Jonaven Perkins-Sinapati (2021)
Overview
On September 12, 2021, Honolulu Hawaii Police Department officers Joshua Nahulu, Erik Smith, Jake Bartolome, and Robert Lewis were dispatched to a noise complaint at a beach park. The officers saw a vehicle exiting the park and chased the car at speeds near 100 mph without activating their vehicle lights or siren.[1][2]
The vehicle, driven by Perkins-Sinapati, crashed. Five people in the car were thrown from the vehicle and suffered injuries ranging from loss of eyesight to paralysis. Nahulu, Smith, and Bartolome did not stop at the scene of the crash. Smith, Bartolome, and Lewis were later dispatched to the crash, and claimed to have no prior knowledge of the accident.[2][1]
Nahulu was placed on restricted duty.[3] Smith, Bartolome, and Lewis were placed on administrative leave.[4]
On September 21, 2021, the family of passenger Dayten Gouveia filed a state lawsuit against the city and the department.[5]
On April 8, 2022, four passengers in the vehicle filed a lawsuit against the city, Nahulu, Bartolome, and Smith.[6]
On April 12, 2022, Perkins-Sinapati filed a lawsuit against the city and several officers.[7]
On September 21, 2022, the Honolulu Police Commission found that Bartolome's actions were "incident to his performance of his duty as a police officer".[8]
On February 2, 2023, the city settled a lawsuit from four of the passengers for $4.5 million.[9]
On March 16, 2023, Nahulu was charged with felony "collision that resulted in death or serious bodily injury", and faces up to 10 years in prison. Smith, Bartolome, and Lewis were each charged with felonies for hindering prosecution and conspiracy, and face up to 6 years in prison.[10][1]
On March 24, 2023, the officers pleaded not guilty.[10]
A department review board recommended that officers be fired.[11]
On September 11, 2023, Gouveia filed a federal lawsuit against the city and the officers, citing a use of excessive force in violation of his constitutional rights.[12]
In 2023, Lewis was suspended for three days for policy violations including failure to activate his body-worn camera and concealing his initial involvement.[13]
In February 2024, Nahulu, Smith, and Bartolome were fired.[14]
On March 25, 2024, the city settled Perkins-Sinapati's lawsuit for $12.5 million.[15]
Video
Parts of the chase were captured by surveillance systems.[16]
Body-worn camera footage from a responding officer was released.[17]
Portions of body-worn camera footage from the original officers were released.[18]
Officers Involved
Public Comments
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 4 Honolulu police officers charged after alleged coverup in police chase, FOX News, 2023-03-17
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lynn Kawano, GPS data now evidence against HPD officers accused of chasing car, fleeing crash scene, Hawaii News Now, 2021-12-09
- ↑ Lynn Kawano, HPD officer facing criminal probe after near-fatal crash previously accused of civil rights violations, Hawaii News Now, 2021-10-11
- ↑ Rick Daysog, Critics: Charges against officers in near-fatal police chase are too lenient, Hawaii News Now, 2020-03-17
- ↑ Rick Daysog, Family of teen paralyzed in ‘atrocious’ crash sues city and HPD, alleging a cover-up, Hawaii News Now, 2021-09-21
- ↑ Jacob Geanous, Second Lawsuit Filed Over Police Involvement In Oahu Car Crash, Honolulu Civil Beat, 2022-04-08
- ↑ Jacob Geanous, Third Lawsuit Filed Against City Alleging Honolulu Police Caused Crash, Honolulu Civil Beat, 2022-04-12
- ↑ Jack Truesdale, Police Commission Postpones Decision On Legal Representation For 2 Makaha Cops, Honolulu Civil Beat, 2023-05-03
- ↑ Lynn Kawano, Council OKs first settlement in police chase that prompted felony probe, Hawaii News Now, 2023-02-22
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Audrey McAvoy, Honolulu police officers plead not guilty in Waiʻanae car crash, cover-up, Hawaii Public Radio, 2023-03-24
- ↑ Lynn Kawano, Officers charged in horrific crash should be fired, HPD review board concludes, Hawaii News Now, 2023-07-15
- ↑ Jack Truesdale, Latest Lawsuit In Makaha Police Pursuit Case Accuses City Officials Of Stalling, Civil Beat, 2023-09-13
- ↑ Legislative Disciplinary Report, Honolulu Police Department
- ↑ Nicole Napuunoa, 3 officers involved in Makaha crash that injured 6 fired, KHON, 2024-02-27
- ↑ Madeleine Valera, City To Pay $12.5 Million To Driver Critically Injured In Officer-Involved Makaha Crash, Honolulu Civil Beat, 2024-03-25
- ↑ Mahealani Richardson, Attorney: Video linked to Makaha crash shows police engaged in ‘criminal behavior’, Hawaii News Now, 2021-10-15
- ↑ Body-worn camera footage shows scene of Makaha crash that left boy,14, paralyzed, Star-Advertiser, 2022-05-02
- ↑ Lynn Kawano, New body-cam video shows events that led to HPD chase ahead of serious crash, Hawaii News Now, 2022-08-29
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