HONOLULU — “I wish this was not the start of my first conference, but as your next police chief, I feel it is my duty and responsibility to inform you of this.”
And with that, incoming Honolulu Police Department chief Arthur “Joe” Logan, tapped to lead the troubled department just two days ago, made his first gesture toward transparency and accountability Wednesday by addressing local media about the arrest of his son on suspicion of second-degree assault related to an incident at Ala Moana Beach Park a day earlier.
According to police, Zane Logan, 36, assaulted a 33-year-old man with a hand tool shortly after 5 p.m. on Tuesday. A 41-year-old female acquaintance of Logan was also arrested on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening for allegedly threatening the victim with a sharp instrument.
Paramedics were called to the scene, but the victim declined treatment.
Police said all three individuals knew each other.
“As a parent, it’s heartbreaking,” Joe Logan said. “I know many of you out there probably have a family member who is struggling, and it’s something we’ve been struggling with for a long time.”
Logan declined to elaborate on the nature of his son’s struggles, but said he looked forward to a “full and thorough investigation.”
That investigation will be handled by the HPD investigation bureau’s criminal investigation division under the direction of the deputy chief of field investigations.
The chief-to-be said he will not be involved in the investigation and will not be apprised of its status.
In response to media inquiries about a “highlight” report about the arrest that was marked “do not post to the media,” interim HPD chief Rade Vanic said that nothing about the case was handled any differently than other similar cases and that the document in question was subject to review, approval and release by a commander according to standard procedure. He said any claim that police were treating the case, or the release of information regarding it, differently “is completely false.”
So-called highlights are made available to media and the public at HPD’s main station for cases that are deemed noteworthy. The reports are typically very brief and often vague in their descriptions of the alleged crime. Arrest logs, which are available via HPD’s website, provide basic information about suspects and the offenses for which they were arrested.
Zane Logan remains in police custody pending arraignment. Vanic said police are conferring with prosecutors and are pursuing felony charges against Logan.
Prosecutors have 48 hours from the time of arrest to charge a suspect.
Joe Logan said he has not spoken to his son since before the arrest.
Zane Logan has three prior convictions for fourth-degree theft, a petty misdemeanor, dating back to Sept. 2019. He served a total of eight days of confinement for the convictions.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Spectrum News Hawaii generally does not name crime suspects unless and until they have been charged. Zane Logan is named in this report because his identity was already made public and his father, a public figure, chose to discuss the case with news media.
Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.