Police sought two suspects after a shotgun was fired during an attempted robbery Monday afternoon at a Kula residence where medical marijuana plants were being grown, police said.
One suspect was identified as Justin Pahia, 30, of Kula, said Lt. Jayson Rego of the Criminal Investigation Division. He said police were continuing to look for him Tuesday afternoon.
Rego said the robbery was reported at 2:15 p.m. in the backyard of the home on Alae Road.
A 58-year-old man living at the home reported that two males with a large blue pitbull jumped over a fence to enter the yard, where the resident confronted the intruders and told them to leave, Rego said. He said one man, later identified as Pahia, struck the resident with a small pistol airsoft gun, causing the victim to lose his balance and knocking out an upper tooth.
The victim also suffered a small cut with swelling to his left cheek.
The second robber pulled the trigger of a shotgun, discharging a round that went into the dirt to the right of the victim, Rego said.
He said the robbers fled after the victim began calling for help and neighbors who heard the shot yelled that they were calling police.
Witnesses reported the license plate number of a black Ford sport utility vehicle that the robbers and the pitbull fled in. Rego said officers later located the vehicle owner, a 29-year-old Kahului resident who said he had loaned the vehicle to Pahia. The man was arrested and released pending further investigation.
Rego said anyone who sees Pahia should not approach him and should call 911.
The other suspect, who was carrying the shotgun, is described as 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, with numerous tattoos.
The victim declined treatment at the scene.
Detectives are continuing to investigate.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.
