Mountain View Man Charged With Auto Theft, Assault on Officers, Firearm Violations

Hayden E. Bruce, 24, of Mountain View, was arrested and charged after a stolen-vehicle incident that left two Hawaiʻi Island police officers injured and prompted multiple firearm-related charges. Police took Bruce into custody following an incident on Sunday, Jan. 18, and filed charges Jan. 20 after conferring with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.

Authorities said officers located a gray Kia Soul that had been reported stolen in November 2025 with Bruce inside. When officers attempted to remove Bruce from the vehicle, Bruce allegedly reversed at speed, forcing one officer to jump into the moving vehicle to avoid serious injury; a second officer was injured by the reversing vehicle. Officers subsequently removed Bruce from the vehicle and arrested him. Detectives executed search warrants on a cross-body bag and the vehicle, recovering a loaded 9 mm pistol and live 9 mm ammunition.

Charges filed include first-degree theft; unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle; first-degree criminal property damage; two counts of first-degree assault on a police officer; carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a highway; violations related to firearm storage, ammunition, permits to acquire and mandatory registration; duty upon striking unattended vehicle or property; and driving without a valid driver’s license. Bruce was additionally arrested on two bench warrants. Bail was set at $104,200. The investigation remained ongoing as of Jan. 20, and police asked witnesses to contact Detective Amy Omaya at (808) 961-2381.

The case carries immediate implications for public safety and enforcement on Hawaiʻi Island. The alleged sequence of vehicle theft, reckless vehicle conduct and discovery of a loaded firearm underscores intersecting enforcement areas for patrol officers and detectives: property crime, traffic safety and firearms law enforcement. The involvement of multiple firearm-related counts - including storage and registration violations - highlights how prosecutors and police are using statutory tools beyond simple possession charges.

For Mountain View and neighboring Puna communities, the incident may influence where police prioritize patrols and investigative resources. Prosecutorial decisions in the coming weeks will determine how aggressively the state pursues the array of first-degree charges and firearm violations, decisions that can affect sentencing outcomes and local perceptions of accountability.

Residents with information about the incident are asked to contact Detective Amy Omaya at (808) 961-2381. As the case moves through the criminal-justice process, Big Island voters and civic leaders may look to this prosecution as part of broader conversations about vehicle theft prevention, safe firearm storage, and support for law enforcement resources in rural districts. The immediate next steps are continued investigation and forthcoming court proceedings that will clarify the facts and potential penalties.