Hawai‘i Island police charged six East Hawai‘i men as part of an ongoing investigation into a large Kealoha Beach Park affray. On June 12, police contacted a 17-year-old male who reported that he and two other male teens, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, were in a vehicle parked at Kealoha Beach Park, when they were approached and assaulted by six males. The 17-year-old victim who reported the incident told police that one of the male suspects opened the door where he was seated, pulled him out of the vehicle by his legs, and onto the ground. The victim was then struck multiple times by several suspects, with one of the suspects pulling a gold chain from his neck before leaving the area. Hawai‘i County Fire Department medics arrived on scene and transported the 17-year-old victim to Hilo Medical Center where he was treated for bruising, swelling to his eye, lacerations to his head, shoulder, and an ear. The two other juvenile victims did not seek medical care, however they were observed to be injured. The vehicle the teens were sitting in, a 2015 Honda sedan, sustained damages by the suspects, including a broken rear glass window, a flat tire, and multiple vehicle dents. Police determined that 45-year-old Lanakila Poaha of Hilo was a suspect in the incident and subsequently located and arrested him at his Hilo residence. In the course of their investigation, police identified five additional suspects, including two sets of fathers and sons, involved in the incident and arrested them for unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, which is considered a felony offense. The arrested suspects include:
- Cy Poaha, age 21, of Hilo, (son of Lanakila Poaha)
- Joshua Godbolt age 40, of Kurtistown
- Alize Godbolt, age18, of Kurtistown (son of Joshua Godbolt)
- Justin Godbolt-Agustin, age 24, of Kurtistown (son of Joshua Godbolt)
- Micah Castro, age 21, of Kea‘au
Police are investigating whether this incident may have been a result of mistaken identity regarding a separate June 12 affray that occurred at a nearby beach park in which a juvenile female was assaulted and taken to the Hilo Medical Center. That investigation is still ongoing. After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section charged Lanakila Poaha with:• Second-degree robbery• Second-degree theft• Third-degree assault• Disorderly Conduct
Lanakila Poaha’s total bail is set at $38,000.
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office yesterday, detectives charged the remaining five suspects with multiple offenses each. Cy Poaha was charged with:• Two counts of first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle• Two counts of third-degree assault• Disorderly conductHis total bail was set at $25,000. Joshua Godbolt was charged with:• Two counts of first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle• Two counts of third-degree assault• Disorderly Conduct
His total bail was set at $25,000.Alize Godbolt was charged with:• First-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle• Two counts of third-degree assault• First-degree criminal property damage• Disorderly ConductHis total bail was set at $40,000. Justin Godbolt-Agustin was charged with:• First-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle• Third-degree assault• Disorderly ConductHis total bail was set at $13,000. Micah Castro was charged with:• First-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle• Third-degree assault• Disorderly ConductHis total bail was set at $13,000. All six suspects remain in police custody until their initial court appearance slated for Friday, June 16, in Hilo District Court.
HPD Photo