HPD officer charged in domestic abuse

The Honolulu Police Department arrested and charged a 31-year-old officer Tuesday morning with misdemeanor abuse of a family member.

HPD Officer Scott Christopher Koba­ya­shi, a Wai­pio resident, was arrested at 8:25 a.m. at the Kalihi police station on Kame­ha­meha IV Road.

Kobayashi’s arrest comes 20 days after an Oahu grand jury declined Oct. 8 to indict Sgt. Darren Cachola in a highly publicized case involving suspicions of domestic violence.

Kobayashi is an eight-year veteran of the department and is assigned to its information technology division, HPD spokes­woman Michelle Yu said.

"His police authority has been restricted," Yu said in an email statement.

She declined to provide further details on the alleged abuse.

Kobayashi is scheduled to appear Nov. 5 at Hono­lulu District Court.

He was released from police custody at 9 a.m. Tuesday after posting $1,000 bail.

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kea­loha faced public and political pressure for not having Cachola arrested after a surveillance video recorded Sept. 8 showed the off-duty sergeant apparently punching his girlfriend. Officers responding to the incident did not file a report.

On Sept. 9, Restaurant Kuni and Lounge in Wai­pahu provided the video to the Police Department.

The incident prompted a group of female lawmakers to raise the issue of reform in the Police Department and address complaints about the department’s handling of domestic violence incidents.

The lawmakers also called for more scrutiny of the Police Department, a re-examination of police policies and procedures, and for more training for officers.

Kealoha initially wanted to release additional video surveillance to lawmakers that showed Cachola and his girlfriend, a kickboxer, engaged in what her attorney called horseplay and sparring without intent to hurt each other. But that was nixed by a lawmaker and the city prosecutor.

HPD’s Professional Standards Office continues to investigate Cachola, responding officers and a police dispatcher.