Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged three individuals on theft and drug offenses in relation to a theft that occurred at a Kona business on Thursday, August 25.

Officers from the Area II Vice Section were conducting operations at a business on the 73-5000 block of Olowalu Street when they observed several parties exiting with a large quantity of high-value items; quickly loading them into a vehicle and fleeing the area.

Officers attempted to contact the parties and when they approached the vehicle to identify themselves as police officers, the vehicle’s driver reversed in an attempt to flee.  Officers ran after the vehicle, which stopped, and  attempted to make contact a second time. As officers identified themselves while attempting to remove four parties from the vehicle, an officer’s service weapon was discharged.  
 
All 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 aforementioned business. Following the execution of a search warrant on the suspects’ vehicle, detectives recovered stolen items along with 14.4 grams of heroin and various drug paraphernalia.

After conferring with the County Prosecutors Office on August 27,  HPD detectives charged the following individuals with theft and drug offenses.  A fourth person who was also arrested was later released pending further investigation.

The individuals include:

• William Kaipo Jr., age 31, of Hilo, with one count each of second-degree theft and promoting a dangerous drug. His bail is set at $20,000.
• Kylene Medeiros, age 32, of Hilo, with one count of second-degree theft. Her bail is set at $2,000.
• Javonne Pu‘u, age 27, of Pāhoa, with one count of second-degree theft. Her bail is set at $2,000.

Pu‘u was released on bail and issued a court date of Thursday, September 22, 2022, in Kona District Court.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Sheldon Nakamoto at (808) 326-4646, ext. 228. They may also contact the Hawaii Police Department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

Photo credit: HPD