Hawaiʻi Police Department
Hilo Patrol
Lieutenant Grant K. Todd
Phone: (808) 935-3311
Report No.: 23-071817
Media Release
Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested a 31-year-old Kūlani Correctional Facility inmate who escaped from the facility on Thursday morning, July 27, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
Hilo patrol officers responded to a report of an escape at Kūlani Correctional Facility shortly after 9 a.m. on July 27. The inmate, later identified as Arnold BJ Fernandez from Pāhoa, had last been seen fleeing the facility on foot at 9:00 a.m. Fernandez was serving a 10-year sentence for burglary, theft, and unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.
After a brief manhunt involving members of the Hawai‘i Department of Public Safety, Hawai’i Police Department, and Hawai‘i Fire Department, Fernandez was located at 9:50 a.m. by Adult Corrections Officers on the facility property.
Fernandez was arrested for escape and transported to the Hilo Police Station for processing.
Fernandez will be returned to the Hawai‘i Community Correctional Center upon the completion of the escape investigation, which is being conducted by detectives from HPD’s Area I Criminal Investigation Section.
Police ask anyone who may have seen or come into contact with Fernandez during his time on the run to contact Detective Zenas Pacheco of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2384, or email at Zenas.Pacheco@hawaiicounty.gov.
