Big Isle cop
not guilty of
abusing woman

The charges included holding the
woman against her will for days

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By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.com

HILO >> A Big island jury has found Kau District police officer Warren Ke not guilty of all three charges that he abused and unlawfully imprisoned a woman who said she was his girlfriend.

Shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday, Judge Riki May Amano heard the jury's not-guilty verdict on the alleged unlawful imprisonment of Kiana Dempster, 21, of Ocean View, on March 5-7, and abuse of a household member by allegedly punching her on March 10. Ke, 38, was staying at Dempster's house at the time. Ke denies Dempster was his girlfriend.

Amano ordered the jury to return to deliberations on what Deputy Prosecutor Michael Udovic said was the principle charge: shaking, slapping and hitting Dempster on March 5.

Around 9 p.m., the jury returned a not-guilty verdict on that charge also.

All of the charges are misdemeanors, but if he had been convicted, Ke would have been barred from carrying a gun and could have lost his job.

"Mr. Ke is very happy and relieved. It has been a nightmare. This is the best Christmas present anyone in his position could receive," said Ke's attorney, Brenda Carreira.

Outside the court after the first two not-guilty verdicts were announced, Dempster said she expected the verdicts.

"I'm devastated but I kind of expected it," she said. "It's my word against his. I've done lots of things, and I'm not proud of what I've done."

Dempster has admitted using drugs extensively but is now in a rehabilitation program.

Several police officers testified on her behalf, but none of them were present at the time of the alleged abuse, she said.

Dempster said she does not feel safe in the remote community and will leave as soon as she can.

She said another police officer, whom she accuses of raping her repeatedly over a five-year period, has tried to run her off the road several times since a Kona judge declined to grant a restraining order against the officer.

"I don't feel safe out there. I'm terrified being out there. We actually seeing cop cars passing by (her house) several times per day," she said.

In court testimony Thursday, Ke denied injuring Dempster or holding her against her will, and called her statements "wild accusations."

In a separate incident, Ke was charged with abuse of a household member for allegedly inflicting cuts and bruises on his wife, but charges were eventually dismissed.