Hawaii Island police are asking for the public’s help locating an 18-year-old Hilo man wanted in connection with a reported burglary on Thursday in Puna.
Hawaii Island police are asking for the public’s help locating an 18-year-old Hilo man wanted in connection with a reported burglary on Thursday in Puna.
Darren K. Ornellas is described as “local,” 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing about 135 pounds, with a tan complexion, short brown hair and a light mustache, according to the Hawaii Police Department. He is known to operate a brown-colored 1992 Honda four-door sedan with dark colored rims with a chrome finish ring, bearing license plate HLS 049.
About 2:30 p.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a residence on 23rd Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park. A 62-year-old Keaau man reported seeing a suspicious man proceed to the front door of his neighbor’s residence and then to the rear of the residence, where he discovered signs of a break-in.
The neighbor confronted the suspect as he was seen running from the residence and toward another residence, where he subsequently ran into the bushes. Police learned that cash and electronic devices were allegedly stolen from the residence.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing the investigation which is classified as a first-degree burglary case.
Police ask that anyone with information on this incident or may know the whereabouts of Ornellas or the vehicle to call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Royce Serrao of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2272 or email at rpserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide number for Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.