Trespassing arrest leads to additional charges

A trespassing arrest has led to more serious charges against one of two suspects.

Shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday, South Hilo Patrol officers responded a business property on Pau O Palae Street in Hilo. A 68-year-old man reported that when he returned to the property, he discovered louvers had been removed from a window and found a man and a woman on the property, according to the Hawaii Police Department. They both fled on foot, with the male suspect entering a neighboring property.

A short time later, officers arrested Hilo residents 41-year-old Catherine Arbour and 29-year-old Stephen Whitney on suspicion of trespassing. They were taken to the Hilo police cellblock while officer from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.

Arbour was found to be in possession of a smoking pipe with methamphetamine residue. Investigation determined that she was also responsible for a robbery on June 28. In that case, a woman entered a store on Makaala Street in Hilo and removed items without paying for them. When she was confronted by a 27-year-old store employee, the suspect struggled with the employee and stuck her before fleeing with the stolen goods.

On Thursday, Arbour was charged with attempted second-degree burglary, second-degree robbery, fourth-degree theft, promoting a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia. Her bail was set at $71,000.

Whitney was charged with two counts of trespassing. His bail was set at $2,000.

Both suspects remained in custody until their initial court appearance on Friday.