KAILUA-KONA — Search warrants served on two Kailua-Kona homes yielded one arrest Wednesday evening.
Around 4:15 p.m., Hawaii Police officers with the Special Enforcement Unit simultaneously served the warrants at homes on Walua Road and Pelenike Drive.
For months, police say, homeowners in a private subdivision on Pelenike Drive had lodged complaints with the homeowners association, police and prosecutor’s office regarding a water main being illegally tapped into. Since about May or June, Sgt. Ed Buyten with the Special Enforcement Unit said, police received five or six of those calls.
Officers obtained a search warrant for a foreclosed home within the subdivision, which was executed Wednesday evening, to investigate the illegal use of water. When they arrived on scene they came into contact with Robert Deleon, 45.
Deleon is father to Sloan K. Deleon, 26, who is wanted on six bench warrants totaling $300,000.
Deleon was taken into custody on suspicion of theft of utilities and criminal property damage. Buyten said other charges might be pending.
Buyten said an excess of $1,000 in water appears to have been stolen.
Officers obtained a search warrant for a home on Walua Road because they received information indicating Sloan K. Deleon and another fugitive, JennyLee L. Rego, had been staying there. Robert Deleon had been seen there as well.
Rego is also wanted on several bench warrants totaling $300,000.
Neither Deleon nor Rego were at the property at the time the search warrant was conducted. Buyten said officers are still investigating on an active search warrant.