MEDIA RELEASE

Dustin K. Faris

A Puna man has been charged with two offenses in connection with a robbery Thursday (January 7) at two stores in Hilo.

At 11:14 a.m. Thursday, South Hilo Patrol officers responded to the 300 block of Makaʻala Street. A 19-year-old man reported that he had been sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot when a man entered through the passenger door, demanded cash and ordered the victim to go into two different stores to withdraw cash from automated-teller machines.

Police arrested 29-year-old Dustin K. Faris of Keaʻau outside the second store. He was taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations continued the investigation.

At 8:30 p.m. Thursday, he was charged with second-degree robbery and first-degree unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle. His bail was seat at $7,000.

He remained at the cellblock until his initial court appearance on Friday (January 8).