HILO, Hawaiʻi – Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested and charged two men and a woman in connection with a series of crimes that took place across Kailua-Kona and Hilo between late May and early June 2025. The incidents include multiple vehicle thefts, an intentional collision, a cellphone theft, and burglary.
Clint Hutchins, 52, of no permanent address, has been identified as a primary suspect in several of these incidents.
- On May 27, South Hilo patrol officers responded to a report that an unknown male stole a cellphone, valued at $999, from a bag at the Hilo Bayfront Soccer Fields. Hutchins was later identified as the suspect.
- On Sunday, June 1, Hutchins was involved in a traffic collision at the intersection of Aala Lane and Kīlauea Avenue in Hilo. He allegedly intentionally struck a man on a moped while driving a white BMW SUV, causing substantial bodily injury to the victim, who required treatment at Hilo Benioff Medical Center.
- On Tuesday, June 3, after a community tip, South Hilo patrol officers located another stolen vehicle, a BMW SUV, on Maka‘ala Street in Hilo. Hutchins, who had been operating the vehicle, reportedly left the scene on foot before police arrived.
- On Wednesday, June 4, an off-duty Puna patrol officer identified Hutchins operating a white BMW sedan, another reported stolen vehicle. This vehicle was later located unattended on Piopio Street in Hilo by officers assigned to the Area I Criminal Investigation Division Crime Reduction Unit.
- On Friday, June 6, officers from the Crime Reduction Unit located Hutchins in the Bayfront Beach Park area of Hilo and arrested him on an outstanding warrant.
Chassity Nakamura, 34, of Hilo, was arrested on Tuesday, June 3, after she was found seated in the rear of one of the stolen vehicles (the BMW SUV) located on Maka‘ala Street. She was charged with unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
Casey Masetta Costa, 26, of Keaʻau, was arrested on Monday, June 9, after the last of the four stolen vehicles was located at a residence in Hawaiian Paradise Park in Keaʻau. Costa was arrested for first-degree theft and second-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (auto-theft).
All four vehicles reported stolen from a car dealership in the 74-5500 block of Loloku Street in Kailua-Kona, sometime between May 26 and June 2, have been recovered by police. The BMW SUV involved in the June 1 collision was among these stolen vehicles.
After conferring with the Hawaiʻi County Prosecutor’s office, formal charges were filed against the three suspects:
- Clint Hutchins was charged with: three counts of first-degree theft, three counts of first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, second-degree theft, second-degree burglary, second-degree criminal property damage, accident involving substantial bodily injury, and driving without a valid driver’s license. His total bail was set at $70,100.
- Chassity Nakamura was charged with: unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. Her total bail was set at $1,000.
- Casey Masetta Costa was charged with: first-degree theft and first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle. Her total bail was set at $15,000.
The Area I Criminal Investigation Section handled this extensive investigation. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed any of these incidents or has information relevant to this investigation to contact Detective Amy Omaya at (808) 961-2381, or via email at amy.omaya@hawaiipolice.gov.