Jaclyn Kama

Media Release

Big Island police are searching for a 29-year-old Hilo woman who is wanted on a bench warrant for failure to appear in court.

Jaclyn Kama is described as 5-foot-6, 149 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.

Police ask that anyone with information on her whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona 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.

Donald Soares

Media Release

Big Island police are searching for a 24-year-old Mountain View man who is wanted on a bench warrant for failure to appear in court.

Donald Soares is described as 5-foot-9, 135 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona 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.

Andrew Silva

Media Release

Big Island police are searching for a 22-year-old Keaʻau man who is wanted on a bench warrant for failure to appear in court.

Andrew Silva is described as 5-foot-3, 120 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona 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.

Nainoa Evans

Sage Million

Tyler Leopoldino

Wolfred Makepa

Media Release

The most recent edition of the Crime Stoppers television program “Hawaiʻi Island’s Most Wanted” highlights four men wanted on bench warrants.

The new episode begins airing on May 18. In it, police ask for the public’s help in locating 39-year-old Wolfred Makepa Jr., who is wanted on a $25,000 bench warrant on a grand jury indictment for first-degree assault. The victim—a 46-year-old Hilo man—suffered a broken jaw in the alleged assault. Makepa is also wanted on two bench warrants for traffic offenses and on an all-points bulletin for a felony theft case. He is described as 6-foot-2, 180 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. He may be on Oahu.

The television program also asks for help in locating 18-year-old Tyler J. Leopoldino of Hilo and 22-year-old Nainoa Evans of Mountain View, who may be together. Leopoldino is wanted on a $2,000 bench warrant for contempt of court. He is described as 5-foot-6, 140 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. Evans is wanted on a no-bail bench warrant for violating probation. He is described as 5-foot-11, 175 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair.

In this latest edition of “Hawaii Island’s Most Wanted,” Officer Patrick Menino also renews his request for information about 58-year-old Sage Million of Ainaloa, who is wanted on an outstanding bench warrant and also for questioning in connection with a sexual assault of a minor. He is described as 5-foot-7, 140 pounds with brown eyes and short, balding brown hair.

Police ask that anyone with information about any of these cases call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential. Crime Stoppers does not tape record phone calls or subscribe to caller ID.

“Hawaiʻi Island’s Most Wanted” is a project of Crime Stoppers Hilo, Inc., which is a partnership of the business community, the media and the police. It was inspired by the national TV show, “America’s Most Wanted.” The program airs on Na Leo O Hawaiʻi Community Television Channel 54 on Sundays at 5 p.m. and Fridays at 5:30 p.m. It also airs intermittently on Channel 53.

Media Release

The Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Traffic Services Section organized a sign-waving event on Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo on Monday (May 14) to inform motorists of the annual “Click It or Ticket” Campaign for 2012, which will run May 20 to June 4.

Sergeant Robert P. Pauole, head of the Traffic Services Section, said roving patrols and daytime and nighttime seat belt enforcement checkpoints will be set up throughout the Big Island. The effort is part of a national and statewide campaign urging awareness and the use of seat belts. “Although this campaign is from May 20 to June 4, seat belt and child restraint citations are issued year round,” Pauole said.

Hawaiʻi law requires seat belts for those riding in the front seat and those 17 and under riding in the back seat. The fine for a seat belt violation is $92.

Police will enforce child passenger restraint laws and will ticket drivers if children under the age of four are not properly restrained in a child safety seat—or in a booster seat until age 7. Child restraint and booster seat violators must go to court. They face a fine of $100-$500 (depending upon the number of offenses) and must attend a mandatory four-hour class.

National statistics have shown that the use of seat belts is the single most effective step drivers and passengers can take to protect themselves in a traffic crash.

Media Release

Big Island police have initiated a coroner’s inquest in connection with the death of a bicyclist in West Hawaiʻi.

At 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Kona Patrol officers responded to a report of a male bicyclist down on the side of Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway near the 82-mile area.

Witnesses said the bicyclist fell behind a group of other riders and was later found lying on the side of the highway unresponsive.

