Police arrest Puna man for property and drug charges following burglary

Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged Michael Anderson, 30, with numerous property and drug offenses in connection with a burglary incident on Tuesday Dec. 10 in the Hawaiian Beaches Subdivision of Pāhoa.

Around 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Puna patrol officers responded to a residence in the 15-2700 block of Lai Street, after the homeowner reported seeing suspicious activity on a home video surveillance system that led the homeowner to believe the home was actively being burglarized.

Already in the area on an unrelated call, officers arrived about 10 minutes later and located a broken living room window. After consulting with the homeowner, officers conducted a check within the residence for any suspects, however the residence was clear.

While conducting a check of a locked Toyota pick-up truck registered to the homeowner, which was parked in the attached garage, officers observed a leg partially visible hidden under reusable shopping bags in the cab area of the truck.

Officers gave loud verbal commands, and a male they later identified as Anderson exited the Toyota and was detained. Officers contacted the homeowner who confirmed that Anderson did not have permission to enter the residence or truck.

Anderson was arrested and transported to the East Hawai’i Detention Facility for booking, processing, and continued investigation by Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives.

Detectives executed a search warrant on a backpack that was recovered at the scene and recovered property, which may be linked to another burglary in the same subdivision. Inside the backpack, they also recovered a small zip-type packet containing a small amount of methamphetamine and a methamphetamine-smoking pipe.

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, upon conferral with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Anderson was charged with the following offenses:

• First-degree burglary
• Second-degree unauthorized entry into motor vehicle
• Third-degree promoting a dangerous drug
• Third-degree criminal property damage

His total bail was set at $17,000.

Unable to post bail, Anderson made his initial court appearance on Thursday, Dec. 12 in South Hilo District Court.

Police ask anyone who may have information relative to this investigation to call Detective David Po‘ohina of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2385, or email at david.poohina@hawaiicounty.gov.