By: Ian Scheuring
OMA'O, Kaua'i (HawaiiNewsNow) - A 62 year-old man recently convicted of gun and drug charges was shot and killed by Kauai Police following a three-hour standoff on Kaua'i on Wednesday.
Richard "Dickie" Louis, 62, was pronounced dead at the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.
Kaua'i Police Department officials say that at around 3:30 p.m., police officers and members of the Hawai'i Fugitive Task Force went to a residence on Pune'e Road in Oma'o to arrest Louis on a $310,000 bench warrant. According to police, Louis was wanted for failing to appear at trial in Circuit Court in Lihue on December 5, 2011.
The trial continued despite Louis's absence, with jurors finding him guilty on theft, gun and drug charges following an incident in 2007.
Upon their arrival, police officers say Louis barricaded himself and an adult female inside his home. Police officers and crisis negotiators then surrounded the property, resulting in the release of the woman at around 5:45 p.m., just over two hours after the operation began. She was not hurt.
The negotiators failed to establish contact with Louis during this time, however, and the man was seen on the roof of his home nearly an hour later. Police say he ignored commands to surrender himself, and was described as being "aggressive" and "agitated" during the exchange.
Police say that at this time, an officer attempted to pursue and apprehend Louis, who grabbed a metal object and "made threatening moves towards the officer and threatened to kill him." The officer fired his weapon at Louis in response.
Emergency medical responders transported Louis to Wilcox Hospital in Lihue before flying him via Air Ambulance to Queen's on Oahu, where he was pronounced dead at 12:54 a.m.
Kauai's Acting Police Chief, Michael Contrades, called Louis's death "sad" and says the Department will continue to look into Wednesday's events.
"The Kauai Police Department is currently conducting a full investigation of yesterday's shooting," Contrades said. "We will involve the appropriate outside agencies to ensure an expeditious and fair review."
Contrades defended the actions of the officers, saying "…based on the information available to us at this time, it appears that the officers involved acted appropriately. Our officers are tasked with making split-second decisions to protect the public and themselves. Almost all of these encounters end peacefully. Sadly, some do not."
"My condolences go out to those who are now dealing with the loss of their loved one. Public safety is our highest priority and we remain steadfast in that endeavor."
The operation to arrest Louis was part of a three day sweep on Kauai by the Hawaii Fugitive Task Force, resulting in the arrests of 31 other wanted individuals.
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