Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested and charged two individuals suspected of recent Ocean View property crimes.
On Monday, June 6, Ka‘ū patrol officers responded to a report of several windows damaged at two separate businesses on the 92-8600 block of Lotus Blossom Lane in Ocean View and determined that the windows had been damaged after an object was thrown at them. In the course of their investigation, police determined that two more businesses, located on the 92-8700 block of Mamalahoa Highway, had also sustained damages to their windows after being struck with an object.
Upon reviewing surveillance footage from several area businesses, police identified two suspects: 28-year-old Daeja Elizabeth Taetuna, of Kailua-Kona, and 33-year-old Peterson Balos of Ocean View.
Later that day, Ka‘ū patrol officers apprehended Taetuna near Manuka State Park and took her into custody while a detective from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation.
On Tuesday, June 7, Taetuna was charged with four counts of criminal property damage in the fourth degree and her bail was set at $2,000. She has since made her initial court appearance and is being held at the Hawai’i Community Correctional Facility.
Police determined that the second suspect, Balos, was also involved in two burglaries at a business located on the 92-8600 block of Lotus Blossom Lane in Ocean View. The first burglary occurred on Friday, June 11, while the second took place on Monday, June 13. During the course of investigating the burglaries, it was determined that video surveillance footage showed a man, later identified as Balos, entering into the business and removing items on two separate occasions while the business was closed. Balos was apprehended in the Ocean View area and taken into custody while a detective from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation.
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Balos was charged with two counts of burglary in the second degree and his bail was set at $4,000. Balos made his initial court appearance on Tuesday, June 14.
Investigators determined that Balos may be responsible for several other break-ins that occurred last November at other businesses in the Ocean View area. These investigations will be forwarded to the County Prosecutor’s Office for their review.
Anyone with information on these investigations is encouraged to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 326-4646 ext. 267, or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov
(Photo credit: HPD)
