Man wanted for stolen vehicle succumbs to taser injuries a week after fleeing from MPD
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The Maui News
An incident that took place on April 11, involving a Maui Police Department officer that deployed his taser after locating a stolen vehicle and suspect, has left 53-year-old Televise Sau of Wailuku dead, according to an MPD press release. Sau passed away on April 18 and his cause of death has not been released yet.
The officer involved in the incident was wearing a bodycam during the entirety of the deployment of the taser. The video of the incident can be seen at: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mamt7lxnnzha94jii16s2/041124-BWC.mp4?rlkey=f5y5jsvh4zh4lxibaprqz09ba&st=jofvi7uw&dl=0.
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, the MPD received a report of a stolen Ford F-150 pickup taken from the Kahului area. On April 11, the stolen truck was reportedly seen in the Haiku area, according to the MPD press release on the incident. Around 7:20 a.m., a MPD officer located the stolen truck at a Kahiapo Place residence, with the driver still within. The officer ordered the driver to exit the vehicle; however, the driver ignored the commands and accelerated towards the driveway. The driver then exited the vehicle and fled on foot, running towards what was believed to be an occupied and uninvolved residence, with the officer in pursuit. The officer used less-lethal force, by announcing commands and deploying his taser, only when the driver failed to comply with the officer's commands.
The MPD said of the incident being filmed via the bodycam, "In keeping with our commitment to transparency and accountability, we have included a cross-section of the body-worn camera footage of the incident."
MPD said in a prepared statement that medical assistance was immediately requested, and the officer placed the driver, who was not handcuffed, into a recovery position while waiting for the arrival of medical personnel. The driver was then taken to the Maui Memorial Medical Center for further treatment.
"The Maui Police Department takes incidents involving the use of force very seriously. In accordance with department policy, an internal investigation into the incident has been initiated and the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave. We express our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Sau during this difficult time. In keeping with our commitment to transparency and accountability, we have included a cross-section of the body-worn camera footage of the incident," The MPD said in a statement.
In the released real-time footage, a uniformed officer is shown exiting his marked patrol vehicle on a road fronting a residence with the stolen vehicle in his line of sight. The officer approaches the stolen vehicle in the driveway while drawing his firearm and ordering the driver to stop in an effort to take the driver into custody. The officer continues to approach the vehicle while giving commands to stop, but the driver proceeds to accelerate towards the residence; the officer then holsters his firearm and gives chase while repeating commands to stop as he draws his Taser. The officer then deploys his Taser successfully, making contact with the driver from behind, then immediately requests Central Dispatch to send medical assistance to his location.
Sau had felony drug charges in 2022, and a recent misdemeanor charge of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in the same year, according to court documents.
The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.