HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
KONA COMMUNITY POLICING PROGRAM
ACTING SERGEANT STANLEY HAANIO
PHONE: 327-3587
JULY 25, 2003
MEDIA RELEASE
Kona police charged two male suspects Friday (July 25, 2003) who were caught by community policing officers breaking into a vehicle parked at Hapuna Beach earlier this week.
The suspects were identified as Brandon Halmas, 23, of Kailua-Kona, and Byers Naope, 19, of Kainaliu. Both were charged by Kona Criminal Investigation Section detectives with unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
Halmas, who was also wanted on an unrelated warrant of arrest, is being held in the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $3,000 bail. Naope is being held on $1,000 bail.
The two suspects, plus two 17-year-old juvenile females, were arrested Wednesday by Kona and South Kohala community policing officers.
Responding to numerous complaints of car break-ins, the community policing officers focused their investigation in the Puako and Hapuna Beach areas.
While conducting surveillance at Hapuna Beach, the officers observed a small green four-door sedan with four persons enter the parking lot and park next to an unattended vehicle.
Officers then watched two males approach the parked vehicle and observed one of them break into the parked vehicle. The officers then arrested the four suspects for unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
After the arrests, the two juveniles were released to their parents or family members, and the case was turned over to Kona CIS detectives for charging.
Police are asking that anyone with additional information about vehicle break-ins at the Puako or Hapuna Beach areas to call Officer Mark Farias of the South Kohala Community Policing Program at 887-3080 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.
Those who want to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300. All Crime Stoppers information is kept strictly confidential.
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