HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
HILO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION
DETECTIVE EARL HATADA
PHONE: 961-2382
MARCH 23, 1999
F-89334
MEDIA RELEASE
An 18-year-old Hilo male was arrested and charged after he allegedly tried to rob a male visitor Tuesday (March 23, 1999) on Banyan Drive.
Arrested and charged with first-degree attempted robbery and prohibited possession of a deadly weapon was John Pauline, who is being held in the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $12,000 bail.
Police determined that about 4:35 a.m., a 62-year-old visitor from Hutchinson, Kansas, was approached by two males in front of the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on Banyan Drive. One of the men brandished a knife and demanded the victim’s wallet. After the victim said he didn’t have a wallet, the suspects left the area.
Acting on a description of the suspects and a mini-van they used, police located the vehicle at the Chevron service station at 321 Makaala Street. Driven by the station by police officers, the victim identified the two suspects.
At 5:20 a.m., the two suspects were arrested along with a third suspect who was driver of the van.
Upon questioning the three suspects, officers determined that the attempted robbery was committed by Pauline alone. They also found a dagger on the suspect that was used in the robbery attempt.
Pauline told police that his two companions didn’t know what he was going to do and didn’t take part in the robbery. The two other men were released from custody.
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