Police searching for Big Island’s most wanted

Big Island police are asking the public’s help locating three wanted men, including a 20-year-old Puna man sought for escape.

The most recent edition of the Crime Stoppers television program “Hawaii Island’s Most Wanted” begins airing Friday. It highlights the Puna man wanted for escape, a 38-year-old Kaʻu man wanted for abuse and a 36-year-old Hilo man wanted for questioning in a reckless endangering case.

Railee Keoni Santos, 20, of Mountain View, is wanted for escape. He was serving a sentence for terroristic threatening at the Hale Nani reintegration center and was last seen there on the evening of Feb. 16, according to the Hawaii Police Department. He is described as 5-foot-5, 115 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo of the word “Respect” on his left forearm and a tribal tattoo on his right forearm.

Benjamin Acasio, 38, of Naalehu, is wanted for abuse, according to police. He is described as 6-foot-2, 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen driving a red Acura two-door sedan with white rims.

Albert Espaniola Jr., 36, is wanted for contempt of court and for questioning in a reckless endangering case. He is described as 5-foot-8, 170 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair. His last known address was in Hilo, according to police.

Anyone with information should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

“Hawaii Island’s Most Wanted” is a project of Crime Stoppers Hilo Inc., which is a partnership of the business community, the media and the police. It was inspired by the national TV show, “America’s Most Wanted.”

The program airs on Na Leo O Hawaii Community Television Ch. 54 at 5 p.m. Sundays and 5:30 p.m. Fridays. It also airs intermittently on Ch. 53.