Police are seeking the public’s help to identify a theft suspect whose image was captured on video surveillance while entering the NAPA Auto Parts store on Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo.
And police are still trying to apprehend Jake P. Branch, a 35-year-old Kona man wanted for reckless driving, resisting an order to stop, leaving the scene of an accident and multiple counts of contempt of court. He’s also wanted for questioning in an April 11 burglary in North Kohala.
According to police, Branch evaded them on April 11 in North Kohala while allegedly driving a white Toyota pickup truck reported stolen April 1 in Puna. The truck was spotted later in the day in South Kohala, but Branch allegedly evaded officers again.
The vehicle was later found abandoned in South Kohala.
Branch is described as 6-foot-3-inches tall, about 285 pounds, with long brown hair.
Anyone with information on Branch or the Hilo theft suspect are asked to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.