest. As they attempted to place him in the police transport vehicle Santagati became combative, head butting an officer and kicking another officer several times in the chest.
Both officers were treated and released at the Hilo Benioff Medical Center emergency room for minor injuries. Santagati was transported to the East Hawaii Detention Facility as detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation.
On Saturday afternoon, police charged Santagati with the following offenses:
- Two counts of first-degree assault against a law enforcement officer
- Disorderly conduct
Santagati’s bail was set at $41,000.
Anyone with information about this case can call Detective Michael Matsumura of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2386 or by email at Michael.Matsumura@hawaiipolice.gov, or the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.
