A 19-year-old man is accused of assaulting a man with a sledge hammer.
It happened on Friday at a residence on Auwae Road in Hilo.
South Hilo patrol officers responded to a report of an unconscious male at the residence.
Responding officers and Fire Department personnel discovered a 55-year-old man with a severe head injury.
The victim was transported to the Hilo Medical Center and was initially listed in serious condition. He was transferred to Queen’s Medial Center on Oahu and has since been upgraded to stable condition following surgery.
Police arrested Tevita Moala at the scene for an unrelated warrant and he was being held in the East Hawaii Detention Center while detectives conducted further investigation into this incident, which has been classified as a first degree assault.
After conferring with Big Island prosecutors, detectives charged Moala for first degree assault and his bail is set at $25,000.
He is being held in the police cellblock pending his initial court appearance on Monday.
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
