Kea‘au man caught on surveillance breaking into Puna business, taking Dodge Ram without permission

A Puna man faces several charges including burglary and auto theft after being caught on surveillance breaking into a Hawaiian Paradise Park business and taking a company truck without permission.

Hawai‘i Police Department reports that 32-year-old Dylan Jessen Gapp of Kea‘au is charged with:

• Second-degree burglary.
• First-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.
• First-degree theft.
• Fourth-degree criminal property damage.
• Resist order to stop motor vehicle.
• Third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.

Gapp’s bail was set at $116.000.

In addition, Gapp was also charged with failure to appear and discharge of sureties, resulting in an additional $240,000 bail.

Gapp remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance this afternoon in Hilo District Court.

The charges stem from an incident reported shortly before 3:30 p.m. Nov. 21.

The owner of a business located on 33rd Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park reported to police that Gapp was seen on video surveillance breaking into the business and taking a company vehicle without permission.

Responding Puna patrol officers immediately saw the vehicle, a Dodge Ram truck, in the business’ driveway upon their arrival — with Gapp in the driver’s seat.

Gapp fled the area in the truck at a high rate of speed as officers approached.

Puna patrol officers proactively patrolling shortly before 11 a.m. Nov. 23 in Hawaiian Paradise Park saw the stolen truck in the driveway at a 14th Avenue residence. Officers went to confirm the truck’s identity and saw Gapp standing next to it.

Gapp fled the area on foot with a backpack as officers approached. A short foot pursuit ensued. Gapp later stumbled into a small ditch and was arrested without further incident. The backpack he was carrying was also recovered.

Officers saw drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the truck, which was recovered and towed to the Hilo Police Station evidence cage, pending execution of a search warrant.

Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Vice detectives later served a search warrant on the Dodge Ram and the backpack, resulting in the recovery of a small amount of cocaine.

Anyone with information relative to this investigation is asked to contact Detective David Po’ohina at 808-961-2385 or via email at David.Poohina@hawaiicounty.gov.

You can also call Hawai‘i Police Department’s non-emergency number at 808-935-3311.