Police finish
internal probe

HILO >> Hawaii County police have completed an internal investigation into a fatal traffic accident involving a police officer in February.

The case was filed this week with the county prosecutor's office, which will decide whether charges should be filed against officer Bryan Ellis, 29. Authorities have said Ellis was making a non-urgent response to a call early on Feb. 15 when his sport utility vehicle struck Gregory Pluta Jr., 33, who was walking in the southbound lane of Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona. Pluta later died at Kona Community Hospital.

First Deputy Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi said the case will be assigned to Deputy Prosecutor Michael Kagami, who can send it back to police for further investigation or conduct his own interviews before deciding whether to charge Ellis.