Report No. 20-084256

Hawaiʻi Island Police have arrested and charged a Kamuela man yesterday evening (November 3) with numerous identity theft related offenses stemming from a vehicle break-in that occurred on November 2, 2020, in the Waimea area.

The suspect is identified as 44-year-old Tay Emmett Kealakai Carson, of Kamuela.

On Tuesday afternoon (November 3), South Kohala Patrol officers responded to a report of items that were stolen from within a vehicle that was parked fronting a residence in the Waimea area. Through investigation it was discovered that the suspect(s) had removed a wallet containing bank cards from the victim’s vehicle resulting in several fraudulent transactions at several Waimea business establishments. As officers continued their investigation, they were able to identify the suspect as Tay Carson and he was located and arrested at a residence on Kamamalu Street in Waimea without incident.

After conferring with the Hawaiʻi County Prosecutors Office, Carson was charged with unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in the first degree, 2 counts of habitual property crime, theft of credit cards, unauthorized possession of confidential information, 2 counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, attempted fraudulent use of a credit card, theft in the first degree, 4 counts of identity theft in the third degree and attempted identity theft in the third degree. Carson’s bail was set at $147,000. He remains in police custody and is scheduled to appear in Kona District Court on November 4, 2020, for his initial hearing.

Police would like to remind the community that some simple steps can be taken to minimize these crimes of opportunity such as rolling up your vehicle’s windows, locking your vehicle doors, and taking the vehicle’s keys, personal belongings, and valuable items with you, when your vehicle is parked and unoccupied, even if it’s only for a short period of time. Perpetrators often peer into vehicles, prior to entering them, looking for valuables that are visible such as purses, backpacks, wallets, etc., and in just a few seconds, they can enter a vehicle, remove items, and leave the immediate area before the crime is discovered.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact South Kohala Patrol Officer Adam Roberg, via email at Adam.Roberg@hawaiicounty.gov, or at the South Kohala Police Station at (808) 887-3080.