Suspects caught after items from home burglary sold to a jewelry store in Kealakekua

Media release from the Hawaii County Police Department

KONA, Hawaii: Big Island police arrested a man and a woman after they allegedly sold stolen jewelry to a jewelry store in West Hawaiʻi.

Kona patrol officers, working in cooperation with the victim of a home burglary and a jewelry store owner, learned that items taken in the burglary in February had been sold to a jewelry store in Kealakekua. The officers made arrangements for the jewelry store to notify police when the suspects returned to sell more items.

Tuesday afternoon (February 28), the suspects returned to the jewelry store with more stolen goods. Police arrested them in a car parked outside the store after the transaction.

Douglas Louis, 31, of Captain Cook and Rashel Kahalioumi-Taketa, 34, of Hōlualoa were held at the Kona police cellblock while Kona patrol officers and detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation. Police obtained a search warrant for the suspects’ car and recovered evidence from additional crimes. The offenses occurred during the months of December, January and February.

Thursday afternoon (March 1), detectives charged Louis with promoting a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia, three counts of burglary and six counts of theft. His bail was set at $130,000.

Kahalioumi-Taketa was charged with promoting a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia, four counts of burglary, six counts of theft and two counts of forgery. Her bail was set at $30,500.

The two remain at the cellblock pending their initial court appearance.