Woman Arrested, Charged After Stealing Truck, Handgun

A 31-year-old Puna woman was arrested on Thursday after being connected to the theft of a pickup truck with a handgun inside.

The Hawai’i Police Department reports that the incident occurred on July 9 when a 51-year-old Kona man reported that his truck was stolen from a parking lot of a grocery store on Palani Road in Kailua-Kona. According to police, the man told them that he had a registered, unloaded handgun in the vehicle.

As detectives investigated the incident, they located and recovered the handgun and identified Ashley Faustina of Pahoa.

Officers arrested Faustina on Thursday in Hilo. She was charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree theft, and violating terms of release on bail.

Faustina’s bail was set at $60,000 for the property crimes. She is currently being held at the Hawai’i Community Correctional Center.