Kona man charged in connection to reported robbery on Ali‘i Drive

A 21-year-old man facing robbery and assault charges in connection to an early-morning incident in Kona bailed out of jail and is awaiting his first court appearance.

Peter Melling, of Kailua-Kona, was initially arrested Friday on suspicion of a robbery and assault that occurred Thursday morning at a shopping center, located on the 75-5800 block of Ali‘i Drive.

According to Hawai‘i Island police, officers initially responded to the incident at 1:45 a.m. where they located a 35-year-old Kailua-Kona man.

The victim told police that a male party followed him, threw him to the ground and began kicking his legs and arms. The suspect then demanded all the victim’s money. The victim complied and handed the suspect an undisclosed amount of cash from his wallet. The suspect then fled the area on foot.

According to police, the victim suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by medics and subsequently taken via ambulance to the hospital for further evaluation.

As a result of the continued investigation, Melling was identified as a suspect, and detectives with the Area II Criminal Investigation Section arrested him for second-degree robbery and third-degree assault.

Bail was set at $22,000.

Melling was released on Saturday after posting bail, with an initial court appearance scheduled for May 9 at 9 a.m. at Kona District Court.

Police ask anyone with additional information about this case to contact Detective Len Hamakado at 808-326-4646, ext. 224, or via email at [email protected], or to call the department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 808-961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.