Preliminary findings show no sign that the bicycle was struck by any vehicles and the bicyclist showed no signs of serious injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle.

The 63-year old Kailua-Kona man was taken to North Hawai‘i Community Hospital, where he was officially pronounced dead at 10:40 a.m.

His identity is being withheld until his family is notified.

Media Release (confirms Keaʻau event)

The Hawaiʻi Police department’s Traffic Services Section and the Hawai‘i Isle Police Activities League (HI-PAL) are sponsoring their annual “Click It or Ticket” 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

The events will take place on the following dates at the locations listed below:

• June 15-16: Keaʻau High School, Keaʻau (confirmed)
• June 22-24: the old Pāhoa High gymnasium, Pāhoa
• June 29-July 1: Kekuaokalani Gymnasium, Kailua-Kona
• July 14: Kamehameha Park gymnasium, Kohala
• July 20-22: Papaʻaloa Gymnasium, Laupāhoehoe
• August 10-12: the new covered sports building, Panaʻewa
• August 24-26: Honoka‘a Sports Complex gymnasium, Honoka‘a
• September 8: the Naʻalehu gymnasium in Ka‘ū (tentative)

The Ka‘ū dates is still being confirmed.

Team entries are being accepted in the following age groups: 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, high school boys, girls 10 & under, girls 12 and under, girls 14 & under and high school girls. The age cutoff date is December 31, 2012.

A player may play in only one division during this tournament.

Each division will be limited to the first 10 teams. (Organizations wishing to enter multiple teams are asked to enter one at a time and as space becomes available, additional teams can be entered). Each team will be required to complete a registration packet prior to the tournament. Completed packets must be turned in two weeks prior to each scheduled event date.

Completed packets should be dropped off at the Hilo police station’s Community Policing office (the former Receiving Desk on the first floor) or at the Kona police station’s Receiving Desk.

The high school division boys and girls games will be played and completed on the scheduled Friday nights. During those scheduled dates, activities about child restraint and seat belt usage and DUI education will be available at the various gyms.

Teams interested in participating or anyone requesting additional information may call Officer Joseph Botelho Jr. in East Hawaiʻi at 961-2220 or Officer Randy Morris in West Hawaiʻi at 326-4646, extension 258.

“The Hawaiʻi Police Department is excited about again bringing the ‘Click It or Ticket’ message to eight different district communities on the island,” Botelho said. “Last year’s success has allowed us to continue this type of venture island wide.”

“Click It or Ticket” is a national educational and enforcement campaign to increase seat belt usage and decrease traffic fatalities and injuries.

Media Release

Big Island police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a female caller who made a 9-1-1 call on May 3 to report a deceased person at a home in Volcano.

The caller made the report but her identification was not obtained.

Responding officers discovered the body of 52-year-old Patrick Barrionuebo at his home on Paʻaliʻi Street.

The case is classified as a coroner’s inquest. Autopsy results are still pending.

Police request that the 9-1-1 caller or anyone who knows her identity contact Detective Norbert Serrao by phone at 961-2383 or by email at nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona 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.

Media Release

In light of several recent motorcycle fatalities, Traffic Enforcement Unit officers on the Big Island will focus enforcement efforts on unsafe operation of motorcycles, including equipment violations.

According to Sergeant Christopher Gali, who heads the Traffic Enforcement Unit, reckless driving was a factor in three of the four motorcycle fatalities this year. “The purpose of our enforcement effort is to prevent additional tragedies,” Gali said.

Police offer these safety tips for motorcyclists:

• Make sure the motorcycle is in good working condition.
• Wear proper gear.
• Always wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards.
• Know your bike’s limit.
• Stick to the speed limit.
• Don’t tailgate other vehicles.
• Use your signals.
• Be respectful of other drivers.
• Don’t weave through traffic.
• Make sure other drivers see you.
• Always use your headlights.

Media Release (update)

Big Island police have located 35-year-old James Kaneshiro of Mountain View, who was reported missing.

He was found unharmed Thursday morning in Hilo.