MEDIA RELEASE

Sepeti Tuaefe

Big Island police have charged a 20-year-old Pāhoa man in connection with an incident that occurred in Keaʻau last month.

At 9 a.m. Wednesday (July 11) Sepeti Alamti Tuaefe—also known as Joe Tuaefe—was charged with first-degree burglary. His bail was set at $5,000. He was scheduled to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon.

On June 27 at about 2 a.m., police responded to a home on 14th Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park after receiving a report of several men breaking into a house and assaulting a 19-year-old Keaʻau man. The victim sustained minor injuries and declined treatment at the scene.

Tuaefe and the others fled the scene prior to the arrival of police, who issued an all points bulletin. Tueafe was arrested Wednesday morning at 6:45 a.m. After conferring with the prosecutor’s office, he was charged for the offense.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue to work on identifying the other individuals allegedly involved in this incident.

Police ask that anyone with information on this case call Detective Royce Serrao at 961-8810 or email him at rpserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.