Suspect turns himself in 01-14-05

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
WEST HAWAII CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
ACTING CAPTAIN PAUL KEALOHA
PHONE: 326-4646, EXT. 266
JANUARY 14, 2005

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE

Police called off the search for a 27-year-old suspect after he turned himself in Friday (January 14, 2005) at the Kealakehe station.

The suspect was identified as Keith Keola Moniz, who was arrested for several felony offenses, including kidnapping, terroristic threatening and burglary. The offenses stemmed from an incident that occurred on December 17, 2004, in Waikoloa, South Kohala.

Moniz is being held in the Kona police cellblock pending further investigation by West Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section detectives.

Acting Captain Paul Kealoha of the West Hawaii Criminal Investigation Division said police had received numerous phone calls from the public after issuing a request for information on Moniz’s whereabouts.

“The public really responded to our request for information,” Kealoha said.

“We believe the widespread publicity of our request for help and the large response from the public helped convince the suspect to turn himself in without incident.

“The Hawaii County Police Department wants to thank the public for its timely response to our request for information and the news media for widely publicizing our request.

“Because of their help, we were able to avoid what could have been a violent situation.”

In the police department news release asking for information, Moniz had been described as armed and dangerous.

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