#big island crime

Cohlby Espaniola, 25 of Mountain View, was sentenced to a 20-year prison term in Hilo Circuit Court for a stabbing and robbery that occurred in 2018 at a residence on Leilani Street in Hilo.

A Kona grand jury indicted Jacqueline Keanaaina, 26 of Kailua-Kona, for 18 offenses in relation to two incidents, including one on March 10 when she was in a stolen vehicle during an officer-involved shooting.

For his “tenacious investigations” that led to the apprehension of two wanted felons with a slew of prior arrests, Hawaiʻi Island police officer Jayce Carvalho was honored as the East Hawaiʻi Officer of the Month for November 2022.

A tractor was stolen from a property off of Highway 130 just outside of Pāhoa on March 12, 2023, between 8:45 a.m. and 1:40 p.m., according to Hawaiʻi Island police.

The indictments of Wayne Emch, 41, stem from incidents that occurred within the Districts of South Hilo, Waimea, and North Kona between Feb. 9 and March 2, 2023. 

Police kill driver of stolen car during search for armed and dangerous attempted murder suspect, Ronald Kahihikolo, who was last seen near mile 40 marker on Highway 19 in Hāmākua District.

Hawaiʻi Island police ask that anyone who knows the whereabouts of a person on this outstanding warrants list to call the police department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.

At the time of the commission of the possession and attempted distribution of methamphetamine, Sheena Andrews, 37, was on probation for felony drug crimes. 

Harrison Duadua-Apao, who is wanted for stealing a truck, is about 5 feet 8 inches and 155 pounds, with black hair, hazel eyes, a medium build and tan complexion.  

The attempted murder suspect is 5 feet 7 inches and 215 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He has a distinctive tattoo on his right cheek near his eye that reads “greed”. 

Hawaiʻi Island police officers executed a vehicle narcotics search warrant and recovered approximately 12 ounces of methamphetamine and two P80 framed, unserialized, and unregistered handguns from the vehicle of Daniel Keith Kia‘i Tavares.

Four men were arrested for firearms offenses on March 4 while at a cockfight in Kealakekua, where drugs and illegal firearms were recovered, along with U.S. currency and two vehicles for forfeiture, according to Hawaiʻi Island police.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department has put out a list of people who have outstanding warrants as of Feb. 17, 2023.

While police were looking for the suspect, the nearby Waimea Elementary School went into lockdown at 1:51 p.m. on Feb. 15 out of an abundance of caution.

Cheryl Ho called Hilo police and told them her 21-year-old schizophrenic son Joshua was having an episode and yielding a knife, but by the time Hawai’i Island police arrived it was too late.

Samuel Imaizumi, 47, was charged with felony assault of the two police officers and resisting arrest.

A man, identified as 43-year-old Ebn Wandell of Hilo, walked into a management office and stated he had a bomb in the bag he was carrying, police said.

John Bull Macomber, 51 of Kona, was arrested and charged with robbery, assault and drug offenses.

Benjamin Kawika Jerin-Kealoha, 46 of Ocean View, was charged with stealing a Jeep rental car, resisting an order to stop and methamphetamine possession following his arrest on Jan. 21 in Kona.

The theft occurred on the mauka (west) shoulder of Highway 19 between Laupahoehoe Gulch and Kaʻawaliʻi Gulch in Hāmākua.