Police arrest Honoka‘a man wanted on outstanding warrants

Responding to a tip, officers from multiple units within Hawai‘i Police Department, including Area II Hawai‘i Island Criminal Investigation Section, Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit and South Kohala patrol officers located and arrested 31-year-old Chace Gambill of Honoka‘a on Jan. 31 in Waimea.

Gambill was wanted for two outstanding warrants totaling $27,200, and is a suspect in four auto theft investigations in Hilo, Kapa‘au, Pāhoa, and Waimea; resisting an order to stop and driving without a valid driver’s license investigations in Hilo, and a burglary in Honoka‘a.

Police asked the public to be on the lookout for Gambill last week due to the outstanding warrants, warning that he was considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.

At 2:25 p.m. on Jan. 31, officers responded to an apartment complex on Opelo Road in Waimea after receiving information on the location of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, officers located the vehicle unoccupied and after speaking with bystanders, determined that Gambill was inside one of the apartments. They gave loud verbal commands to Gambill to exit the apartment, but received no response.

Out of an abundance of caution, a neighboring preschool and neighboring apartment units were evacuated. After repeated unsuccessful attempts to establish contact with Gambill, officers obtained permission to enter the apartment in which he was located. 
Gambill was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the Kona police station while detectives from the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Area II Criminal Investigation Section continue the investigation. Gambill was arrested for:

• Two counts second-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (auto theft)
• Fourth-degree theft
• First-degree burglary
• Felony resisting an order to a stop motor vehicle
• Driving without a license

Police ask anyone with information about this case to contact Detective Cacique Melendez of the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Area II Criminal Investigation Section at 808-326-4646, ext. 281, or Cacique.Melendez@hawaiicounty.gov or to call the police department non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300 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.