Police Arrest Pair in Pahoa Fundraiser Theft

The Hawai’i Police Department arrested two individuals Wednesday caught on surveillance stealing a fundraising jar at Irie Hawai’i in Pahoa on Monday.

Fifty-seven-year-old Jeffery Willian Kleinschmidt of Pahoa and 45-year-old Kristin Wood Johnson of Pahoa were both arrested on suspicion of third-degree theft.

Kelinschmidt was charged Wednesday night with third-degree theft. His initial court appearance was scheduled for Thursday morning.

Johnson has been released pending further investigation but was charged on an unrelated bench warrant.

On Monday afternoon, surveillance video caught the male suspect grabbing the donation jar off the check-out counter and attempting to stuff it in his pants.

Irie Hawai’i set-up the donation jar and corresponding fundraising promotion for Madisyn Tamaki, a Pahoa Elementary third grader who is struggling with heart complications and is in need of a heart transplant.

For video surveillance footage and additional details, view BigIslandNow.com’s earlier story.