Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area II
Lieutenant Gerald Wike
Phone: 326-4646, Ext. 266
Report No. C14013829
Randall Chase
Media Release
Hawaiʻi Island police have charged one of the men arrested in connection with a violent robbery early Tuesday in Kailua-Kona.
At 5 p.m. Wednesday (May 28), detectives charged 28-year-old Randall Todd Chase of Kailua-Kona with first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery, assault, two counts of third-degree theft, promoting a dangerous drug, promoting a detrimental drug, and possessing drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $40,250. He was being held at the Kona police cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Thursday morning (May 29).
The other suspect, 43-year-old Nohea Gene Heinicke of Kailua-Kona, was released to the custody of the Department of Public Safety on a probation violation charge. Detectives are continuing their investigation into his role in the robbery.
At 1:57 a.m. Tuesday (May 27), Kona Patrol officers responded to a report of a robbery outside a restaurant on the 75-1000 block of Henry Street.
Police determined that an acquaintance had reportedly approached a 25-year-old Kailua-Kona man and a 23-year-old Kailua-Kona man. He then reportedly struck the 25-year-old in the head, arms and legs with a blunt object and stole both their backpacks. The assailant then left the area in a black sedan being driving by a second man.
The 25-year-old victim was taken to Kona Community Hospital with serious head injuries and later transferred to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu, where he remains in stable condition. The 23-year-old victim was not injured.
A short time later, police located a car matching the description of the suspects’ car and learned that the sole occupant, Heinicke, was wanted on a bench warrant. He was arrested and charged with violating probation and held at the Kona police cellblock pending his initial court appearance on the bench warrant.
Later Tuesday both Heinicke and Chase were arrested on suspicion of robbery.