Suspected Kona car thief arrested and charged

A 33-year-old Kailua-Kona man has been arrested and charged with numerous offenses stemming from a series of vehicle thefts in Kona.

As officers responded Friday morning to the report of a 2020 Jeep Wrangler stolen from outside an address in the 75-5700 block of Lanakoi Place, they observed the Jeep leaving the area and that it was being driven by Nakalohe Gersaba , who was a suspect in several recent vehicle thefts.

When officers attempted a traffic stop, Gersaba allegedly refused their 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 allegedly resisted and asked three police officers to handcuff him.

A glass pipe and a package containing approximately 2 grams of methamphetamine were allegedly found with Gersaba.

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

Gersaba was charged on Sunday with numerous offenses, including eight counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (car theft) and 10 other offenses.

Gersaba's initial bond was set at $545,000.

Gersaba remains detained at Kealakehe Police Station.

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].