Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged two individuals with an array of offenses following a violent kidnapping incident in Hilo early Sunday morning, March 24, 2024.
Thirty-two-year-old Nathan Kaleo Pedro, of Pāhoa, and 30-year-old Jackie Napuaokalani Carter, of Hilo, were arrested without incident on Sunday afternoon in Waimea. Carter turned herself in to the Waimea Police Station and a short time later, South Kohala patrol officers located Pedro. Upon arrest, they were both transported to the Hilo Police Cellblock while the Area I Crime Reduction Unit continued the investigation. The vehicle Pedro was operating was recovered pending execution of a search warrant.
On Sunday morning, shortly after 6:30 a.m., Hilo patrol officers responded to the area of Highway 11 and Mamaki Street, after police received a report of a man lying in the roadway.
Responding officers contacted the 31-year-old Kea‘au man who reported that earlier in the morning he was contacted by Carter and agreed to meet with her at a lounge on Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo. Upon arriving at the lounge, the victim reported he was met outside by Carter and the two went and sat in her vehicle. Moments later, a man, later determined to be Pedro, opened the vehicle door and assaulted the victim before forcefully taking his wallet, cellphone, and car keys. Pedro then reportedly went to the victim’s vehicle, rummaged through it, and slashed all four tires. Pedro reportedly then went back to Carter’s vehicle and left the area, taking the victim against his will.
The victim further informed police that Pedro drove to several locations in Hilo, before taking him to the area of Stainback Highway and North Kulani Road, where Pedro forcefully removed the victim from the vehicle, physically assaulted him with a police-like collapsible baton, and threatened him with a firearm. Pedro and Carter then left the area, leaving the severely injured victim there.
The Crime Reduction Unit along with Area I Vice personnel served a search warrant on the vehicle being operated by Pedro, which led to the recovery of nearly 45 grams of fentanyl powder (broken down for distribution), 137 fentanyl pills, nearly 35 grams of methamphetamine, nearly 32 grams of cocaine, as well as a scale with methamphetamine residue, zip-packets (commonly used for drug distribution), and over $1,900 in U.S. currency.
On Tuesday afternoon, March 26, after conferral with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Pedro was charged with the following offenses:
- Kidnapping
- Fourth-degree criminal property damage
- First-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle (UEMV)
- Second-degree theft
- Second-degree assault
- Second-degree robbery
- First-degree terroristic threatening
- Eight counts of first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug
- Second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug
- Third degree promotion of a dangerous drug
- Three counts of fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug
- Three counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug
- Third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug
Pedro’s bail was set at $1,165,000.
Carter was charged with the following offenses:
- Kidnapping
- Second-degree robbery
- Second-degree theft
Carter’s bail was set at $110,000.
Pedro and Carter made their initial appearances in Hilo District Court on Wednesday afternoon. Pedro’s bail was set at $1,165,000 and he was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on April 2, 2024. Carter’s bail was set at $110,000.00 and she was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on April 1, 2024.
During the course of this investigation, the Crime Reduction Unit also executed a search warrant at a room of a resort on Waikoloa Beach Drive where Pedro and Carter had rented a room. The warrant led to the recovery of approximately one pound of methamphetamine, un-serialized firearm parts, miscellaneous ammunition, and nearly $5,000 US currency.
Additional charges stemming from the recovery of the items from the hotel room are pending and will be forwarded to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
The most serious offenses, Kidnapping, Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the First Degree and Attempted Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the First Degree, are all class A felony offenses which carry a maximum penalty of a twenty-year prison term.
The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The victim was treated at the Hilo Medical Center, and later released.
The cases were initiated by South Hilo Patrol. The felony narcotics investigation was handled by the Area I Vice Section. The felony kidnapping and robbery investigation was handled by the Crime Reduction Unit, Area I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The cases are being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Soong.
