WAILUKU - Bail was increased to $100,000 for a man who was arrested for allegedly assaulting and holding his girlfriend at knifepoint in a Kahului apartment and in a vehicle.
During his appearance Thursday in Wailuku District Court, Francis Ramirez, 27, was ordered to have no contact with the victim and not to leave Maui County.
Deputy Prosecutor Jerrie Sheppard sought the increased bail for Ramirez, saying he was a flight risk. She said he was fleeing from Maui when he was arrested Tuesday at Honolulu International Airport with a backpack containing a machete.
Ramirez is charged with kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening and second-degree assault of his girlfriend for an incident reported at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.
According to police, she was punched by Ramirez after an argument in their apartment at Harbor Lights Condominium, suffering injuries to her eye and face and losing consciousness.
When she awoke and tried to leave the apartment, Ramirez stopped her by blocking the door while brandishing a knife and ordering her into a bedroom, police said. Ramirez reportedly held the woman at knifepoint while threatening to kill her.
Later, he forced her to accompany him to Kahului Airport, keeping her from leaving the vehicle and continuing to threaten to kill her while brandishing a knife, police said.
After Ramirez drove to the airport terminal and boarded a flight to Oahu, the woman drove to the Maui Memorial Medical Center emergency room.
Although Ramirez gave an address in Kaneohe on Oahu, Sheppard said he had been living on Maui.
Judge Kelsey Kawano doubled Ramirez's bail from $50,000 to $100,000. He was being held at the Maui Community Correctional Center.
