Bail maintained for husband, wife facing attempted murder of police officers

A Kona District Court judge maintained bail for a husband and wife who are facing a slew of felony offenses, including first-degree attempted murder of Hawai’i police officers.

On Monday, Dylan and Leilani Alcain appeared before Judge Kimberly Taniyama for an initial appearance after being arrested and charged in connection to two Hele Gas Station break-ins — one in Kona and the other in Captain Cook; an armed robbery in the Kona Paradise Subdivision in South Kona; and firing at police officers who were attempting to pull them over.

The alleged crimes all occurred on April 20 during an hours-long crime spree.

On Monday, Public Defender David Saiki requested supervised release or bail reduction for both the husband and wife, but the judge denied both.

Dylan Alcain’s bail of $700,000 was maintained and he was scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on April 26 at 8:30 a.m.

Leilani Alcain’s bail of $145,000 also was maintained and her preliminary hearing also was scheduled for April 26.

Before the bail ruling, Saiki informed the judge the public defender’s office would be withdrawing from the cases after this hearing due to a staffing situation. Taniyama told Dylan and Leilani Alcain that the court would appoint them a private attorney.

The couple also is facing charges of first-degree theft, first-degree robbery, terroristic threatening, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, resisting to stop, criminal property damage, second-degree burglary, carrying a loaded firearm on a highway and carrying a firearm in commission of a separate felony.

According to probable cause statements filed with the court, the first burglary took place at 3:40 a.m. at the Hele Gas Station on Kanalani Street in Kona. Hawai‘i police suspected Dylan and Leilani Alcain to be involved because the grey BMW caught on surveillance footage at that incident had the same license plate as one seen in previous surveillance footage from different burglaries that occurred earlier in the month.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle on April 18 and learned it was registered to Dylan Alcain.

As Hawai‘i police officers responded to the second early-morning break-in in Captain Cook, the probable cause statement indicates that one of the responding officers saw the suspected vehicle coming down Highway 11 at a high rate of speed. As the officer passed the BMW, the court document states that his vehicle was struck by an unknown object that shattered his windshield in two different places.

A large caliber round that didn’t appear to be fired from a firearm was later found in the police vehicle’s dashboard.

A second officer saw them on Highway 11 traveling north and attempted to pursue them, activating his strobe lights and sirens upon his vehicle. According to the probable cause statement, the officer heard at least four gunshots. During his pursuit, the second officer reported speeds reaching 101 mph.

A third officer heard over the police radio dispatch what was transpiring and responded to Highway 11 and the Napo‘opo‘o Road intersection, where the suspect was headed. While at the intersection, the third officer observed the BMW and heard three gunshots. Bullet holes were later found on the driver’s side door of his police vehicle.

The pursuit ended at 4:56 a.m.

Minutes later, police responded to a robbery where a man in a Kona Paradise Subdivision reported his vehicle was taken at gunpoint. According to the probable cause statement, the BMW was at the scene and the suspects had stolen a red 2017 Ford Explorer.

Authorities were able to track the couple down after a ping was placed on Leilani Alcain’s phone. According to the probable cause statement, Leilani Alcain placed a call stating something to the effect of wanting to turn herself in. Court documents don’t specify who she called.

Leilani and Dylan Alcain were found at a residence in Volcano on Thursday afternoon and taken into custody without incident.

According to the probable cause statement, Dylan Alcain chose to make a statement to police saying he was responsible for the break-ins at the gas stations and was the driver of the BMW. He also said he was responsible for shooting at police but “he did not want to go back to jail.”

Dylan Alcain said that he didn’t shoot at the first officer they encountered that morning. He said he threw several large caliber bullets at him.

A warrant search executed at the residence where the Alcains were found revealed loaded Radical Firearms Model RF-15 and a .45 Thompson caliber rifle.

Leilani Alcain didn’t make a statement to police and requested a lawyer.