MEDIA RELEASE

Mario Hernandez

Hawaiʻi Island police are searching for a 42-year-old Puna man who is wanted on a bench warrant.

Mario Hernandez of Keaʻau is wanted for failure to appear. He is also wanted for questioning in connection with forgery and drug investigations. He is described as 5-foot-11, 215 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.

Police ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Wendall Carter at 961-2378 or wendall.carter@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

UPDATED (4:11 p.m. on 12/23/2015)

Hawaiʻi Island police have located 42-year-old Mario Hernandez of Keaʻau, who was wanted on a bench warrant.

Hernandez was arrested in Hilo on Tuesday (December 22) and charged with failure to appear. His bail was set at $600.

He was also arrested on suspicion of promoting a dangerous drug for an incident on September 6 but has not been charged in that case pending further investigation.

Hernandez was held at the Hilo police cellblock until his initial court appearance on Wednesday (December 23).