HILO, HI – Hawai’i Island police have arrested and charged Kalani Rocky Nobriga, 43, of Pahoa, and Anthony Romero Gonsalves, 40, of Mountain View, in connection with a violent robbery that occurred in downtown Hilo early Saturday morning.
The incident unfolded around 1:00 a.m. on Kilauea Avenue when officers responded to reports of a disturbance involving a man with a gun chasing people. According to a 35-year-old male victim, a vehicle with three occupants was yelling and threatening people in the area. When the victim attempted to de-escalate the situation, Gonsalves allegedly brandished a pistol.
Police located the vehicle and apprehended Nobriga, Gonsalves, and 28-year-old Isaiah Lane Kamaka Rosa, also of Mountain View. Gonsalves was found in possession of a Glock-type pistol (later determined to be a BB gun), and Rosa was found to have approximately 6.3 grams of marijuana.
Further investigation revealed that the men had allegedly stolen property from other victims. Some of the stolen items were observed in plain view within the vehicle.
A search warrant was executed on the vehicle, resulting in the recovery of a stolen backpack, a stolen portable radio, a baseball bat, 16.6 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and drug paraphernalia.
A 56-year-old man also reported being struck with a baseball bat by Nobriga, sustaining minor injuries treated at the scene.
On Sunday, February 9, the Hawai’i County Prosecutors Office charged Nobriga with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug, and third-degree assault. His bail was set at $198,000.
Gonsalves was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, and his bail was set at $100,000.
A 46-year-old man was also initially arrested for disorderly conduct but was later identified as a robbery victim and released pending further investigation.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Detective David Po‘ohina of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2385 or David.Poohina@hawaiicounty.gov. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000
