Three facing charges for theft from Kona business
Three East Hawaii residents are facing charges stemming from a theft that occurred Thursday at a business in Kona.
Officers from the Area II Vice Section were conducting operations at the business in the 73-5000 block of Olowalu Street when they observed several people exiting the business with a large quantity of high-value items. The individuals appeared to be trying to quickly load the items into a vehicle and leave the area.
Officers attempted to contact the parties to further investigate the incident. As officers approached the vehicle and identified themselves as police officers, the driver of the vehicle abruptly reversed in an attempt to flee the area. Officers ran after the vehicle, which stopped, and they attempted to make contact a second time. As officers again identified themselves as police officers and attempted to remove the four parties from the vehicle an officer’s service weapon was discharged.
All of the occupants were removed from the vehicle and subsequently arrested for theft.
During the course of investigation, detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section verified that three of the four arrested individuals were responsible for stealing multiple items from the same business. Following the execution of a search warrant on the vehicle, detectives recovered stolen items along with 14.4 grams of heroin and various drug paraphernalia.
On Saturday, detectives charged three individuals, one man and two women, with theft and drug offenses stemming from the incident. A fourth person who was also arrested was later released pending further investigation.
William Kaipo Jr., 31, of Hilo, was charged with second-degree theft and promoting a dangerous drug. His bail was set at $20,000. Kylene Medeiros, 32, of Hilo, was charged with third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. Her bail was set at $2,000. Javonne Pu‘u, 27, of Pahoa, was charged with second-degree theft. Her bail was set at $2,000.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident should contact Detective Sheldon Nakamoto at (808) 326-4646, ext. 228, or the police department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
