HAWAII, Hawaii (KHON2) — The Hawaiʻi Police Department arrested a 31-year-old Nāʻālehu man on suspicion of robbery following an alleged violent crime spree in the Volcano area on Oct. 11.
Police were first informed of a reckless driver traveling on the Hilo-bound Highway 11 within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at 4:43 p.m. The driver was allegedly operating a white pickup truck, driving recklessly and allegedly causing several traffic collisions.
Soon after, a 62-year-old woman called police to report that she had been carjacked at gunpoint in the same area, officials said.
The suspect had abandoned the truck he was operating and fled the area in the woman’s vehicle toward Hilo.
Authorities received several calls reporting the suspect’s alleged reckless driving, who even ran two police vehicles off the roadway and struck multiple other vehicles, HPD said.
His current vehicle was rendered inoperable, leading to the suspect allegedly attempting to carjack a 79-year-old man at gunpoint. The man was able to flee the scene.
The suspect then left the area on foot, eventually attempting to forcibly enter a Kurtistown home, investigators said.
The 53-year-old male resident of the home confronted the suspect, but the intruder allegedly pointed a firearm at the man, demanding the keys to the man’s truck, HPD said.
The suspect then allegedly drove off with the man’s truck after striking a parked vehicle and nearly hitting a pedestrian.
The male resident of the home and his 26-year-old nephew then caught up to the suspect, where they were able to restrain him until authorities arrived at 5:05 p.m.
Upon investigation, police recovered the suspect’s firearm, which authorities said ended up being an airsoft pistol.
Police also recovered the vehicles involved in the crime spree, and were able to determine that the suspect did not have permission to operate the white truck he initially drove, which belonged to a relative.
Detectives plan to confer with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for charges.
Anyone with any information on the alleged crime spree is asked to contact Detective Amy Omaya at (808) 961-2381 or at Amy.Omaya@hawaiipolice.gov.
