Police have arrested and charged a 30-year-old Puna woman for a strong-arm robbery Saturday at a Hilo automated teller machine.
Chasia-Rose Z.K. Palma is charged with second-degree robbery. Her bail is set at $25,000.
Officers responded to an assault at the HFS Federal Credit Union shortly after noon. The victim told police she was withdrawing cash from an ATM when she was attacked from behind by another woman. The victim said she was punched numerous times, then kicked repeatedly after falling to the ground.
The assailant then took the woman’s money and left on foot, according to police.
Witnesses described the suspect to police, and Palma was arrested without incident a short time later on Kinoole Street near Kukuau Street.
On Monday, Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk denied Palma’s request to be freed on supervised release without monetary bail and ordered Palma to return to court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.