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Suspect charged in Rainbow Falls robbery 07-27-05

HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
EAST HAWAII CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION
CAPTAIN CHADWICK FUKUI
PHONE: 961-2251
JULY 27, 2005
C05024682

Photo of Spencer Jordan Feary

SPENSER JORDAN FEARY
…charged in Rainbow Falls robbery and related offenses

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE

Big Island police have charged an 18-year-old Hilo male with a variety of felony offenses stemming from a robbery that occurred Monday (July 25, 2005) at a popular tourist attraction in Hilo.

At 6:52 p.m. Wednesday (July 27, 2005), Spenser Jordan Feary of Hilo was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree theft and three traffic offenses. He is being held in the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of a total bail of $54,750.

Responding to a 6 p.m. call Monday, South Hilo patrol officers determined that an Arizona couple visiting Rainbow Falls in Hilo was accosted by a group of male suspects. The first suspect punched the 31-year-old victim; a second suspect then kicked the victim in the face, while the first suspect stole his camera. The victim’s 33-year-old female companion had her purse ripped from her by a third suspect.

During the robbery, a family from California was videotaping the scenery at the falls and videotaped some footage of the incident. One of the suspects observed the 52-year-old male visitor with the video camera, ran up to him, punched him in his face and stole his video camera. His 45-year-old wife was verbally threatened by a second suspect and surredered her camera to that suspect.

The suspects were last observed running in the westerly direction from the falls parking lot. A witness observed a light blue foreign model hatchback leaving the immediate area and obtained a license plate, which was called in to the police emergency 911 system and broadcast to responding police units.

A patrol officer observed the vehicle in the downtown Hilo area and attempted to stop the vehicle. The light blue Honda vehicle headed towards Keaukaha. Traffic Enforcement Unit officers assisted in the pursuit. The Honda vehicle was stopped at the end of Kauhane Avenue, at which time three occupants fled the vehicle in the area of the Hilo International Airport airstrip.

Feary was arrested by police after a brief foot pursuit. A 17-year-old male was arrested and subsequently transported to the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility on Oahu for secure detention. An extensive air and ground search was conducted for a third suspect, who remains at large. Police are still looking for additional suspects who were involved in this robbery.

During the pursuit, a police officer observed one of the suspects discard a video camera from the Honda and the camera was identified as belonging to one of the victims.

Both male victims were taken to the Hilo Medical Center emergency room by Hawaii Fire Department rescue personnel for treatmeht of their injuries. The 33-year-old female drove to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. All of the victims were treated and released.

Detectives from the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section are continuing the investigation and learned that there were several individuals in the area who may have witnessed the robbery, but left before they could be interviewed by police. Police are asking that anyone who witnessed this robbery at the park to call Detective Lucille Melemai at 961-2377 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. All Crime Stoppers information is kept strictly confidential.

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