Officer Andrew Springer was selected as the Aloha Exchange Club’s Officer of the Month for May. Springer, who has been with the Hawaii Police Department for four years, was recommended based on his dedication to duty and a proactive approach to patrol.
On May 17, officers responded to a suspicious person report on Kalaoa Camp Road in Papaikou. A female resident reported a male party approached her, asking to use her phone. While using the phone, he was overheard asking someone “if the people on Kaieie Road were home because he needed a ride.” The male then left the area before officers.
Surveillance video provided by the female resident was viewed, and Eddie Poai was identified as the suspicious person. Poai had four outstanding warrants and numerous open APBs.
Springer, with the assistance of another officer, headed up Kaieie Road to make checks for Poai. While on Kaieie Road, Springer observed Poai getting into a blue PT Cruiser as a passenger. Seeing this, Springer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. The PT Cruiser refused to stop and reversed up Kaieie Road.
The PT Cruiser finally stopped after about 1 mile, and as Springer passed it to get behind it, the PT Cruiser unexpectedly pulled forward to flee but got stuck in a 2-foot ditch. Springer ordered the occupants out and was able to arrest them without further incident.
Earlier the same morning and in the same area, Springer located a parked van and contacted its driver. The van and driver were connected to a robbery, during which a firearm was allegedly brandished. Upon realizing this and while speaking to the driver, Springer was able to get the driver’s consent to look into the van.
Springer then observed a rifle. The driver was subsequently arrested and the van recovered as evidence. The driver was later charged with felony offenses.
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Officer Tyler Jelsma was selected by the Aloha Exchange Club as Officer of the Month for April.
Jelsma has been with the Hawaii Police Department for about five years and currently is assigned to South Hilo Patrol. This award is as a result of his investigation of a terror threat case, in which he developed a suspect and was able to get a charge for associated offenses.
In the early morning hours of March 30, dispatch received an anonymous 911 call from a public pay phone on the corner of Kamehameha Avenue/Mamo Street. The caller stated there was a bomb at an establishment and hung up.
A preliminary investigation was conducted, and as a precaution the establishment was contacted and advised of the threat. There was no evidence that the call was credible.
Later that day, Jelsma arrested and charged a suspect for an unrelated assault that occurred on Kamehameha Avenue. Because of the proximity and period of the assault investigation, including the unique voice of the individual, Jelsma listened to the voice recording in dispatch.
Upon hearing the recording of the caller who made the bomb threat call, he thought it was the same person. A subsequent interrogation resulted in a full confession, with the male suspect being arrested.