Main Suspect in Minit Stop Robbery Arrested

The suspect responsible for entering and robbing the Minit Stop convenience store on Kekela Street in Hilo Tuesday has been arrested and now faces additional charges.

The Hawai’i Police Department says that 24-year-old Andrew Sandeen was seen on the side of the road along Highway 190 in Kona at 3:25 p.m. Thursday.

Along with a theft charge, Sandeen also faces counts of resisting arrest and first-degree assault, stemming from the suspect’s assault of a detective while an attempt to arrest him was underway.

At 6:25 p.m. Friday, Sandeen was officially charged with second-degree theft, robbery, resisting arrest, and first-degree assault. He is being held on $46,000 bail at the Hilo police cellblock.

At the same time, Kelly Marie Brightbill was released from police custody, pending further investigation. Brightbill was arrested Thursday morning and was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery, contempt of court, and an unrelated charge of third-degree theft.

Police say the robbery Tuesday occurred at 1:08 p.m. No one was hurt and an undisclosed amount of cash and goods were stolen. The robbery suspect entered an early-model Mercedes 4-door sedan, which was allegedly involved in a collision with another vehicle at neighboring Kai Store at the intersection of Kilauea Aenue and Puainako Street.

The vehicle was recovered Thursday during another arrest, in which an unidentified 26-year-old Hilo man was arrested for unrelated traffic offenses.

Police are looking for anyone in the community who may have seen the robbery or the collision. Anyone who is willing to come forward should call Detective Joel Field at 961-2381 or e-mail [email protected].

Anonymous information can be phoned in to the Crime Stoppers hotline at 961-8300.