HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUNA COMMUNITY POLICING PROGRAM
OFFICER ROBERT E. ALMEIDA
PHONE: 966-5835
APRIL 19, 2002
MEDIA RELEASE
Puna police are asking for the public’s help in finding out who is responsible for throwing stones at passing vehicles in Hawaiian Paradise Park on Wednesday and Thursday (April 17 and 18, 2002).
Police said they have received several reports of persons throwing stones at cars traveling in the area of 24th Avenue on both Makuu and Paradise Drives, then running away.
The stones damaged several cars, but no injuries were reported
Police are also seeking information about the identity of vandals who placed large rocks on the Keaau-Pahoa Highway (Route 130) early Friday (April 19, 2002), causing several accidents and one injury.
Police said that the rocks, ranging in size from a softball to a basketball, were placed on a stretch of highway between the Puna rubbish dump and Shower Drive in Hawaiian Paradise Park between 1 and 4 a.m.
Officers removed several rocks, but the vandals apparently returned and placed more on the road.
The rocks caused several accidents, damaging five vehicles and injuring one motorist.
Anyone with information about the incidents or the identities of those responsible for either of these incidents is asked to call Puna Community Police Officer Robert Almeida at 966-5835 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.
Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. The numbers are answered 24 hours a day. Callers will be given a coded number and their identity will remain anonymous. Callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if their call leads to an arrest, indictment or the recovery of property. Crime Stoppers neither subscribes to “Caller ID,” nor does it record phone calls.
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