A 19-year-old man is in police custody following a reported carjacking at the Hilo Target store.
A 19-year-old man is in police custody following a reported carjacking at the Hilo Target store.
A 24-year-old Hilo man told police that at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, he was accosted in the store’s parking lot by a local male who brandished a weapon and threatened him. The suspect got the keys to the victim’s late-model Hyundai sedan and drove away.
The victim was not injured.
An island-wide bulletin was issued and the car was found at Isaac Hale Beach park in Pohoiki. Police arrested Alkapone Cruz-Balles, formerly of Mountain View. As of press time on Thursday, he had not been charged. A 14-year-old girl, who was with Cruz-Balles when he was arrested, was interviewed by police and released to her parents.
Detectives are reviewing video surveillance footage recovered from Target.
Anyone with information or may have witnessed the robbery is asked to contact Detective Clarence Davies III at 961-2384 or cdavies@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Grant Todd at 961-2385 or gtodd@co.hawaii.hi.us. Those who prefer to anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.