Hawaii Island police have arrested and charged a 46-year-old Hilo man with auto theft and various traffic offenses after leading police on a vehicle pursuit on March 12.
Shawn William Bergen is facing three counts unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and two counts of resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle in connection with the theft of a vehicle from an auto dealership in Kailua-Kona that resultd in a cross-island police prusuit. His bail has been set at $26,000.
On the afternoon of March 12, Bergen allegedly went to an auto dealership in Kailua-Kona and test-drove a vehicle, according to the Hawaii Police Department. Afterward, he informed the salesperson that he needed to make a phone call to check his finances. The salesperson went into a building at the dealership, leaving the vehicle key with Bergen, who then left with the vehicle.
Bergen left the vehicle he drove to the dealership there, police said. That vehicle was later determined to be a vehicle Bergen had rented in early 2019 and had failed to return it.
Kona Patrol officers were assigned to this incident and subsequently located the vehicle stolen from the dealership. They attempted to stop the vehicle; however, Bergen failed to stop and led officers on a vehicle pursuit. The vehicle was later located within the Hilo district, and after a short pursuit by South Hilo Patrol officers, the vehicle stopped in downtown Hilo, and Bergen was arrested.
On the previous day, March 11, Bergen went to a motorcycle establishment in Hilo, where he made arrangements to purchase a used motorcycle. He was allowed to take the motorcycle to a credit union where he was to meet with the seller and provide payment, police said. Bergen left the business and never went to the credit union. The motorcycle was located by the owner the following day at Bergen’s residence. It was recovered by the police.
Anyone who may have witnessed any of these incidents should contact Detective William Brown of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2384 or email william.brown@hawaiicounty.gov., or the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.