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Woman charged with helping prison escapee 08-17-04

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HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
EAST HAWAII CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION
ACTING LIEUTENANT GREG ESTEBAN
PHONE: 961-2252
AUGUST 17, 2004
H-99871

Photo of Brandi Coughlin Photo of Joshua Reed
HINDERING PROSECUTION – Brandi Coughlin, left, has been charged with first-degree hindering prosecution after she allegedly helped prison escapee Joshua A.J. Reed elude police capture. Coughlin is being held in the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $2,000 bail.

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE 2

Big Island detectives charged a 30-year-old woman Tuesday (August 17, 2004) for allegedly helping an escapee from the Kulani Correctional Facility avoid police capture.

The woman, identified as Brandi Coughlin, of a Pepeekeo address, was charged with first-degree hindering prosecution. She is being held in the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $2,000 bail.

Coughlin allegedly drove the escapee, Joshua Abraham James Reed, 29, from the Kalapana area of Puna to Pepeekeo in South Hilo, where he hid from police and was fed by her.

Reed, whom police described a dangerous, was last seen in the Pepeekeo area and is believed to be hitchhiking.

Police also seized a 1991 blue Pontiac Bonneville allegedly used to transport the fugitive from Kalapana to the Pepeekeo area. Police said the escapee, also known as Eric Victor, had been seen last week in Kalapana and at beach areas in Puna.

Meanwhile, East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section detectives said the fugitive has altered his appearance again.

Sighted in Pepeekeo at 11 p.m. Monday, the escapee reportedly has dyed his hair red and appears to be clean-shaven. He was last seen wearing blue shorts and a red T-shirt and was barefoot.

Discovered missing from the minimum-security facility on August 1, 2004, Reed is described as being a Caucasian, being 5-foot-9 in height, weighing about 165 pounds and having green eyes.

Police have cautioned residents that the inmate was serving time for a sex offense at the time of his escape and described him as dangerous.

Anyone with information on Reed’s whereabouts is asked to call Detective Richard Sherlock of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2379 or the police emergency number at 9-1-1.

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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