6-10-24 Kailua-Kona man arrested and charged with numerous offenses

Hawaii Police Department
Zone II Criminal Investigation Division
Captain Akira Edmoundson
Telephone: (808) 326-4646, ext. 264
Report number: 24-052218

Press release

Detectives with the Hawaii Police Department's Area II Criminal Investigation Section arrested and charged Nakalohe Gersaba, 33, of Kailua-Kona, with numerous offenses stemming from a series of vehicle thefts reported in the District from Kona.

On Friday, June 7, 2024, at 7:50 a.m., while officers were responding to a report of a 2020 Jeep Wrangler stolen from outside an address in the 75-5700 block of Lanakoi Place in Kailua-Kona, they observed that the Jeep had left the area and was driven by a certain Gersaba, who was a suspect in several recent vehicle theft investigations.

When officers attempted a traffic stop, Gersaba refused orders to stop and fled the area, driving recklessly. Gersaba drove the stolen vehicle to the end of a cul-de-sac in a Kealakehe housing estate where he left the vehicle and fled on foot.

Officers located Gersaba hiding in a nearby residence, which he had entered without authorization. When he tried to arrest Gersaba, he resisted, demanding that three police officers handcuff him. A glass pipe and a package containing approximately two grams of methamphetamine were found in Gersaba.

At the time of his arrest, Gersaba was already wanted by police as a suspect in at least seven vehicle theft investigations in the Kona area over the past week.

Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation and after speaking with the County Attorney's Office on Sunday morning, June 9, Gersaba was charged with the following offenses:

• Eight counts of unauthorized control of a powered vehicle (auto theft)
• Seven counts of first-degree theft
• Two counts of reckless driving
• Violation of a protection order
• Unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle
• Second degree unauthorized entry into a dwelling
• First degree terrorist threat
• Resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle
• Resisting arrest
• Third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug
• Driving without a license

Gersaba's total bail was set at $545,000.

Gersaba remains in custody at the Kealakehe Police Station pending his first appearance in Kona District Court scheduled for Monday, June 10.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to call the police department's non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311. They can also contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 960-3118 or by email at [email protected].

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