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Surveillance video of the Keauhou Store robbery
MEDIA RELEASE
Big Island police have arrested a second suspect in connection with a robbery January 12 at Keauhou Store in HÅlualoa. The suspect, 22-year-old James Kekai Hao of Kailua-Kona, was also arrested for a robbery January 5 at the Kaloko Business Center V in Kailua-Kona.
Surveillance images from both robberies led to tips from the public about the suspect’s identity.
On Thursday afternoon (January 19), police located Hao outside an apartment complex on Lunapule Road in Kailua-Kona. When officers attempted to contact him, he fled on foot. Police conducted a search and found him about 45 minutes later hiding in bushes several hundred yards away from the apartment complex.
Hao was arrested at 1:45 p.m. on suspicion of two counts of first-degree robbery. He is being held at the Kona police cellblock while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.
Lieutenant Gerald Wike said the community was instrumental in helping detectives solve these two cases. “We really appreciate the media for publicizing the surveillance images and the public for helping us identify the person depicted,” Wike said. “Their assistance was invaluable.”
Good job! One more criminal off the streets!
Let’s see. Suspect is arrested on Jan 5 for robbery. 7 days later he commits a felony again. How is it he was not in custody for the 1/5 robbery. Is our system of justice that broken?
Police did not arrest anyone in the 1/5/12 Kaloko robbery but had that suspect on surveillance video.
Police then notified the public that the suspect involved in the Keauhou Store robbery was very likely the same person on the loose due to surveillance video in both stores. (see: https://hawaii247.com/?p=61694)
When the suspect was caught he was arrested for both robberies.