Police investigate Hamakua robbery

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Police are investigating an armed robbery in late May in the Hamakua area.

Police are investigating an armed robbery in late May in the Hamakua area.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. May 25, police responded to Waipio Valley after receiving a report from a 54-year-old Florida man that while walking up Waipio Valley Road, a dark Jeep Wrangler drove past him and stopped approximately 50 yards away. The suspect reportedly got out of the vehicle, approached the victim, pointed a shotgun at him and demanded his backpack. The victim refused to give the man his backpack and instead handed over an undisclosed amount of cash.

The victim was not injured in the robbery.

The suspect is described as a local male, approximately 5-foot-7, 190 pounds with brown hair. He was wearing multi-colored shorts. He was last seen getting back into the Jeep and leaving the area in the mauka direction.

Anyone with any information about this incident or anyone who might know the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Detective Dean Uyetake at 961-2379 or duyetetake@co.hawaii.hi.us.