KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii Island police have charged a 34-year-old Hilo man and a 27-year-old Hilo woman with a variety of offenses after police determined that the two were involved in a robbery that occurred Jan. 7 in the Puako Beach area in South Kohala.
South Kohala patrol officers responded to the area of Puako Beach for a report of a man lying on the side of the road with injuries to his facial area. He reported that about 5:30 a.m., while at a vacant lot near the Puako Boat Ramp, two unknown males and an unknown female approached him and began to assault him causing him to briefly lose consciousness, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Numerous items belonging to the victim were removed from the victim’s vehicle before the suspects drive out of the area. The victim was treated at the North Hawaii Community Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and was released the next day.
Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation and were able to identify one of the males and the female suspected of committing the robbery. The male was identified as Aaron Melim, and the female was identified as Rhyan Rickman.
On Thursday, both Melim and Rickman were located in the Papaikou area within a blue Suzuki multipurpose vehicle believed to be the same vehicle used by the suspects, police said. Melim and Rickman were both taken into custody for suspicion of second-degree robbery, second-degree assault and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
On Friday, detectives served a search warrant on the vehicle and recovered items belonging to the victim from within the vehicle.
Melim was charged with one count each second-degree robbery, second-degree assault, and accomplice to unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. His bail was set at $45,000.
Rickman was charged with one count each of accomplice to second-degree robbery, accomplice to second-degree assault and accomplice to unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. Her bail was set at $9,000.
Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the second male whose identity and physical description is unknown. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the male or regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Donovan Kohara of Area II Criminal Investigation Section at 960-3118 or via email at Donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov.