Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged 46-year-old Orion Kiesch of Ocean View with auto theft and other offenses following an incident that took place at a Captain Cook residence on Wednesday morning, August 9, 2023.
Shortly after 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Kona patrol officers responded to a report of a vehicle that had just been stolen from a residence in Captain Cook.
While en route to the scene, officers observed the vehicle being driven by Kiesch in the Keauhou area. They attempted to stop the vehicle, however he refused to pull over and began accelerating.
Kiesch and the stolen vehicle were later found at a hotel property in the Keauhou area. While on property, officers determined that Kiesch had intentionally rammed the wooden gate to the parking lot of the hotel. He was subsequently arrested.
While being taken into custody, Kiesch was found to be in possession of more than $10,000 in US currency. Police determined the money had been stolen from the victim’s vehicle.
On Thursday morning, August 10, after conferring with County Prosecutor’s Office, Kiesch was charged with the following offenses:
- Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (auto theft)
- Second-degree theft
- Two counts of unauthorized possession of confidential information
- Third-degree criminal property damage
- Resisting an order to stop
- Reckless driving
- No-fault insurance
His bail was set at $9,275 and he remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance on Friday, August 11, in Kona District Court.
Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Officer Kyung Yu of Kona Patrol at (808) 326-4646, ext. 253, or email Kyung.Yu@hawaiicounty.gov.
