9-11-24 (Correction) Affray at a Football Game at Keaukaha Field Leads to an Arrest for Assault
Hawai‘i Police Department
Juvenile Aid Section – Area I
Lieutenant Robert P. Pauole
Phone: (808) 961-2254
Report No.: 24-082325
Media Release
Correction: the previously issued release for this incident erroneously stated that the affray occurred at a Pop Warner football game. That is not correct. The Big Island Pop Warner Football Conference had no affiliation with the youth football game(s) being played. The Hawai’i Police Department apologizes for this error.
Hawai‘i Island police arrested 31-year-old Tyler Anthony Ikaika Iopa, of Mt. View, for second-degree assault as a result of a 7-year-old girl who was knocked down during an affray at a youth football game at Keaukaha Field on Saturday afternoon, September 7, 2024.
At 1:28 p.m. South Hilo patrol officers responded to a report of an affray at Keaukaha Field on Pua Avenue, in Hilo. Upon arrival, officers determined the affray was between several adult male individuals, and in the process the young girl was knocked down after being elbowed in the head. She was transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center for treatment for a serious concussion and later released.
Iopa had left the area prior to officers’ arrival, but through investigative efforts was positively identified as the suspect who knocked the young girl down. Iopa turned himself in to detectives of the Juvenile Aid Section at the Hilo Police Station on September 10, 2024, at 10:40 a.m., and was held while detectives continued their investigation.
The investigation determined that the young girl was knocked down when Iopa was stepping backwards to get away from the other two male individuals involved in the affray. While retreating backwards, his elbow unintentionally struck the young girl in the head.
On Wednesday afternoon, September 11, 2024, after conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Iopa was released pending further investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, detectives will defer the case to the Prosecutor’s Office for their review and final disposition.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the affray to contact Detective Clarence Acob of the Area I Juvenile Aid Section at (808) 961-8839 or by email at clarence.acob@hawaiicounty.gov.
