Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested and charged two men and a woman for a variety of crimes that recently took place in Kailua-Kona and Hilo.
On May 27, South Hilo patrol officers responded to report that an unknown male had stolen a cellphone from a bag from the Bayfront Soccer Fields area in Hilo, while the owner was playing soccer nearby. The investigation identified 52-year-old Clint Hutchins, of no permanent address, as the suspect responsible for stealing the cellphone valued at $999.
On Sunday, June 1, South Hilo patrol officers responded to a traffic collision at the intersection of Aala Lane and Kīlauea Avenue in Hilo, involving a white BMW SUV and a man on a moped. The investigation identified Hutchins as the suspect who intentionally struck the man on the moped while operating the BMW SUV. The victim sustained substantial bodily injury and required treatment at Hilo Benioff Medical Center.
The following day on Monday, June 2, Kona patrol officers responded to a report of four vehicles removed from a car dealership in the 74-5500 block of Loloku Street in Kailua-Kona, sometime during the previous week. One of the reported stolen vehicles was the BMW SUV involved in the traffic collision in Hilo on June 1. This vehicle was later located by Kona patrol officers parked and unattended in the parking lot at a business in the 5000 block of Luhia Street.
Following a tip from the community, on Tuesday, June 3, South Hilo patrol officers located one of the other stolen vehicles parked in the parking lot of a retail store on Maka‘ala Street in Hilo. Chassity Nakamura, age 34, of Hilo, who was seated in the rear seat of the vehicle was arrested for unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. After an in-depth investigation, Clint Hutchins was identified as the operator of the stolen vehicle who had left the area on foot prior to police arrival.
On Wednesday, June 4, an off-duty Puna patrol officer identified Hutchins operating another one of the reported stolen vehicles, described as white BMW sedan. This vehicle was later located by officers assigned to the Area I Criminal Investigation Division Crime Reduction Unit parked unattended in the area of Piopio Street in Hilo.
The following day, Friday, June 6, officers assigned to the Crime Reduction Unit located Hutchins in the area of Bayfront Beach Park in Hilo, where he was arrested on the strength of an arrest warrant.
On Monday, June 9, officers assigned to the Crime Reduction Unit located the last of the four reported stolen vehicles at a residence in Hawaiian Paradise Park in Kea‘au. The investigation led to the arrest of 26-year-old Casey Masetta Costa, of Kea‘au for first-degree theft and second-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (auto-theft).
All four vehicles stolen from the dealership in Kona have been recovered by police.
After conferral with the Hawai‘i County Prosecutor’s office, Hutchins was charged with the following offenses:
- Three counts first-degree theft
- Three counts first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle
- Second-degree theft
- Second-degree burglary
- Second-degree criminal property damage
- Accident involving substantial bodily injury
- Driving without a valid driver’s license
Nakamura was charged with Unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
Massetta Costa was charged with First-degree theft and First-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.
Police ask anyone who may have witnessed any of these incidents or who may have information relative to this investigation to call Detective Amy Omaya at (808) 961-2381, or via email at amy.omaya@hawaiipolice.gov.
Photos courtesy of Hawaiʻi County Police Department
