Question: Whatever happened to Herman “Sam” Scanlan, the police officer injured Sept. 13 when a car hit him and officer Eric Fontes, who was killed, as they were conducting a traffic stop on Farrington Highway near Ko Olina? Is officer Scanlan back at work?
Answer: Scanlan continues to recuperate from his injuries and has not yet returned to duty as a patrol officer for District 8, the Kapolei police district, said police spokeswoman Michelle Yu.
Scanlan suffered leg and other injuries, and when he will return is unknown, Yu said.
He was 55 at the time of the incident and is a 14-year police department veteran. Friends described him as a man deeply involved with his Waianae Coast community. People in the Makaha community where he lived said he has helped lead efforts to form community watch groups in his spare time.
About 10:30 p.m. Sept. 13, police said, Scanlan stopped a 1997 tan Jeep Cherokee with an expired vehicle registration decal in the left, Waianae-bound lane of Farrington Highway between Honokai Hale and the Ko Olina offramp.
Other officers, including Fontes, responded to assist, and their vehicles’ blue lights were flashing.
A 2003 tan Toyota pickup truck driven by a 20-year-old Waianae man hit Fontes while he was on the grass strip between the concrete divider and the vehicles. Three other officers were able to jump out of the way, police said.
The truck then hit an unmarked police vehicle, a 2000 green Dodge Durango SUV, pushing it into Scanlan, who was also on the grassy median. Traffic investigators said Fontes was hit in the back by the vehicle, which then hit the two police cars and Scanlan.
Fontes, 45, was taken in extremely critical condition to Pali Momi Medical Center, where he died.
Fontes, a Makakilo resident, also worked out of the Kapolei substation. About 1,000 people attended Fontes’ memorial service at Borthwick Mortuary.
Scores of law enforcement officers lined Maunakea Street to enter the funeral home to pay their respects to a man many considered a leader and motivator.
He was buried Oct. 8 on his home island of Molokai.
The driver of the truck, James J. Dorsey Mancao, was arrested for investigation of negligent homicide and negligent injuries. He was later released pending charges. Alcohol was not considered a factor in the case.Mancao, who has no prior record, is a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard.
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This update was written by Gordon Y.K. Pang. Suggest a topic for “Whatever Happened To…” by writing Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suit 7-210, Honolulu 96813; call 529-4747; or email cityeditors@staradvertiser.com.
