Man charged in Puna robberies

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A 19-year-old Big Island man is facing robbery charges in connection with three separate incidents in the Puna District.

A 19-year-old Big Island man is facing robbery charges in connection with three separate incidents in the Puna District.

Kale Thomas Ramangmou was arrested Monday morning and charged Tuesday with numerous offenses stemming from separate incidents reported on Jan. 28, April 29, and May 1, according to the Hawaii Police Department.

Ramangmou was charged with second-degree robbery, third degree assault, second-degree theft, third-degree criminal property damage and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in connection with an incident reported Jan. 28, according to police.

In that case, a 40-year-old Pahoa man reported to police that while he was in a parked van at a rural retreat in lower Puna, a man got into his car and asked for cigarettes and beer and then punched him before taking away his cordless phone. A second suspect reportedly punched him again and a third suspect threw a golf ball-size rock through a side window of the van, according to police.

Ramangmou was also charged with second-degree robbery, first-degree criminal property damage and first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle stemming from the reported April 29 incident, according to police.

In that case, a 30-year-old woman from Mill Valley, Calif., reported that around 11:30 p.m. two to three unknown suspects threw a rock through the front passenger window of a car she was parked in near Ahalanui Hot Ponds in Puna and then demanded money. A cell phone holster was reportedly taken before the suspects fled the area.

In connection with the May 1 incident, police charged Ramangmou with second-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and fourth-degree theft.

According to police, a 43-year-old Pahoa man reported that he was at a 24-hour convenience store in Pahoa when an acquaintance parked in the area offered him a ride home. The man accepted the ride and was driven to an area off of Kaohe Homestead Road, where the same suspect reportedly assaulted him and removed undisclosed items, according to police.

In addition, upon making his way home, the 43-year-old discovered that it had been burglarized and several items were stolen, according to police.

Ramangmou’s bail was set at $159,000 pending an initial court appearance.