(ABOVE PHOTO) Outside the Kekela Street Minit Stop which robbed on Tuesday, police report.

NEWS BRIEF

• Hawaii County Police say the Kekela Street Minit Stop was robbed on Tuesday. The lone male suspect reportedly entered the convenience store claiming that he had a firearm. He demanded cash and fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash and merchandise. A firearm was not seen during the incident.
• The suspect left in a “beat up” black early model Mercedes 4 door sedan bearing license plate PSJ-088. The vehicle was last seen heading south on Highway 11.
• Police are seeking 36 year-old Kelly Marie Brightbill of Hilo for questioning. Brightbill – aka Kali Lee Simpson – is described in the police media release below.

PRIMARY SOURCE

Big Island police are investigating a robbery of a convenience store on Kekela Street in Hilo.

Yesterday,(December 16, 2014) South Hilo patrol officers responded to a 1:08 pm call from an employee at the Minit Stop who reported that a lone male suspect entered the establishment claiming that he had a firearm. The male suspect demanded cash and fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash and merchandise. A firearm was not seen during the incident.

A customer who was in the store at the time followed the male suspect who exited the store, running in the west direction towards Kilauea Avenue where he was seen entering a “beat up” black early model Mercedes 4 door sedan bearing license plate PSJ-088. The parked suspect vehicle was struck by another vehicle in a private parking lot before exiting and traveling in the south direction on Kilauea Avenue. The customer continued following the black Mercedes onto Route 11 as it sped southbound however lost sight of it in traffic.

Investigators from the Area I Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene and conducted checks along Route 11 as well as into the Puna District. Detectives and evidence specialists recovered articles of clothing and merchandise that was apparently discarded by the male suspect as he fled the store on foot. In addition, video surveillance footage was recovered from the store.

The employee was not physically injured during the robbery.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section are continuing this investigation, which is classified as a first degree robbery and are seeking 36 year-old Kelly Marie Brightbill of Hilo, for questioning in connection to this robbery. She is also wanted for an outstanding warrant. Brightbill, also uses the alias of Kali Lee Simpson is described as being about 5’10” tall, weighing about 125-130 pounds, slim build, green eyes, fair complexion, and medium length straight hair that is dyed reddish pink or purple.

Detectives are also asking for the public’s assistance in locating the robbery suspect, who was described as a Caucasian male, possibly in his early to mid 20’s, about 5’5”-5’7”, weighing about 125-130 pounds, slim build, shoulder length blond hair.

Detectives are also asking for the public’s assistance in locating the 1995 black Mercedes 4 door sedan with license plate PSJ-088.

Police are asking that anyone who may have witnessed the incident at the Minit Stop or the fender bender in the Kai Store parking lot at the intersection of Kilauea Avenue and Puainako Street to call Detective Joel Field of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2382 or email at jfield@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers 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. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.Hawaii County Police media release on Dec. 17