A 29-year-old Honomu man told police a woman acquaintance got into his mother’s pickup and began to drive off as he went inside a downtown Hilo gas station to pay for gas, court documents state.
A 29-year-old Honomu man told police a woman acquaintance got into his mother’s pickup and began to drive off as he went inside a downtown Hilo gas station to pay for gas, court documents state.
According to police, the alleged victim said he and several others went to the Hele gas station on Kamehameha Avenue at about 4 a.m. Wednesday in a 2011 Toyota Tacoma registered to his mother.
When the complainant went to pay for the gas, the woman, Kandace Kehaulani Iaukea, got into the driver’s seat, started the truck and began to drive away, documents state. The man was able to get back into the truck while Iaukea was driving, but another passenger, Leroy Castro III, allegedly told the alleged victim not to do anything dumb or he would f— him up.
The man told police Iaukea then turned the wheel of the truck over to Castro, who reportedly drove the Tacoma to Ahuna Road in the Panaewa area of Hilo. Iaukea then brandished an 18-inch machete and told the alleged victim to get out of the truck, which he did, and Castro then drove away, documents state.
Iaukea was arrested early Thursday evening at a Hilinai Street home in Hilo and charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree terroristic threatening and driving a stolen vehicle.
During Iaukea’s initial court appearance, Deputy Public Defender Jiro Yuda requested a reduction of her $61,000 bail, but Hilo District Judge Robert Crudele denied the motion and ordered Iaukea to appear at 2 p.m. Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.
As of press time Friday, police were still seeking Castro, whom they consider armed and dangerous.
He’s described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown eyes and short black hair, and is known to frequent the Hilo and Puna areas.
The public is advised not to approach Castro.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Aaron Carvalho at 961-2272 or aaron.carvalho@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.