Man Charged With Robbing Convenience Store

Police have charged a 33-year-old man with robbery for allegedly threatening to shoot a store clerk if he didn’t give him a pack of cigarettes for free.

Police said Jamal K.K. Hauoli-Ontai and another man entered the 7-Eleven store on the corner of Kinoole and Hoku streets at about 3 a.m. Saturday.

Hauoli-Ontai allegedly purchased several items and threatened to shoot the clerk if he didn’t let him take the cigarettes without paying.

The two men left when another customer entered the store.

Police said their investigation led them to identify the suspect as Hauoli-Ontai, who has no permanent address.

He was located at 5:40 p.m. Sunday at the Mo`oheau bus terminal in Hilo.

Police said during his arrest Hauoli-Ontai became combative, causing minor injuries to the officer.

Hauoli-Ontai was charged Monday with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault of a police officer, resisting arrest and promoting a detrimental drug.

His bail was set at $63,000.