Police: Wounded, unarmed officer ‘recovering nicely’

HILO — The Hawaii Police Department says a police sergeant injured during a shootout at South Point is in stable condition at Hilo Medical Center.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports police say the unnamed special response team officer was shot Friday at a checkpoint by Justin Waiki, who was wanted for killing Puna Patrol Officer Bronson Kaliloa.

Authorities say the injured officer was shot in the chest and arm and is “recovering nicely.”

Authorities say the 12-year police veteran had opened the back lift gate of a vehicle where Waiki had been hiding under a blanket.

Police fatally shot Waiki who had been on the run since Tuesday night, when police say he shot and killed Kaliloa at a traffic stop in Mountain View.

———

Information from: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/