Man charged with Hilo store robbery, assault of police officer

A 33-year-old man has been charged with robbing a Hilo convenience store Saturday and assaulting a police officer who was arresting him.

Jamal K.K. Hauoli-Ontai, who has no permanent address, was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault of a police officer, resisting arrest and promoting a detrimental drug. Bail was set at $63,000.

At about 3 a.m. Saturday a man purchased several items at the store and then threatened to shoot the clerk if he didn’t let the suspect take a pack of cigarettes without paying.

The suspect was located at 5:40 p.m. Saturday at the Moo-heau Bus Terminal in Hilo. As an officer arrested him, the suspect became combative, causing minor injuries to the officer, police said.