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

Hawaiian Police Department
Criminal Investigation Department II
Captain Akira Edmoundson
Phone: (808) 326-4646, extension 264
Report No.: 24-052218

Media release

Detectives from the Hawaii Police Department’s Area II Criminal Investigation Division have arrested and charged 33-year-old Nakalohe Gersaba of Kailua-Kona with numerous felony counts related to a series of auto thefts reported in Kona County.

On Friday, June 7, 2024, at 7:50 a.m., officers responded to a report of a stolen 2020 Jeep Wrangler in front of an address in the 75-5700 block of Lanakoi Place in Kailua-Kona. They observed the Jeep leaving the area and being driven by a certain Gersaba, who was a suspect in several current auto theft investigations.

When officers attempted to make a traffic stop, Gersaba refused to comply with officers’ requests and recklessly fled the area. Gersaba drove the stolen vehicle to the end of a dead-end street in a residential area of ​​Kealakehe, where he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

Officers found Gersaba in a nearby residence where he had entered without permission. When they attempted to arrest Gersaba, he resisted arrest and three officers handcuffed him. Gersaba was found to be in possession of a glass pipe and a package containing approximately two grams of methamphetamine.

At the time of his arrest, Gersaba was already wanted by police as a suspect in at least seven cases of car theft in the Kona area that had occurred over the past week.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department of Area II continued the investigation and after consultation with the District Attorney’s Office, Gersaba was charged on Sunday morning, June 9, with the following offenses:

• Eight cases of unauthorized control of a motor vehicle (car theft)
• Seven counts of first-degree theft
• Two cases of reckless driving
• Violation of a protection order
• Unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle
• Second degree trespassing into a dwelling
• First degree terrorist threat
• Resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle
• Resisting arrest
• Advertising for a dangerous drug of the third degree
• Driving without a license

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

Gersaba will remain in custody at the Kealakehe Police Station pending his first appearance in Kona District Court on Monday, June 10.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the police non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. You may also contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 960-3118 or via email at [email protected].

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