Maui police said a preliminary review of reports and video from the arrest of a protester on Haleakala
on Wednesday shows
that officers acted within department policy in forcibly restraining him before he fell unconscious in handcuffs.
Police gave details of the arrest of six protesters in a news release posted on the Maui Police Department website Thursday.
David Prais and five others were arrested at about 3:45 a.m. as a convoy of vehicles carrying equipment to the Daniel K. Inouye solar telescope was met by a large group of protesters at the
intersection of Haleakala and Kekaulike highways.
According to police, two women and four men were arrested after trying to get into the path of the trucks and in front of trailer tires
to stop the convoy.
After Prais was taken to the ground and handcuffed, he fell unconscious and was taken to the hospital by
ambulance and later discharged.
Kako‘o Haleakala, a
group that organized the protest, said via Facebook Messenger that Prais was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center for a concussion and shoulder injuries. The group alleged that an
officer had his knee on Prais’ head and that he was yelling for help and in pain and
“became unconscious and unresponsive.”
According to the organization, Kako‘o Haleakala
called an ambulance while police “just stood there and did not assist.”
Video from the protest showed he was being tended to by protesters
and police.
Before being handcuffed, police said, Prais “had
gotten up from the ground and pushed past an officer and dove under the trailer of a truck as it was moving. Prais grabbed onto a tire
as the truck slowed to a stop.”
Police said Prais was ordered repeatedly to let go
of the tire but had to be
forcibly removed from under the trailer of a truck
that was stopped on an
incline. Officers reported trying to get Prais away
from the truck but said he tried to run back underneath the trailer.
“Officers, in the interest of Prais’ safety and the safety of others, took Prais to the ground and tried to handcuff him,” the news release says. “Prais continued to struggle with officers and
refused to obey commands. He tucked his hands under his body and refused to
release them causing officers to forcibly restrain
him and pull his arms free in order to handcuff him.
“As officers escorted Prais to an awaiting vehicle for transport to the police station, he suddenly appeared to become unconscious. Officers guided him to the ground and immediately radioed for an ambulance as a precaution and remained with Prais until its arrival,” police said.