Man from Puna arrested and charged with alleged assault

(BIVN) – A 38-year-old Puna man was arrested following a reported violent incident that occurred Tuesday afternoon on Kamanu Street in the Hawaiian Beaches neighborhood.

According to police, George Dale Foote Jr. of Pahoa was charged in connection with the incident involving a juvenile.

Foote was charged with the following offenses:

• First degree terrorist threat
• Attempted first degree assault
• Second degree assault
• Third degree assault
• Reckless endangerment in the second degree

From a press release from the Hawaii Police Department:

On July 2, 2024, at approximately 4:00 p.m., Puna Patrol Officers responded to a reported panic alarm at a residence in the area of ​​the 15-100 block of Kamanu Street in Pahoa, where Foote had reported intruders on his property. Upon arrival, officers contacted a female subject who is Foote’s partner and mother of the 15-year-old male victim who was visiting the residence.

The juvenile victim told officers that after knocking on the front door, Foote came out, threatened him, and told him to leave. He then retrieved a small bucket containing what he believed to be gasoline and a lighter from the back of his pickup truck. When the victim demanded to speak to his mother, Foote threatened to pour the gasoline on him and set him on fire. After calling for the victim’s mother, who did not come out of the house, Foote doused the victim with the gasoline, causing his eyes to burn. The victim retreated to the street, where Foote followed him and the victim reported hearing Foote light the lighter.

Foote was subsequently arrested at the scene without incident.

The teenager was treated on site by Hawaii Fire Department personnel.

According to police, Foote’s bail was set at $24,000 and he was later released on bond. Foote’s first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, August 1, 2024, in Puna District Court.