Puna Man Charged in Hilo Shoplifting

Felony charges will be filed against a Mountain View man involved in a shoplifting incident, which led to a struggle with a store employee.

According to the Hawai’i Police Department, officers responded at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday to a home improvement store on the 300 block of Maka’ala Street in Hilo.

Upon arriving police, learned that a shopper was witnessed leaving the store without paying for items. A store employee then attempted to detain the suspect when he was reportedly struck.

The suspect, who has been identified by HPD as Patrick K. Elaban, was arrested at the scene.

HPD says Elaban was taken to the Hilo police cellblock as Area I Criminal Investigations Section detectives continued to investigate.

On Thursday at 9:10 a.m., Eleban was charged with second-degree robbery. His bail was set at $5,000 and he remained at the cellblock pending his initial appearance in court Friday.