Police seek help identifying man wanted for questioning in sex assault case

KAILUA-KONA — The Hawaii Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a man who is wanted for questioning in a sex assault case.

The alleged incident involving an adult female occurred June 15 in the area of Banyan Drive in Hilo, according to police.

The suspect was captured on video surveillance, and matches the description given by the victim, as well as the date, time and location of the reported sexual assault, police said.

The victim described the suspect as black, being in his 30s, standing approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds, according to police. He has a medium complexion, thin build and short curly black hair and a short beard.

Anyone with information on his identity or whereabouts should contact Detective Gavin Kagimoto at (808) 961-2276, or via email at gavin.kagimoto@hawaiicounty.gov.

Police searching for missing Hilo teen

KAILUA-KONA — Big Island police are asking for the public’s help locating a 17-year-old Hilo boy reported as missing.

Ashley Panela was last seen Oct. 7 in Kurtistown, according to the Hawaii Police Department. He is described as being 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact Officer James Steffen of the Juvenile Aid Section at (808) 961-8810 or the via the department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311.

Emergency warning sirens to be tested Friday

KAILUA-KONA — The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency monthly test of the statewide outdoor siren warning system, coordinated with the test of the live audio broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Friday.

The siren test is a steady one-minute tone on all sirens. A simultaneous test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System is conducted with the monthly siren sounding, in cooperation with Hawaii’s broadcast industry.

There will be no exercise or drill accompanying the test.

Contact the county civil defense/emergency management agency to report siren operations issues: 935-0031. As of the Oct. 1 test, nine of 92 sirens on the Big Island were inoperable.

If you hear the siren tone in circumstances other than a test, follow emergency information and instructions provided by official government channels. This may be in the form of a local radio, television station broadcast, and/or cellular Wireless Emergency Alert.

Police renew request for help locating missing man

KAILUA-KONA — Big Island police are renewing their request for the public’s help locating 30-year-old Tyler Gorloff, who was last seen in April.

Gorloff was last seen at MacKenzie State Park on April 25, according to the Hawaii Police Department. His vehicle was located the same day at the MacKenzie State Park parking area. He has not been seen or heard from by family and friends since.

He is described as being 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, with brown eyes, short brown hair and a fair complexion, according to police.

Police and Hawaii Fire Department personnel, along with family, have conducted air and ground searches of the MacKenzie State Park area. Police said Wednesday that personnel are continuing investigative efforts to locate Gorloff, and are requesting the public’s assistance with providing any possible information or tips that may assist with this investigation.

At this time, the case remains classified as a missing person investigation.

Anyone who may have seen or spoken to Gorloff in the MacKenzie State Park area, or who may have any information on his whereabouts or this investigation should call the Hawaii Police Department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311. Those who prefer anonymity may contact Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

From local and wire sources

Defrauded siblings say they trusted former prosecutor

HONOLULU — Ransen Taito and his sister trusted Katherine Kealoha, a longtime family friend who managed $170,000 their father left them when he died.

But the former Honolulu prosecutor stole the money to get home loans, pay off credit cards and buy plane tickets for the Big Island firefighter she had an affair with.

Taito told Hawaii News Now he felt like his chance to face her in court was taken from him when Kealoha pleaded guilty to her crimes in federal court last week.

He says he wanted to confront Kealoha.

The guilty pleas from Kealoha and her husband, retired Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, came after a jury in June convicted them of framing a relative to keep him from revealing fraud that financed their lavish lifestyle.