Three men are in police custody in connection with a shoplifting incident that police say turned violent Tuesday afternoon in Hilo.
Three men are in police custody in connection with a shoplifting incident that police say turned violent Tuesday afternoon in Hilo.
Shortly before 2 p.m., officers responded to a reported robbery at a store on Makaala Street where store personnel reported that three men had concealed items on their person and left the premises without paying, according to the Hawaii Police Department. When confronted by an employee outside the store, one of the men reportedly punched the man in the jaw and knocked him to the ground before the three suspects fled the area.
Police located the men, as 21-year-old Michael Thomas, 18-year-old Daniel Kapumau and 19-year-old Ku Manuia, and arrested them pending further investigation, according to police.
On Wednesday, Thomas and Kapumau were charged each with fourth-degree theft and bail was set at $250 each, according to police. Manuia was charged with second-degree robbery and fourth-degree theft. His bail was set at $5,250.
All three remain at the police cellblock pending an initial court appearance slated for today.