Big Island police have arrested and charged a Hilo couple with the theft of an elderly woman’s vehicle.
On Friday evening, South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a retail establishment on Maka‘ala Street in Hilo for a report that 21-year-old Kade Kekoa Kapika-Overturf and 26-year-old Shayla Keani Fa’atasiga Kamahele were within the store and had previously been served trespass notices, prohibiting them from being on the store premises.
During the course of the initial investigation, store security observed Kapika-Overturf and Kamahele exiting a vehicle in the parking lot. Officers later determined the vehicle had been reported stolen from the parking lot of another retail establishment on Maka‘ala Street on March 29.
Kapika-Overturf and Kamahele were both arrested and the vehicle was recovered as evidence.
On Sunday, detectives charged Kapika-Overturf with second-degree criminal trespass, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (UCPV), first-degree theft, second-degree theft, and driving without a driver’s license. His bail was set at $47,000. Kamahele was charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree theft, second-degree theft, and driving without a driver’s license. Her bail was set at $46,000.
Kapika-Overturf made his initial appearance in court on Monday where bail was reduced to $21,000. A preliminary hearing started Wednesday, but was continued until April 28.
Kamahele also made her initial appearance Monday, during which bail was also reduced to $21,000. On Wednesday, she waived her right to a preliminary hearing, committing the case to Circuit Court for further proceedings.