Hawai‘i Island police arrested six East Hawai‘i men as part of anongoing investigation into a large affray that recently took at Kealoha Beach Park in Hilo. On June 12, after responding to a report of criminal property damage, police contacted a 17-year-old male who reported that he and two other male teens, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, were in a vehicle parked at Kealoha Beach Park, when they were approached and assaulted by six males. The 17-year-old victim who reported the incident told police that one of the male suspects opened the door where he was seated, pulled him out of the vehicle by his legs, and onto the ground. The victim was then struck multiple times by several suspects, with one of the suspects pulling a gold chain from his neck before leaving the area. Hawai‘i County Fire Department medics arrived on scene and transported the 17-year-old victim to Hilo Medical Center where he was treated for bruising, swelling to his eye, lacerations to his head, shoulder, and an ear. The two other juvenile victims did not seek medical care, however they were observed to be injured. The vehicle the teens were sitting in, a 2015 Honda sedan, sustained damages by the suspects, including a broken rear glass window, a flat tire, and multiple vehicle dents. Police determined that 45-year-old Lanakila Poaha of Hilo was a suspect in the incident and subsequently located and arrested him at his Hilo residence. In the course of their investigation, police identified five additional suspects, including two sets of fathers and sons, involved in this incident and arrested them for unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, which is considered a felony offense. The arrested suspects include:
- Cy Poaha, age 21, of Hilo, (son of Lanakila Poaha)
- Joshua Godbolt age 40, of Kurtistown
- Alize Godbolt, age18, of Kurtistown (son of Joshua Godbolt)
- Justin Godbolt-Agustin, age 24, of Kurtistown (son of Joshua Godbolt)
- Micah Castro, age 21, of Kea‘au
The offenses include entering into a vehicle to commit a crime against person or property rights, assault, criminal property damage, and robbery for taking the necklace by force. Noting that videos of this incident surfaced on social media, police are asking anyone who has video evidence or information regarding this incident to come forward and provide information to Detective Jeremy Kubojiri of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2378, or via email at Jeremy.Kubojiri@hawaiicounty.gov.