HPD Task Force Charges Additional Individuals in Stolen Vehicle Case

Tyler Leopoldino, Rose Peace, Clinton Souza. HPD photos.

Hawaiʻi Island police charged two adult males and a female for offenses in connection with stolen vehicles and other offenses.

Shortly before midnight on, Tuesday, Aug. 1, the department’s stolen vehicle task force tracked down 23-year-old Tyler Leopoldino on Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo. He was arrested for outstanding warrants, promoting a dangerous drug and resisting arrest.

At the time Leopoldino was apprehended, the task force also arrested 25-year-old Clinton Souza and 26-year-old Rose Peace for hindering prosecution after being previously warned by police that Leopoldino was a wanted person.

Both Souza and Peace were charged on Wednesday, Aug. 2, with hindering prosecution.

Souza was also charged with failing to provide a DNA sample due to a prior felony conviction.

Souza’s bail was set at $11,000 and Peace’s bail was set at $10,000.

Both made their initial appearances in District Court on Thursday, Aug. 3.

During the investigation, police were able to determine that Leopoldino was responsible for the following crimes:

• July 24 robbery
• July 24 driving a stolen Toyota truck
• July 24 threatening with a handgun
• July 24 attempting to get into a Nissan truck
• July 24 threatening a different victim with a handgun
• July 24 stealing and driving a Subaru
• July 24 no driver’s license
• July 25 driving another stolen Nissan truck
• July 25 fled from police
• July 25 reckless driving
• July 25 no driver’s license
• Aug. 1 possession of methamphetamine and zip packet
• Aug. 1 possession of a scheduled drug

Shortly after 10 a.m., on Aug. 3, Leopoldino was charged with three counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, two counts of driving without a license, and one count each of first-degree robbery, first-degree attempted unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, resisting an order to stop, reckless driving unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, third-degree promoting a dangerous drug, third-degree promoting a harmful drug and drug paraphernalia

Leopoldino is being held at the Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center in lieu of $231,000 bail pending his initial court appearance in South Hilo District Court scheduled for Aug. 4.

Anyone who may have information about these incidents is asked to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Tuckloy Aurello of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2385 or [email protected].

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is confidential.

This information was provided by the authorities; individuals are considered innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.