A man allegedly responsible for the theft of a Jeep Wrangler stolen over the summer has been arrested and charged.
According to authorities, the Jeep was taken from the 92-1500 block of Keaka Parkway in Ocean View on Aug. 24.
On Aug. 25, a Ka’u officer observed the Jeep driven by Lawrene K. Baldonado, who drove in a “reckless manner,” crashing into a metal gate and abandoning the vehicle.
Police arrested and charged Baldonado on Thursday afternoon in Pāhala. He was initially charged with two counts of contempt of cour,t with bail set at $4,000. Baldonado who was also arrested on suspicion of other offenses connected to the stolen Jeep.
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Baldonado was taken to the Kona police cellblock as Area II Criminal Investigations Section detectives continue their investigation.
Police charged Baldonado at 9 a.m on Friday with second-degree theft, resisting an order to stop, reckless driving, and driving without a license.
Baldonado’s bail was set at $26,000 and he remains at the cellblock awaiting a court appearance on Monday.
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