Bail maintained for Puna man arrested in connection to stolen vehicle

A man from Puna was officially charged in connection with a stolen vehicle after Hawai‘i Police Department’s Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team brought the man into custody last week.

Following a search warrant on a Pāhoa home, Isaac Kamali‘i, 39, was charged with the following offenses:

• First-degree theft
• First-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle
• First-degree terroristic threatening
• Two counts of driving without a valid driver’s license

Kamali‘i’s bail was maintained at $92,000 during his initial appearance in Hilo District Court Monday. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

The charges stem from an incident on Oct. 16, shortly before 5 p.m., when a Puna Patrol officer attempted to locate the stolen vehicle on Aloha Drive in the Ainaloa subdivision, according to a news release from Hawai‘i Island police.

The officer located a vehicle matching the stolen vehicle’s description parked in an open carport at a residence on the 16-2000 block of Aloha Drive. Kamali‘i, who had been identified as a suspect in the stolen vehicle case, was observed standing near the vehicle.

Because Kamali‘i is known to police as armed and dangerous, the officer waited nearby for backup before approaching the residence. When additional officers arrived, Kamali‘i was no longer visible, and officers observed the home’s curtains being closed.

Given the potential threat, the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were called to assist. SRT members established a perimeter around the home while negotiators issued loud verbal commands for anyone inside to exit.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., Kamali‘i exited the residence and was arrested without incident.

Police determined no one else was inside the home and confirmed the vehicle was stolen from a residence on Gardenia Avenue in Ainaloa on Oct. 14. The vehicle was recovered pending execution of a search warrant.

For the safety of residents and officers, a portion of Aloha Drive was temporarily closed during the operation. Police thank the public for their patience and understanding.

The Area I Crime Reduction Unit continues to investigate this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Jayce Carvalho at 808-961-2272 or via email at Jayce.Carvalho@hawaiipolice.gov.