Two Arrested in Violent Robbery Outside Kona Restaurant

Police said a 25-year-old Kailua-Kona man is being treated at an Oahu hospital for head injuries following a robbery early Tuesday outside a restaurant.

Officers responding at 1:57 a.m. to the 75-1000 block of Henry Street learned that the victim was approached by an acquaintance who allegedly used a blunt object to strike him in the head, arms and legs.

The suspect then allegedly stole backpacks from the victim and a 23-year-old man accompanying him and left the area in a black sedan driven by a second man.

Police said the 25-year-old victim was taken to Kona Community Hospital with serious head injuries. He was later transported to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu where he remains in stable condition.

The 23-year-old man with him was not injured.

Shortly after the incident, police located a vehicle matching the description of the suspects’ car and learned that its sole occupant, 43-year-old Nohea Gene Heinicke of Kailua-Kona, was wanted on a bench warrant.

He was initially arrested and charged with violating probation, and was placed in the Kona cellblock pending an initial court appearance on the warrant.

Later that morning Heinicke was arrested on suspicion of robbery.

At 1:25 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, police arrested a second suspect, 28-year-old Randall Todd Chase of Kailua-Kona, also on suspicion of robbery.

Both suspects remained in police custody today while detectives continued their investigation.