Officer’s Good Memory Leads to Chase, Arrest

A Kona man was arrested last week after being spotted by a police officer with a keen eye and good memory.

Police said an officer on routine patrol observed Matthew Guba driving a sedan Wednesday, and recognized him as someone without a valid driver’s license. After confirming that fact with dispatchers, the officer attempted to stop Guba.

When Guba, 28, allegedly sped away, the officer broke off the pursuit for the safety of the public, but was able to locate the vehicle a few minutes later. He found the car stopped at the intersection of Kiloa and Kinue roads, with the driver’s door open and the engine idling.

The car was determined to be stolen.

An all-points bulletin was issued for Guba, a Kailua-Kona resident, who was located Saturday and arrested on suspicion of car theft and resisting an order to stop. He was being held on $13,000 bail pending an initial court appearance today.

Police noted that car thefts in West Hawaii have been on the rise recently, with early model Honda sedans and Toyota Tacoma pickups among the vehicles targeted most. They are encouraging the public to safeguard their vehicles by locking them and not leaving valuables inside.