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John “Johnny Boy” Gomes on the beach after the first heat of the Quicksilver Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay in Jan. 2007. (Star-Advertiser file)
A 50-year-old McCully man was charged last week with holding another man’s head under water off Waikiki Beach, police said.
John “Johnny Boy” Gomes was charged with third-degree assault on Saturday and posted $2,000 bail, according to Hawaii News Now.
Gomes eliminated then-five-time world champion Kelly Slater, and went on to win the Pipe Masters in 1997, the same year he broke the nose of another surfer at Chun’s Reef during an altercation.
Police said Gomes got in an argument with a 56-year-old man around 11 a.m. Thursday when the dispute became physical and culminated with Gomes holding the man’s head under water.
Gomes fled before police arrived, but was arrested the next day at his Kalakaua Avenue home for investigation of second-degree attempted murder. The charge was later downgraded to an assault.
Don’t mess with Johnny Gomes, real short fuse, especially if you drop in on him. Keep your distance and you will be all right.
i bet he likes tacos
Anyone going hog da waves, sooner or later going get dropped in on. Too bad arready.
I thought he was doing pretty good. Too bad, something rung his bell, but no excuses gotta control yourself!
Prototype moke- an embarrassment to local people.
yah just get out of the water give him the ocean right? because no one belongs in it but him right?
He needs a SNICKERS bar!
what a loser..still get his westside mentality
He should be surfing in prison. Perp has no business out on the waves with that kind of attitude.
agree
Punk just like most of the clowns at Bowls and a bunch of other spots. For some reason these guys think they own the water like Rothman and his hoodies.
black shorts
Actually, the “Black Shorts Gang” started out with good intentions. The problem is that they discovered the power they had in numbers and used it for to benefit themselves and their friends.
The thing is Johnny Boy can surf and it can be an experience to see that level of surfing on the South Shore. Sometimes the most talented guys have an attitude problem.
Agree the Ocean needs to be shared and all have the right to surf & enjoy. there will always be another wave
and to scare, attack or harass others in the surf is just plain childish and he should get a public spanking
and have to apologize and pay medical + a no surfing fine for one year.
Agree. Show some Aloha and help guys who don’t surf as good as you.
agree. He is a dangerous loser. Too many of them out here. They hold Hawaii back.
There are losers everywhere. But you are right that he was acting like one.
Typical bully, no other description for this thug!
Johnny grow up already.
This jerk and many like him have always polluted Hawaiian waters.
50 years old and still acting like one moke. some guys never grow up.
You said it …. I’m not surprised
So are the Liberals going to introduce a Bill to ban “hands”, as an assault weapon? What about “Surf Police”…I can see it now HPD Blues wetsuit on jet skis issuing out improper drop in, lane change, delayed take off / holding up traffic, improper use of surf board (impaling device)…
Wait a surfer is held underwater? What he cannot swim or hold his breath?
I know there a fine line between horseplay and intent to kill or assault… “investigation of second-degree attempted murder. The charge was later downgraded to an assault.”….but I don’t think the issue of the victim holding his head underwater…now if it was a woman, homosexual, transgender who know’s what path the investigation would have gone?…maybe hate crime…got to stop I can’t wrap my brain around all of this!
SO you think it was OK?
Nope…common sense would indicate that this was an act of an aggressor and addressed as such…which it did.
Thanks for the irrelevant tangent. I’m sure this is somehow Obama’s fault.
Lol!
I never mentioned Mr. Obama being a Liberal (per my description via reaction…you did…I presume that’s confirmation of same. By the way, my comment were to inject some sense of humor on human reaction to a rather serious incident. Same can be said about the reaction by extreme the extreme right.
WN, so long as we are throwing around tags like liberal, I’m sure a conservative would promote guns in the lineup as the answer… how difficult was that?
No that’s a rather irrational assessment…something that doesn’t surprise me…by the way used to be a moderate and then everything moved so far left that I’m considered a conservative…but not a right-wing extremist.
Johnny Be Good – it is called maturity
Not the first time for this guy. He has an interesting rap sheet and lots of stuff that never got reported.
eh, this guy is the same guy in the purse snatching video!
Yes!! That’s a valid observation….I hope the police follow up.
The local guys seem to think they own the water. Good for him. He should be charged. I thought surfing was to relieve stress. A bit opposit don’t you think.
I’ve seen a surfer pound on the roof of a visitors car what the visitor took a beach parking space the surfer thought was his. That chased the visitor away. What’s up with these people?
Can’t condone the ultimate behavior, but begs the question what prompted it. Unwritten rules of the ocean that some people may be unaware of; make yourself aware before you go out, out of respect for the local culture.
No one should have to be aware of the unwritten rules that give a few authority to dictate who is and isn’t allowed to surf an area.
He kicked water in my face once for no reason, probably jealous I was getting better waves than him. Never liked the guy. Other surfers suck up to him because they’re scared, I wouldn’t waste my time.
this guy always like scrap. Unless you give him all the waves he wont be happy
Like 3 year old spoiled brat!
Laird hamilton gave him a beating on the beach at backdoor once…JB called him out. It was perfect
Johnny Boy is a good guy, but he will lash out if he thinks he’s being disrespected. He’s not a wave hog, but if you are, or if you drop in on him or especially his girlfriend, you’re asking for doughnuts. Too many people in the water with no etiquette.
Yeah, real “good” guy.
He deserves all the dis-respect he can get.
still a punk
One day somebody’s gonna dump this guy. Not someone bigger or stronger than him, but probably a small, skinny druggie with a glock.
Before even reading the article, I said to myself, I bet it’s…..yep.
Johnny Boy, an elite, world-class athlete, a hero to young and old alike, a role model for the young, especially in Hawai’i, loved by family, friends, and fans, knows better. I’m sure his parents and mentors taught him better. Hawai’i’s people, especially keiki o’ ka ‘aina, are raised to treat elders as uncles and aunties, to treat peers as brothers and sisters, and to treat younger people with kindness. Race, ethnicity, culture doesn’t matter. All adults in Hawai’i, especially popular athletes, are mindful that children are always watching them and they must set an example that would make their own parents and grandparents proud. I’m sure Johnny Boy will use this experience as a stepping stone toward becoming the role model that he knows he can be. Go, Johnny, go!
he’s 50 years old..what makes you think he’s gonna grow up now?..go away johnny..go away
He been doing this his whole life
He is a PUNK!
He will get his…sooner then later…PUNK!