HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
JUVENILE AID SECTION
LIEUTENANT EARL HATADA
PHONE: 961-2277
AUGUST 28, 2006
C06026782
MEDIA RELEASE
Big Island police arrested four youths in a stolen van Saturday morning (August 26, 2006) following a short vehicle pursuit in Puna.
The van had been reported as stolen overnight from a Keaau business.
After the auto chase, five occupants of the 1997 Ford van fled on foot. Puna patrol officers caught four of them and arrested them on suspicion of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle. A male 17-year-old runaway and a 15-year-old boy, both from Hilo, were charged with the offense. Their names are being withheld because they are minors under the jurisdiction of Family Court.
A 15-year-old Hilo boy and an 18-year-old Mountain View man were released without charges pending further investigation.
After arresting the four suspects Saturday, police recovered three other vehicles that were recently reported stolen.
Detectives from the Juvenile Aid Section are pursuing other charges in connection with a rash of auto thefts and burglaries at business establishments in East Hawaii. Police ask anyone with information about the crimes to call Detective John Ancheta at 961-2277 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.
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