Man arrested for assault with tire iron

WAILUKU — A 27-year-old man was arrested for allegedly assaulting another man with a tire iron Tuesday night during an encounter in a Wailuku neighborhood, police said.

The assault occurred at about 11 p.m. fronting a residence on Lipo Place, said acting Lt. Brian Kaya of the Criminal Investigation Division.

The victim was walking home after buying a pack of cigarettes when he saw Armand Koga standing in front of a silver pickup truck across the street, Kaya said. He said the man approached Koga, who was holding a black object in his hands, and Koga made comments indicating the two had been involved in a previous encounter.

Then Koga reportedly grabbed the cigarettes out of the man’s hand and hit him on the left side of his face, Kaya said. The man refused medical treatment.

Koga fled but was arrested within 30 minutes.

Koga, who gave no local address, was charged with second-degree assault of the man, as well as driving while intoxicated, driving while his license was suspended or revoked and third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug.

He was being held in lieu of $2,350 bail.