Violent robbery leads to drug bust, two arrests

Police have arrested and charged two individuals with numerous offenses in connection with a violent kidnapping early Sunday morning in Hilo.

Nathan Kaleo Pedro, 32, of Pahoa, and 30-year-old Jackie Napuaokalani Carter of Hilo were arrested without incident Sunday afternoon in Waimea. Carter turned herself in to the Waimea Police Station and a short time later, South Kohala patrol officers apprehended Pedro. The vehicle Pedro was driving was recovered and a search warrant executed.

The pair was arrested after police interviewed a man they found lying on the roadway at Highway 11 and Mamaki Street shortly after 6:30a a.m. Sunday.

The 31-year-old Keaau man told officers he was contacted by Carter and agreed to meet with her at a lounge on Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo. He said he was met outside the establishment by Carter and the two sat in her vehicle. Moments later, a man, later determined by police to be Pedro, opened the vehicle door and assaulted the victim before forcefully taking his wallet, cellphone and car keys.

Pedro then allegedly went to the victim’s vehicle, rummaged through it, and slashed all four times. Pedro reportedly then went back to Carter’s vehicle and drove away, taking the victim against his will.

The victim further informed police that Pedro drove to several locations in Hilo, before taking him to the area of Stainback Highway and North Kulani Road, where Pedro allegedly removed the victim forcibly from the vehicle, physically assaulted him with a police-like collapsible baton and threatened him with a firearm.

Pedro and Carter then left the area, leaving the injured man there.

The victim was treated and released at Hilo Medical Center.

According to police, the search of Pedro’s vehicle turned up almost 45 grams of fentanyl powder (broken down for distribution), 137 fentanyl pills, more than an ounce of methamphetamine, more than an ounce of cocaine, plus drug paraphernalia and more than $1,900 in cash.

Pedro was charged Tuesday with: kidnapping; fourth-degree criminal property damage; first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle; second-degree theft; second-degree assault; second-degree robbery; first-degree terroristic threatening; eight counts of first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug; three counts of third degree promotion of a dangerous drug; three counts of fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug; and three counts of marijuana possession.

His bail was set at $1,165,000.

Carter was charged with: kidnapping; second-degree robbery; and second-degree theft

Her bail was set at $110,000.

Pedro and Carter made their initial court appearance in Hilo District Court on Wednesday afternoon.

During the course of this investigation, a search warrant was executed on a room Pedro and Carter had rented at a resort on Waikoloa Beach Drive. The warrant led to the recovery of about a pound of methamphetamine, un-serialized firearm parts, miscellaneous ammunition, and almost $5,000 in cash.

Additional charges stemming from the recovery of the items from the hotel room are pending and will be forwarded to prosecutors for further action.