KAILUA-KONA — A Kailua-Kona man was taken into custody on charges of stalking after repeatedly driving past the Women’s Shelter with a blue strobe light on the front of his vehicle, according to police Monday.
At 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Hawaii Police Department officers received a report that a man, later identified as Isaac Tolintino Yabes, 36, was at the West Hawaii shelter. Maj. Robert Wagner said Yabes ran the blue light on his car but did not claim to be an officer.
According to the police report, Yabes didn’t enter the shelter. He just drove past it repeatedly.
Wagner said a blue flashing light can only be on police vehicles so when people see it, they believe it could only be an officer. Generally speaking, the major added, a person will be arrested if they use the light if they are not a police officer.
This is not the first time Yabes has been cited for using a blue strobe light on his vehicle. According to court documents, the 36-year-old was initially charged with the blue lights prohibited and no car insurance in September 2017.
In December, the blue lights prohibited charge was dismissed without prejudice and the no car insurance charge was dismissed with prejudice.
According to court documents, Yabes doesn’t have a history of domestic violence.
On Monday, Wagner said a temporary restraining order had been issued against Yabes at the time of the incident.
“He is prohibited via TRO from going to the location of the petitioner of TRO or going wherever the petitioner is,” Wagner sated.
Yabes was charged with two counts of violation of TRO, harassment by stalking, blue lights prohibited and harassment.
During Yabes’ initial court appearance on Friday, Kona District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga maintained bail at $3,000. Yabes has since bailed out of jail and is scheduled to appear next in court on Jan. 16.
