Victims in Moiliili stabbing say suspect was upset about noise

A 39-year-old man allegedly attacked and stabbed two men and a woman early Sunday morning in Moiliili because he was upset that they were bothering his wife, who was trying to sleep, according to court documents.

Michael Ford is being held in custody unable to post bail of $250,000.

Ford was initially arrested on three counts of second-degree attempted murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder. The first-degree murder charge stems from the fact that he is accused of attacking more than one person.

Before his initial District Court appearance Tuesday prosecutors charged him on one count of second-degree attempted  murder; one count of first-degree assault for slashing one of the victims on the arm;  and one count of attempted first-degree assault because he allegedly slashed another victim but did not inflict a serious wound. 

His District Court preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

According to a police affidavit, at 1 a.m. Sunday Ford said the victims: “Why are you guys making so much noise, my wife has to work tomorrow.”

The incident occurred at South Beretania street and Poha Lane while a group of men and women were talking on a South Beretania street corner after leaving a bar a block away.

A witness told police that he and his friends were talking at Poha and South Beretania streets when Ford came from behind and said, “Shut the f— up, my wife is trying to sleep.”

The witness said two other people in the group left to catch a cab at Isenberg street, and Ford followed the rest of the group on Beretania street.

In front of the Kalihi Pet Clinic at 2203 S. Beretania St., Brent Asato, who suffered the most severe of the knife wounds, told the suspect: “You need to calm down; we’re leaving,” according to a police affidavit.

The two got into a fight and Ford allegedly said: “I’ll cut you,” pulling out a silver 4-inch knife from the rear pocket of his pants.

One of victims. Jennifer Freeman, told police that Ford held the knife in his right hand and stabbed Asato in the back and then slashed her right triceps.

Asato suffered a 2-inch stab wound to his right rear shoulder.

Another victim, Raymond Hoptowit, said he had apologized to Ford and was walking away, according to the police affidavit.

Hoptowit, 26, was slashed and suffered injuries to his head and chest, the police statement said.

Other men in the group jumped in and pinned the suspect to the sidewalk, taking away the knife.

Asato, 25, was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center in critical condition. Freeman, 26, and Hoptowit’s injuries were described by police as serious.

Ford was arrested seven hours later at his South Beretania street apartment a half block from the crime scene.