Three Arrested in Connection with Puna Kidnapping

From left: Israel Chapson, Chevy Iaukea, Joseph Soares. HOD photos.

Two men and a woman from Puna were charged Thursday, March 16, with numerous offenses stemming from a kidnapping incident that occurred earlier in the week in Upper Puna.

On Monday, March 13, South Hilo patrol officers responded to the Hilo Medical Center, where a woman reported that she and her three children were held against their will for several days at a Mountain View area residence before escaping.

Medics were summoned to their location—a nearby residence— and transported them to the Hilo Medical Center.

The 25-year-old female victim reported that she and her three children, ages 4, 6 and 8, were held for several days against their will in a shed in the Mountain View area.

The woman identified her estranged boyfriend and father of the children as well as two additional parties (one male and one female) as the suspects in this case.

The woman and her children were treated for minor injuries sustained during the ordeal and then released .

Detectives assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division’s Juvenile Aid Section took over the investigation and arrested three suspects.

On Thursday, March 16, at 2:30 p.m., 30-year-old Israel Allen Chapson was charged with four counts of kidnapping, two counts of felony abuse of a family/household member, two counts of third degree promoting a dangerous drug, one count of prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia and one count of third degree promoting a detrimental drug. His bail has been set at $251,000.

Also charged yesterday related to this same incident was 29-year-old Chevy Iaukea and 29-year-old Joseph Soares. Each was charged with four counts of kidnapping. They are both being held in lieu of $200,000 bail. All three suspects reside in Mountain View and are currently being held at the Hilo cellblock pending their initial court appearance set for this afternoon in Hilo District Court.

Police ask anyone with any information about this case to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.