MEDIA RELEASE
Two Puna men have been charged with burglary and other offenses after concerned citizens reported a burglary in progress.
At 6:29 a.m. Wednesday (September 16), officers responded to a report of an active burglary on Moanauli Loop in the Seaview Estates subdivision. Responding officers passed a sports-utility vehicle pulling a trailer loaded with appliances and made a traffic stop.
They initially arrested the driver, 41-year-old Gulliver Brown of PÄhoa, on outstanding bench warrants and charged him with two counts of contempt of court. The passenger, 29-year-old James Lancaster of PÄhoa was arrested on outstanding bench warrants and charged with contempt of court and violating terms of release on bail. Both were taken to the Hilo police cellblock.
Investigation determined that the appliances in the trailer belonged to the 69-year-old man whose Moanauli Loop house had been broken into.
At 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Brown was charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree theft, driving without a license, driving without insurance and fraudulent use of license plates. His bail was set at $21,500. Lancaster was charged with first-degree burglary and second-degree theft. His bail was set at $20,000. Both remained in custody until their initial court appearances on those offenses on Friday (September 18).