Hilo man apprehended in attempted purse snatching faces felony drug charges

Bail was maintained Tuesday for a Hilo man accused of attempting to reach through a parked vehicle’s open passenger-side window and steal a purse while the driver sat inside Sunday in the Hilo Safeway parking lot.

The Hawai‘i County prosecuting attorney’s office reports that 36-year-old Keli‘i Nobriga-Brown was arrested shortly after the alleged purse snatching attempt.

Nobriga-Brown fled the scene on a bicycle. Officers with Hawai‘i Police Department South Hilo Patrol arrested him a short time later about a block away near Prince Kūhiō Plaza.

The complaint also indicates he was allegedly found with methamphetamine.

Nobriga-Brown was charged with:

• First-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
• 2 counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.
• Third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug.
• Ownership or possession of ammunition prohibited.
• Place to keep ammunition.

Court records show Hilo District Court Judge Jeffrey Hawk on Tuesday during an initial hearing denied a request by Deputy Public Defender Jared Auna for Nobriga-Brown to be released on his own recognizance and maintained his bail at $41,500.

Hawk also found there was probable cause for his further detention.

Nobriga-Brown was ordered to appear at 2:30 p.m. Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

Ownership or possession of ammunition prohibited is a Class B felony, punishable by 10 years in prison or 4 years probation and up to 18 months in jail.

First-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug are Class C felonies, punishable by 5 years in prison or 4 years probation and up to 12 months in jail.