Hilo woman charged after alleged domestic assault, attack on officer

A Hilo woman was charged after prosecutors said a weekend domestic dispute escalated into violence against her ex-boyfriend and a police officer. Timberly Paiva, 25, was arrested and charged on May 19 after the incident at a Kaieie Place residence in Hilo, according to the Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said the confrontation began on May 17 when Paiva allegedly entered the home without permission and threatened the victim while holding a 45-pound weighted exercise plate. She is also accused of striking him multiple times with her hands and fists, biting him on the upper back and damaging his van before fleeing the scene.

The case was later tied to an alleged assault on an officer during the police response, with reports saying Paiva kicked a responding officer. It reflects two recurring public-safety concerns on Hawaii Island: domestic violence inside the home and violence directed at officers trying to intervene.

Under Hawaii law, physical abuse of a family or household member is prohibited, and state law also covers refusal to comply with a police officer’s lawful order during a domestic-abuse investigation. In practice, that means a domestic incident can quickly lead to multiple charges when threats, assaults and obstruction happen in the same encounter.

The Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office handles violations of state and county law for the Big Island community. In Hilo, the county’s Victim/Witness Program can provide case information, explain the judicial process, offer referrals and crisis counseling, and help with witness fees and crime-victim compensation.

Hawaii Police Department domestic-violence guidance directs victims or concerned parties to its non-emergency line or the county Victim/Witness Assistance Program for help. For families in Hilo and across East Hawaii, the case is another reminder that early intervention and victim support can matter before a domestic conflict turns into a wider law-enforcement response.