Hawaii Island Police have charged a 33-year-old Mountain View man with robbery and other offenses stemming from an incident at a business in Pahoa Village, late Sunday morning.
The individual is identified as Talatonu Schuster. He has been charged with second-degree Robbery, second-degree Burglary, and second-degree criminal property damage. His bail has been set at $45,000.
On Sunday morning, Puna Patrol officers responded to a report of a disorderly male outside of a business on Pahoa Village Road in Pahoa. The male individual had reportedly been causing a disturbance outside of the business.
A store employee contacted the responsible party and asked him to calm down and leave the area. The male then approached the store employee who locked himself within the business establishment. The male then forcefully broke into the store causing damage; once inside the establishment, he damaged store merchandise and threatened the employee.
Schuster remains in police custody in lieu of bail. His initial court appearance is scheduled for today in Hilo District Court.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective Wendall Carter of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2383 or email wendall.carter@hawaiicounty.gov., or the police department’s non-emergency number at 935-3311.