Man who was allegedly armed with baseball bat charged in two Kona robberies

This story was updated at 4:13 p.m. Feb. 28.

A man who was allegedly armed with a baseball bat faces charges in connection with robberies at two separate businesses in Kona.

Marty Pangelinan, 25, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of fourth-degree criminal property damage after the businesses along Kuakini Highway were robbed Feb. 26.

First-degree robbery is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Pangelinan made his initial court appearance Feb. 28 in Kona District Court. His bail was maintained at $100,000 and he was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing March 1.

According to the Hawai’i Police Department, at 11:50 a.m. Monday, the 44-year-old female manager of a gas station convenience store in the 75-5600 block of Kuakini Highway reported that a man, later identified as Pangelinan, walked into the business wearing a black hoodie, pants and a black and white bandana covering his nose and mouth, carrying a black backpack and baseball bat.

Pangelinan reportedly told the store manager, “This is a robbery,” and was holding the bat upward with one hand over his shoulder, threatening to strike her.

Pangelinan repeatedly demanded money and fled the area on foot, walking southbound on Kuakini Highway with more than $230.

The manager then exited the store and yelled to bystanders that she had been robbed. A nearby 42-year-old male overheard the store manager and pursued Pangelinan.

Shortly thereafter, Pangelinan entered a coffee establishment, also in the 75-5600 block of Kuakini Highway, and began swinging the bat in circles, striking a display case and an oven, damaging both. Pangelinan demanded money from the 53-year-old male store manager, who had positioned himself between Pangelinan and four employees who were back into a corner near the drive-through window area.

The store manager instructed the employees to exit through the drive-through window as Pangelinan threatened to strike the manager with the bat. Pangelinan then swung the bat with full force toward the manager, causing him to step back, with the bat striking the countertop instead.

The manager opened a metal lockbox and gave Pangelinan slightly more than $200, which Pangelinan placed in his backpack.

After asking for money in the safe and being told none was in it, Pangelinan became irate and swung the bat at display stands containing syrups and powders, damaging them.

Pangelinan headed toward the exit, at which point a male bystander intervened from outside and held the door closed in an attempt to keep Pangelinan inside until police arrived. Pangelinan then swung his bat multiple times at the door, shattering it and walking out of the establishment.

However, he was soon tackled by several male bystanders, including the individual who was holding the door shut. Pangelinan was held until police arrived and arrested him.

The case was initiated by Hawai’i Police Department Kona Patrol Officer Vincent Sanekane and the felony investigation was handled by Detective Donovan Kohara with the department’s Area II Criminal Investigation Section.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Hawai’i County Prosecuting Attorney Chase Murray.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is encouraged to contact Kohara at 808-960-3118; or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov or call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.

Those who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.