A Puna man faces multiple charges following a stolen vehicle incident that led to officer injuries and damage to a police vehicle in Kurtistown on Sunday. Hayden E. Bruce, 24, was charged with an array of offenses after reportedly driving recklessly in a stolen gray Kia Soul, ultimately resulting in a confrontation with police, according to the Hawai‘i Police Department.
The list of charges laid against Bruce includes first-degree theft, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, and first-degree criminal property damage, alongside more serious allegations of two counts of first-degree assault on a police officer; police state that Bruce attempted to flee by reversing the vehicle at high speed, causing one officer to jump into the moving vehicle to avoid injury and injuring a second officer in the process, the vehicle then collided with a police-subsidized vehicle further escalating the situation. He has also been charged with carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a highway, among other firearm-related offenses, and he was found to have two outstanding bench warrants, resulting in a bail set at $104,200, with his initial court appearance scheduled yesterday in Hilo District Court.
The events unfolded last Sunday, when a witness reported the stolen vehicle's dangerous maneuvers on Highway 11 toward Kea‘au and provided its license plate number to the central dispatch, which led to the discovery that the car had been reported stolen in Hilo in November 2025. When officers located and confronted Bruce, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle parked at a Kurtistown convenience store, the situation rapidly deteriorated, as detailed by the Hawaiʻi Police Department.
After refusing to comply with officers' orders, Bruce resorted to the high-speed reversal, the incident resulting in minor injuries to the involved officers, who received treatment at the scene; the stolen vehicle along with a cross-body bag found on Bruce were seized as evidence and a subsequent search uncovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol in the bag, with further investigation yielding live 9mm ammunition in the vehicle. The Hawai‘i Police Department's Area I Criminal Investigation Section has assumed charge of the ongoing investigation and is urging any possible witnesses to come forward.
Tipsters with information about the incident may contact Detective Amy Omaya of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2381 or by email at [email protected]. For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers can be reached at (808) 961-8300, with the possibility of a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers, a volunteer program supported by community members, ensures the confidentiality of all tips and does not use call recording or caller ID technologies.
