Purse Snatching Suspect Charged

The Hawai’i Police Department has charged a Hilo man in connection to a purse theft that occurred in Hilo Sunday afternoon.

According to Police, an 87-year-old woman had her purse stolen from her while at a drug store on Puainako Street around 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Her credit card was then used at two businesses in the area.

Not long after, police arrested 25-year-old Bronson I. K. Lee in the parking lot of a home improvement store on Maka’ala Street.

Police took Lee to the Hilo police cellblock as Area I Criminal Investigations Section detectives continue to investigate.

On Tuesday, Lee was charge with 16 offenses, including five counts of theft, three counts of forgery, four counts of ID theft, and four counts of fraudulent use of a credit card.

Lee’s bail was set at $44,250. He remained at the cellblock pending his initial court appearance Wednesday.