East Hawaii News

Police Investigate Two Puna Home Invasions, Make Arrests in One

Play
Listen to this Article
2 minutes
Loading Audio... Article will play after ad...
Playing in :00
A
A
A

***Updated July 16 with additional details.***

Police today said two men were arrested in connection with one alleged home invasion Friday night, and they are investigating another that occurred about an hour later in another part of Puna.

In the earlier incident, residents of a house on 30th Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park called police at 9:37 p.m. to say that three masked men had encountered a resident while he was outside the home.

Police were told that while one masked man attacked the resident, another went inside the home and assaulted a woman trying to protect a child.

As the woman fought back, the masked men grabbed a purse and a backpack and fled in a pickup truck.

Police en route to the scene spotted a truck matching the description of the suspects’ vehicle and arrested its occupants, Dustin J. Jose and Jack A. Vaughn, both 31 and both of Kailua-Kona.

Jose was charged Saturday with burglary, robbery and assault. He was being held on $60,000 bail.

Vaughn was charged with burglary, robbery and two counts of assault with his bail set at $12,000.

Information on the third suspect was not immediately available.

Meanwhile, police are also investigating a home invasion reported at 10:38 p.m. Friday in Mountain View.

Police do not believe the two incidents were related.

The victims in the later incident told police that two armed men wearing masks forced their way into their home.

The suspects threatened the occupants, a 62-year-old woman and her 49-year-old roommate, and tied them up before ransacking the house.

During the incident, the 49-year-old woman and a 40-year-old Mountain View man visiting the home were both struck with weapons.  Both declined treatment for their injuries, which were described as minor.

The suspects eventually fled on foot.

Both of the suspects were described as Caucasian men of unknown age.

Police said one was about 6-foot tall with a thin build, tan complexion and hazel eyes. He was wearing dark jeans and a dark long-sleeved shirt or sweatshirt. His face was hidden by a ski-type mask with a bandana covering his lower facial area.

The other was about 5-foot-6 with a thin build and fair complexion, and his face was covered in a similar fashion.

Police ask that anyone with information on the incident call Det. Fetuutunai Amuimuia at 961-2278.

Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

ADVERTISEMENT

Sponsored Content

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay in-the-know with daily or weekly
headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Cancel
×

Comments

This comments section is a public community forum for the purpose of free expression. Although Big Island Now encourages respectful communication only, some content may be considered offensive. Please view at your own discretion. View Comments