Kona Man Charged in Kua Bay Break-In

A 30-year-old Kona man has been charged following an incident involving a vehicle break-in at Kua Bay.

According to the Hawai’i Police Department, Kona patrol officers responded Wednesday afternoon to reports of a bystander who was following a silver sedan after witnessing the driver of the vehicle break into a parked car and remove items at the Kona beach.

The driver reportedly followed the suspect by vehicle to Waikoloa Beach Road where the driver parked and then fled on foot.

Investigation by HPD led to the identity of the suspect as Keoni Fujio Yamada of Kailua-Kona.

Police arrested Yamada in Kailua-Kona at 11:45 a.m. Thursday. He was taken to the Kona police cellblock as detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.

Yamada was charged Friday at 11:50 a.m. with unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, two counts of theft, and violating terms of release on bail for a meth trafficking case that is scheduled to go to trial next week.

Bail was set at $80,000, and Yamada remains at the cellblock awaiting his initial court appearance that is scheduled for Monday.