LIHU‘E — The Waimea man who was shot by a Kaua‘i Police Department officer last month pleaded not guilty to assaulting a KPD officer, three counts of terroristic threatening, and criminal property damage. Tavis Apo, 31, also pleaded not guilty
LIHU‘E — The Waimea man who was shot by a Kaua‘i Police Department officer last month pleaded not guilty to assaulting a KPD officer, three counts of terroristic threatening, and criminal property damage.
Tavis Apo, 31, also pleaded not guilty last week to driving under the influence of drugs, and to reckless endangering.
He was shot in the face by KPD Officer Randy Ledesma near the Lihu‘e police headquarters on Ka‘ana Street Sept. 18.
Ledesma was in a police car, and had blocked in the sport-utility vehicle that Apo was driving, according to prosecutors, police and other county sources.
Apo allegedly rammed the police car with his vehicle, and was attempting to do it again when he was shot, according to police.
Apo was also allegedly waving a knife and a pellet gun during the incident, and was shot when Ledesma fired a single round from his service revolver after Apo refused to surrender or give up either of the weapons, according to police.
A picture in Apo’s criminal case file shows three police department vehicles blocking in a white, Dodge, four-door SUV, at the end of Ka‘ana Street.
Another picture shows a 15-inch-long, Bowie-type knife with an eagle on the end of the handle. The handle also has holes for finger protection, similar to brass knuckles.
A picture of a Crossman air pistol is also in Apo’s criminal file, allegedly the one he pointed at officers while verbally threatening them, according to police accounts of the incident.
According to court records, Apo is in custody at the Kauai Community Correctional Center in Wail ua. His bail is $75,000.
He is scheduled to go to trial on Jan. 30, 2006.
