Seventeen people have been apprehended in connection with the recent crime spree in South Kona, and a majority of them are facing their share of 61 felony charges, area residents learned Thursday evening in Kealakekua.
Seventeen people have been apprehended in connection with the recent crime spree in South Kona, and a majority of them are facing their share of 61 felony charges, area residents learned Thursday evening in Kealakekua.
Eight remain incarcerated, six are out on bail, and three were released pending further investigation, said Capt. Chad Basque of the Hawaii Police Department’s Area II Criminal Investigations Section.
Police have recovered four stolen vehicles, a commercial generator and “tons” of jewelry, laptop computers, sports memorabilia and U.S. currency, he said.
Through Oct. 18, residents have reported four burglaries in the police department’s entire Kona district, which includes both North and South Kona.
A normal month sees four burglaries in South Kona and approximately 15 in North Kona, he said.
More than 60 people packed the Konawaena High School cafeteria for the update on police efforts to quash an apparent August and September South Kona crime spree and the department’s next steps.
Providing information at the meeting were police ranging from chief to community police officers, prosecutors — including lead Prosecuting Attorney Charlene Iboshi — and administration officials, including Mayor Billy Kenoi.
Iboshi vowed to move the cases to trial as quickly as possible, saying judges in West Hawaii seem less inclined to continue trial dates. She also said two prosecutors have been dedicated to consult with police on the cases.
She encouraged anyone with information to come forward, even now. She also said just because some suspects may have been released, that doesn’t mean police have stopped investigating.
“We have to work together as a community to really get enough evidence … we can use because we have one shot at it and one shot only,” she said. “Just because someone was released pending investigation doesn’t mean police don’t continue to do the job.”
The meeting was a follow-up to a Sept. 11 meeting when police first announced they had established a task force and asked the community for assistance apprehending individuals the department identified as suspects connected to the spike of burglaries and car crimes.
“Thank you for taking ownership back of your community. Thank you for helping us put these people where they belong,” Police Chief Harry Kubojiri said. Within one week of the meeting, all but two of the 16 apprehended remained at large.
Also during the meeting, deputy prosecuting attorney Mark Disher gave attendees an overview of the process from the time of a crime report to sentencing.
Prosecutors and police also discussed how people could help in the case of a crime, including logging all items owned and taking photos.
Police also provided information and encouraged residents to develop a neighborhood watch in their area.