Hilo Man Charged in Stolen Vehicle, Drug Incident

A 30-year-old Hilo man has been arrested and charged after being located in a stolen vehicle.

The Hawai’i Police Department reports that Puna patrol officers responded to a sedan parked in the roadway of Road C in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision on Monday. Upon locating the running vehicle, officers found the occupant, identified as Jantzen-James Mata, passed out with drug paraphernalia on the seat next to him.

Police learned that the vehicle had been stolen in Hilo on Saturday.

Mata was arrested and taken to the Hilo police cellblock as Area I Criminal Investigations Section and Vice Section detectives investigated the incident. During the investigation, detectives learned that Mata was a potential suspect in a sport-utility vehicle theft that occurred on June 28.

On Tuesday at 6:13 p.m., HPD charged Mata with second-degree theft, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, promoting a dangerous drug, and possessing drug paraphernalia.

Bail was set at $40,000 for Mata, who remained at the cellblock as he waited for his initial court appearance on Wednesday.