LIHU‘E — A Lihu‘e man was arrested Friday after barricading himself in an apartment for six hours following an apparent stabbing, states a Kaua‘i Police Department release.
The male suspect has been identified as Derek Bracken Smith, 61, of Lihu‘e.
According to a preliminary report, the Kaua‘i Police Department received a call of a female who was stabbed by a male subject at an apartment at the Sun Village Condos in Lihu‘e on Friday morning at 1:15.
The KPD Special Services Team, Negotiators team, American Medical Response, and detectives from the Investigative Services Bureau responded to the incident.
Penny Nichols, a Sun Village resident who resides in a building across the driveway access, said the entire scene resembled something out of television.
“I have nearly a straight-line sight to the building,” Nichols said. “It was around 2 a.m. and there were police cars everywhere. There were ambulances and fire trucks. It was almost like what you see on TV.”
On arrival, KPD personnel discovered a female with sustained injuries from an apparent stabbing. She was located at the Sun Village Condos in a different apartment from where the suspect barricaded himself.
Patrol Services Bureau officers secured the floor, and medics were able to get to the female victim to administer treatment for her wounds. She was transported to the Wilcox Medical Center Emergency Department, treated for her injuries, and released.
The barricade situation ended approximately six hours after the initial report. KPD negotiators were able to talk the suspect into exiting the residence, peacefully. He was taken into custody without further incident at about 7:25 a.m.
Smith is currently under arrest and being held on $30,050 bail. He has been charged with second-degree assault, kidnapping, first-degree burglary, and second-degree criminal trespass.
The Kaua‘i Police Department is continuing to investigate this incident.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
