Kona man facing charges in connection with vehicle theft

A Kailua-Kona man has been charged with a dozen offenses in connection with the Nov. 8 alleged theft of a pickup truck from a Hilo auto dealership.
Jason Schloffel, 23, was charged Friday with three counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, two counts of second-degree theft and one count each of first-degree reckless endangering, second-degree burglary, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, criminal property damage, resisting an order to stop, resisting arrest and driving with a suspended license, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. His bail was set at $83,000.

The charges stem from a report of a 2004 Toyota pickup truck being stolen from a car dealership on Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo, according to police. In addition, a lock to a gate was damaged, the establishment was entered and vehicle parts were removed.

Shortly after midnight on Thursday, personal belongings were reportedly removed from a vehicle parked at Hilo Medical Center, according to police. Witnesses identified the suspect’s vehicle, which matched the description of the truck taken from the car dealership.

Later Thursday, a patrol officer observed the truck on Komohana Street and attempted to make a traffic stop, according to police. The vehicle allegedly fled, but was located 10 minutes later in the Kaumana area. When an officer approached the pickup, it allegedly almost hit a police car and fled from the area.

The truck was later located on a dirt road off Saddle Road near mile marker 10, according to police. The man driving the vehicle was identified as Schloffel, who was wanted for two cases of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle in Kona. Schloffel, whom police allege resisted arrest, was subsequently arrested and taken to the Hilo police cellblock pending further investigation.

He remains in police custody pending a Monday court hearing, according to police.