Media Release (update)

Hawaiʻi Island police have located 21-year-old Jensen Yadao of Hilo, who was reported missing. He was found unharmed on Maui on May 16.

Media Release

With the approach of the long Memorial Day weekend and the continuation of graduation parties, Hawaiʻi County police will be on alert to help prevent tragedy on our roads.

Officers will conduct DUI checkpoints and roving patrols beginning Thursday, May 23, and continuing through Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. The effort is part of a national and statewide campaign called “Drunk Driving: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”

Driving under the influence of alcohol presents a potential danger to every motorist, passenger and pedestrian the driver encounters. Already this year, Big Island police have made more than 500 DUI arrests, and 13 people have died in traffic fatalities.

Please do your part to keep our roads safe. Always remember to have a designated sober and licensed driver before you start drinking. If you don’t find one, don’t take a chance—take a taxi.

Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island police are searching for a 17-year-old Pāhoa girl who was reported missing.

Monica Carvalho has been missing since Sunday evening (May 19). She is described Caucasian, 5-foot-2, 110 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.

Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island police are searching for a 17-year-old Keaʻau girl who was reported missing.

Lexis Jenkins was last seen in Keaʻau on Saturday (May 18). She is described as African-American, 5-foot-5, 105 pounds with brown eyes and black 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.

Seon Aki

Media Release (update No. 2)

After conferring with prosecutors, Hawaiʻi Island police detectives have charged a 43-year-old Puna man in connection with a fatal shooting Monday (May 20) in the Nānāwle Estates subdivision.

Seon Keoni Aki of Nānāwale Estates was charged at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday (May 22) with second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, ownership prohibited (firearm), ownership prohibited (ammunition), place to keep a firearm and first-degree terroristic threatening. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $370,000 bail pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Thursday (May 23).

Also Wednesday, an autopsy determined that the victim, 40-year-old Mateo D. Balinbin Jr. of Nānāwale Estates, died from an injury to the brain from a gunshot would. The death was ruled a homicide.

Arthur Clayton

Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island police are searching for a 51-year-old Puna man wanted on a $40,000 bench warrant in connection with drug charges.

Arthur Clayton of Keaʻau is also wanted for questioning in connection with a theft investigation. He is described as 5-foot-5, 180 pounds with brown eyes and a bald or shaved head. He has a tattoo of a lion on his right shoulder.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Officer John Talich at 965-2716.

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.

Sgt. Robert Pauole, second from right, stands in support with other traffic commanders statewide as Gov. Neil Abercrombie issues a proclamation to launch the annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign.

Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island police are informing the public that the National “Click It or Ticket” campaign runs from May 20 through June 2. During this period, police will increase islandwide enforcement of seat belt and child restraint laws.

To kick off the campaign, Governor Neil Abercrombie on Monday (May 20) signed into law a requirement that all occupants in a vehicle be restrained. The law took effect immediately upon his signature.

Under the new law, the driver now is responsible for all other occupants of the vehicle. If the driver is stopped and any passenger is not using a seat belt—whether in the front seat or back seat— the driver will be the one cited.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department began the “Click It or Ticket” campaign in Hilo on Monday with sign waving on Kamehameha Avenue to draw attention to the importance of using seat belts and child restraints.

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 (update)

Hawaiʻi Island police have positively identified the victim of the shooting Monday (May 20) in the Nanawale Estates subdivision. He is identified as 40-year-old Mateo D. Balinbin Jr. of Nanawale Estates.

Balinbin’s autopsy, originally planned for today, has been rescheduled for Wednesday (May 22).

Seon Keoni Aki of Nanawale Estates, who was arrested Monday on suspicion of second-degree murder, remains at the Hilo police cellblock without charges while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating a shooting that occurred in the Puna District and left one person dead.

Monday afternoon (May 20) at about 2:19 p.m., police responded to a call of a shooting victim found in a home on Maui Street in the Nanawale Estates subdivision.

Police and Hawaiʻi Fire Department medics responded to the location. Upon their arrival, the body of a male victim was found within the residence.

Police secured the scene and detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section responded to the location to further the investigation.

Detectives learned that another man was seen leaving the residence in a dark colored pickup truck and, as a result, police issued an island wide all-points bulletin for both the truck and its operator, who was identified as a suspect.

At 4:41 p.m., acting on a tip, police arrested 43-year-old Seon Keoni Aki of Nanawale Estates at a home in Hawaiian Paradise Park on suspicion of second-degree murder. He is being held at the cellblock while detectives continue the investigation.

Police are withholding the release of the victim’s name pending positive identification and notification of the next of kin.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday (May 21) to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask that anyone who may have witnesses the shooting contact Detective Derek Morimoto at 961-2380 or dmorimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or ralmeida@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.