A 44-year-old Waimea man is facing a host of theft charges stemming from a vehicle break-in on Monday in South Kohala.
South Kohala Patrol officers responded Tuesday afternoon to a report of items that were stolen from a vehicle that was parked fronting a residence in the Waimea area. Through investigation it was discovered that the suspect(s) had removed a wallet containing bank cards from the vehicle, resulting in several fraudulent transactions at several Waimea business establishments, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
As officers continued their investigation, they reportedly identified the suspect as Waimea resident Tay Emmett Kealakai Carson. He was subsequently located at a Kamamalu Street resident where he was taken into custody without incident.
After conferring with prosecutors, Carson was charged with one count each first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, theft of credit cards, unauthorized possession of confidential information, attempted fraudulent use of a credit card, fourth-degree theft, and attempted third-degree identity theft; two counts each of habitual property crime and fraudulent use of a credit card; and four counts third-degree identity theft.
Carson’s bail was set at $147,000 pending an initial court appearance. Carson appeared Wednesday before Kona District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga who reduced bail to $80,000 and set a preliminary hearing for Thursday.
Anyone with information about the case should contact South Kohala Patrol Officer Adam Roberg via email to Adam.Roberg@hawaiicounty.gov or by calling the South Kohala Police Station at (808) 887-3080.