Hawaii County police are investigating a possible drowning at Pohoiki Beach in the Puna area.

At 4 p.m. Tuesday, police received a report of a woman who had been snorkeling and was later found unresponsive. When police arrived at the scene, lifeguards and Fire Department rescue personnel were attempting CPR on the woman. Attempts to resuscitate the victim at the scene were unsuccessful, police said.

The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of family.

Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation.

Panaewa inmate sought after failing to return

Hawaii County police are seeking the public’s help in finding Jeremy Ward, who failed to return to prison from a furlough pass Aug. 27.

Ward, 39, is a community custody inmate in the work furlough program with pass privileges. Community custody is the lowest classification status.

Ward left the Hale Nani Correctional Facility in Panaewa outside of Hilo at 8 a.m. Aug. 27 and was scheduled to return by 8 p.m.

Ward is 5 feet 5 inches tall and and weighs 135 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

He has a red heart tattoo with the name “Tanya” on the left side of his chest, tribal-style tattoos on his left lower arm, the word “FEATHER” on the back of his left upper arm and other assorted tattoos on his right arm, his back, and the back of his left hand.

Ward was serving time for second-degree theft, bail jumping and promoting prison contraband. His next parole hearing was scheduled for November.