Hale Nani escapee captured, 2 others still on the lam

Hawai‘i Island police on Wedensday found and arrested one of 3 inmates who escaped Dec. 13 from Hale Nani, a dorm-style facility that houses the reintegration program of Hawai‘i Community Correctional Center, in Pana‘ewa

Joseph Fernandez, who was in custody for probation revocation for a firearms violation, was located at a residence on Hawai‘i Boulevard in Ocean View and arrested without incident.

The 35-year-old was charged with the following offenses stemming from the escape:

• Second-degree escape.
• First-degree theft (motor vehicle).
• First-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

His bail for those charges was set at $9,000.

Fernandez was also arrested and charged on a warden’s arrest warrant for a furlough violation.

He was returned to the Hawai‘i Community Correctional Center in Hilo.

Inmates 31-year-old Clyde Takeshi Talosaga Loa Jr. and 41-year-old Kawai James Pomroy — the other two escapees — remain at large.

The three inmates allegedly escaped Hale Nani at about 4:30 p.m. Dec. 13 by taking a dark gray 2014 Nissan Altima owned by a Hale Nani employee.

Pomroy was the first to be discovered missing. An emergency lockdown went into place when Loa and Fernandez were also found missing. At about the same time, an employee discovered his car keys and vehicle were missing.

Police report the 3 men were seen on surveillance operating the employee’s vehicle.

Hale Nani staff immediately called Hawaiʻi Police Department and the state Sheriffs Division.

Loa was in custody for multiple counts of auto theft and resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle. He is 5-foot-7, weighs about 165 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

Pomroy was in custody for abuse of a household or family member. He is 6-foot-2, weighs abou 208 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

All three inmates are considered community custody, the lowest-security custody classification.

Anyone who might have information about the whereabouts of Loa and/or Pomroy is urged to call the Hawai‘i Police Department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311 or contact Detective David Po‘ohina at 808-961-2385 or via email at David.Poohina@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.