Police arrest 1, release photos of suspects in armed robberies

KAILUA-KONA — Police have one man in custody and have released surveillance images from one of the two reported armed robberies over the weekend in Kailua-Kona.

At 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Hawaii Police detectives arrested 31-year-old Joey Alex John of Kailua-Kona in connection with robberies on Friday and Sunday nights at two convenience stores. He is being held at Hawaii Community Correctional Center on unrelated charges while detectives continue to investigate the robberies.

On Wednesday, police released images of the suspects caught on surveillance cameras during the Friday night robbery at the Banyan Mart on Alii Drive. The suspects depicted in the photos each have their faces covered, are wearing hats and are clothed from head to toe. Only their hands are not covered.

Police say the individuals in the images matched the description of the suspects involved in a second armed robbery reported late Sunday at the Shell gas station and convenience store at the intersection of Lako Street and Kuakini Highway.

The images released were apparently captured during a reported robbery about 8:30 p.m. Friday when two men came into the Banyan Mart on Alii Drive and one of them “held what appeared to be a handgun and demanded money,” according to a crime report distributed by Hawaii Police.

Police said Wednesday the suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash and merchandise. However, a police crime report issued Tuesday stated the victim reportedly gave the suspects $400 to $500 from the register, in addition to a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey from behind the register.

Police, in a media release issued Wednesday afternoon, did not identify the suspects in the Banyan Mart robbery as men or women, but instead as individuals. According to police, the person who brandished the weapon was described as being 5 feet, 5 inches tall with a thin build. The individual was wearing a gray camouflage hooded jacket and long black pants and was carrying a black backpack.

The second individual was described as being approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall with a thin build, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and long black pants.

The second incident occurred about 10:45 p.m. Sunday at the Shell gas station and convenience store at the intersection of Kuakini Highway and Lako Street. According to police, two unknown persons entered the store and demanded money.

The crime report said the victim relayed to police that one of the suspects was holding what appeared to be a shotgun under a white shirt or towel and stated “This is a hold up!” and demanded money then tobacco. The second individual also reportedly took two bottles of beer before the duo fled the store on foot. The crime report put the value of the items and cash taken at about $162.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is encouraged to contact Detective Donovan Kohara of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at 960-3118 or via email at Donovan.Kohara@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 up to $1,000.