Hawaiʻi Police Department
South Kohala Patrol
Acting Captain Roylen Valera
Phone: (808) 887-3080
Report Numbers: 24-021745 and 24-022292
Media Release (Update #1)
Hawai‘i Island police are renewing their request for information in locating 23-year-old Tyson Stephens, who is a suspect in a Waikoloa Village burglary and an unauthorized entry of a dwelling investigation. Stephens is also a person of interest in three additional burglaries, two trespassing investigations, and an additional unauthorized entry of dwelling incident in the same area.
Stephens was originally identified as a suspect after South Kohala officers responded to a reported burglary on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 11:30 a.m., on Kimo Nui Street in Waikoloa Village. An elderly resident reported that Stephens entered his residence and took items without permission then left the area on foot.
Stephens is a suspect in an unauthorized entry of a dwelling incident on Malina Place where he entered a residence and was confronted by the residents, eventually fleeing in an unknown direction.
In addition, Stephens is considered a person of interest in a burglary and two trespassing incidents on Lua Kula Street, and two burglaries and an unauthorized entry of a dwelling incident on Laie Street.
Stephens is described as African-American, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 155 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and scruffy facial hair. He was last seen wearing a dark grey hooded sweatshirt, black shorts and dark colored shoes.
Police are appreciative of the public’s help after receiving calls of sightings of Stephens and have checked each report in conjunction with the department’s investigation.
Stephens, of no permanent address, is known to frequent the Kona area and has been known to carry a knife. Police caution the public to not approach the Stephens and ask anyone with information relative to these cases to call 911 or the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or email Officer Justin Uresti at justin.uresti@hawaiicounty.gov or Acting Captain Roylen Valera at roylen.valera@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
