• Civil suit naming Maui Police Chief John Pelletier dismissed for failure to prosecute.
• Pelletier and his attorney say records prove he was not in California when the alleged incident occurred.
• Pelletier calls for a public apology and warns of possible legal remedies for defense costs.
• Maui mayor welcomes dismissal; Police Commission previously took no action against Pelletier.
H2: Federal lawsuit dismissed for failure to prosecute
A federal civil lawsuit that at one point named Maui Police Chief John Pelletier as a co-defendant was dismissed Tuesday for failure to prosecute. The case was originally filed in October by plaintiff Ashley Parham in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and was later amended to add multiple co-defendants, including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Pelletier.
Keola Whittaker, Pelletier’s attorney, told Hawaiʻi media on Wednesday that the dismissal vindicates his client. “This is over and the truth has prevailed,” Whittaker said, calling the allegations “complete fabrications” and saying the plaintiffs never served a summons or complaint to the named defendants.
H3: Pelletier denies the allegations, cites records
Pelletier has consistently denied the claims that he posed as a Contra Costa sheriff or failed to call emergency services after an alleged 2018 incident in Orinda, California. Whittaker said multiple records — including Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department logs, bank and phone records, and location data — show Pelletier was in Las Vegas and either on duty or on call at the time in question, roughly 400 miles away from the alleged scene.
“This case died not because it was settled, not because it went to trial, but it just collapsed under its own falsehoods,” Whittaker said, asserting the complaint was a deliberate fabrication.
H3: Local officials respond
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen issued a statement welcoming the dismissal and expressing compassion for Pelletier and his family. He said he is “grateful that the civil lawsuit against Police Chief John Pelletier was dismissed” and praised the judicial process.
Earlier this year, after the lawsuit surfaced, Mayor Bissen had recommended the Police Commission place Pelletier on leave while an independent review took place. The commission later voted unanimously to take no action, highlighting a decision to act based on evidence rather than public pressure.
H3: What’s next for Pelletier
Pelletier has called for a public apology from those who promoted or repeated the allegations, saying the claims caused pain to his family, the department and the community. His attorney noted the plaintiffs likely face statutory time limits that would make refiling difficult and said Pelletier may pursue legal remedies to recoup defense costs incurred over the past months.
Pelletier, who was sworn in as Maui police chief in 2021 and led local law enforcement during the 2023 Maui wildfires, said he will continue his duties and vowed not to be deterred by what he described as a frivolous lawsuit. Whittaker said the dismissal allows Pelletier and his family to move forward and enjoy the holidays with the weight of the allegations lifted.
Image Referance: https://mauinow.com/2025/12/17/maui-police-chief-john-pelletier-seeks-apology-as-diddy-civil-lawsuit-is-dismissed/
