Puna man charged after alleged vehicle theft, police pursuit

65-year-old Arthur Clayton Jr. has been charged with stealing a Toyota Tacoma reported missing from the Prince Kuhio Plaza parking lot on Monday, according to the Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Clayton Jr. was arrested after police reported seeing the pickup traveling at a high rate of speed on Government Beach Road on Oct. 19, the same day the vehicle was reported stolen.

According to police reports, the driver refused to stop for officers, continued speeding and veered off the roadway before striking a telephone pole. The driver, later identified as Clayton, fled through the driver’s door and was apprehended a short time later.

Clayton made his initial appearance on Wednesday afternoon in Hilo District Court.

His request for supervised release was denied, and his bail was maintained at $72,000. He was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on Friday, Oct. 23.

Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that Clayton faces charges of first-degree theft of a motor vehicle, first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, driving without a license and reckless driving.

First-degree theft is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison or four years of probation and up to 18 months in jail.

First-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison or four years of probation and up to 12 months in jail.

The arrest and initial investigation were conducted by Officer Cody Hirata of the Puna Patrol.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigation Section handled the felony investigation.