A man wanted in connection to burglaries in Waikōloa area arrested following foot chase

After a week of searching, Hawai‘i Island police apprehended a man wanted in connection to a string of burglaries, and two trespassing investigations, where he entered homes in the same area.

On Wednesday evening, South Kohala patrol officers arrested 23-year-old Tyson Stephens in Waikōloa shortly after 5 p.m., when police spotted him in a rocky pasture near a golf course on the west (makai) side of Waikōloa Village.

After a foot chase through the fields, Stephens was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the Kona Police Station cellblock for processing, while detectives with the Area II Criminal Investigation Section continues the investigation.

Stephens was arrested for:

• Two counts of first-degree burglary
• Second-degree unauthorized entry of a dwelling
• Two counts of fourth-degree theft
• Criminal contempt of court

Stephens’ bail was set at $50,700.

Hawai‘i Police Department received several reported sightings of Stephens after issuing a media release last week.

Police ask anyone with information about these burglary and trespassing cases to contact Detective Cacique Melendez of HPD’s Area II CIS at 808-326-4646, ext. 281, or [email protected] or to call the police department non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.