Police chase suspect faces additional theft charges

A 42-year-old Puna man out on bail after allegedly leading police in a high-speed pursuit in May resulting in two officers’ taxpayer-subsidized vehicles being rammed and one of the officers going to the hospital for treatment of his injuries has been arrested for additional offenses while on bail.

Police arrested Shilo Murdock Brent of Glenwood, who had been free on a $50,000 bond posted in May, on a warrant when he appeared at the Hilo courthouse at 10:20 a.m. Wednesday.

The new charges stem from search warrants served on Brent’s property in April, which police say netted a stolen Ford pickup truck, a firearm and crystal methamphetamine. Police say they also discovered a utility meter had been bypassed enabling electricity to be stolen.

According to police, Brent was also identified as being one of several suspects involved in a brazen felony shoplifting spree in late June at the Kona Home Depot store — which was captured on video shared on social media — running several shopping carts of expensive merchandise out past the cash registers, loading items into a pickup truck and fleeing the scene as employees called for assistance.

At 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, after conferring with prosecutors, Brent was charged with two counts of second-degree theft, plus theft of utilities and third-degree methamphetamine possession.

Brent made his initial appearances Thursday in both Hilo and Kona district courts and was ordered to appear Monday for preliminary hearings on both sides of the island.

Second-degree theft and third-degree methamphetamine possession are Class C felonies punishable by up to five years imprisonment upon conviction. Theft of utilities is a misdemeanor with a maximum one-year jail sentence.

Brent remained in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center late Friday afternoon in lieu of $14,500 bail.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.