Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged 26-year-old Tyron Keoki Willett of Hilo with a number of offenses including defacing serial numbers on motor vehicles, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and theft. On September 23, Puna patrol officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in front of a Hawaiian Beaches subdivision residence and observed an unoccupied black Nissan 350Z two-door coupe. Upon conducting a check of the vehicle’s license plate, they discovered it was registered to a white Honda four-door sedan. Officers also observed that the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the vehicle’s dashboard was missing. Officers contacted Willet at the residence where he was observed sleeping in the garage. He was arrested for two outstanding bench warrants and for defacing serial numbers on motor vehicles. Willett was transported to the Hawai‘i County Police Department’s East Hawai‘i Detention Center where he was held as police continued their investigation. The stolen vehicle was recovered and transported to the Hilo police station, pending the execution of a search warrant. Upon execution of the warrant, detectives discovered that numerous VINs throughout the vehicle were either damaged or removed. During the course of the investigation, detectives also determined that the vehicle was stolen from a Kailua-Kona business on June 2, 2023. After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives officially charged Willet with:
- Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (UCPV)
- First-degree theft
- Defacing serial numbers on motor vehicles
His total bail was set at $35,000.
Police ask anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Detective Kimo Keliipaakaua at (808) 961-2375 or via email at kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov.
HPD Photo