Man charged for auto theft

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KAILUA-KONA — A 24-year-old man was taken into custody Tuesday morning in connection to a car theft from a Papaikou business earlier this month, authorities confirmed Wednesday.

KAILUA-KONA — A 24-year-old man was taken into custody Tuesday morning in connection to a car theft from a Papaikou business earlier this month, authorities confirmed Wednesday.

The incident occurred on Aug. 3 when employees reported a green Toyota pickup truck belonging to the business was stolen along Old Mamalahoa Highway. Officers found the truck on the side of Highway 11 in the Mountain View area on Aug. 11 and identified the driver as Dyson Sarme-Medeiros before he fled on foot, according to a press release from Hawaii Police Department.

Police later located Sarme-Medeiros on Tuesday morning in Hilo and arrested him without incident. He was taken to the Hilo cellblock and was later charged with one count of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, police say.

Bail was set at $10,000.

Sarme-Medeiros appeared in district court Wednesday afternoon for arraignment and plea. During the hearing, Judge Lloyd Van De Car increased the bail from $10,000 to $25,000 and ordered him to also appear for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. today.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have information about it is asked to call the police department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Det. Aaron Carvalho of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2272 or Aaron.Carvalho@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.