Hilo man charged with property damage related to shattered downtown windows

Hawaiʻi police have charged 45-year-old Wayland Leong Sr. after multiple property crime incidents involving business windows in downtown Hilo.

On Monday morning, Dec. 29, after consulting with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Leong was charged with five counts of criminal property damage, three in the second degree and two in the fourth degree.

Leong’s bail was set at $15,200. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 30, in Hilo District Court.

The charges arise from an incident reported at approximately 12:38 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28, when South Hilo patrol officers received multiple anonymous calls reporting a male throwing rocks at business windows in the areas of Pūnāhoa Street, Furneaux Lane, and Kamehameha Avenue.

Callers described the suspect as a local male wearing a white shirt and jeans and reported the sound of glass breaking.

Upon arrival, officers contacted a witness who reported seeing the suspect throw a large rock at a restaurant window before fleeing toward Kamehameha Avenue. Officers later located a male, identified as Leong, matching the suspect’s description near the Moʻoheau Bus Terminal.

Further investigation revealed damage to multiple downtown businesses, consisting primarily of shattered or heavily cracked glass windows caused by rocks. The total estimated value of damages is $12,500.

Police ask anyone with information related to this investigation to contact Officer Justin Dodo of South Hilo Patrol at 808-961-2213 or via email at justin.dodo@hawaiipolice.gov.

Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.