Report No: 20-066964
Hawaiʻi Island police have located a 23-year-old Kaʻū man who was previously wanted on several outstanding bench warrants.
On Thursday September 3, 2020, officers from the Hawaii Police Department’s Area II Special Enforcement Unit spotted a vehicle that they believed was used by a male suspected of breaking into a motor vehicle on Wednesday (September 2, 2020) within a parking lot of a retail business on Makala Boulevard in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The officers followed the vehicle which stopped in a parking lot at the Honokōhau Boat Harbor. The officers attempted to contact the operator of the vehicle who then exited the vehicle and fled on foot. While the suspect was fleeing, officers observed him to drop an item. The item was recovered and was believed to have been stolen from the victim’s vehicle the day prior. Officers were later able to apprehend the operator, who was identified as Jatty Daugherty. Daugherty along with a female occupant of the vehicle was taken into custody for suspicion of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. The female was later released from custody pending further investigations.
Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation and determined that the vehicle Daugherty was operating on September 3, 2020 was removed from a residence on Lotus Blossom Lane in Ocean View, Hawaii. The owner of the residence also reported that a 17-foot boat was also removed from his property a few days prior.
Detectives were also able to determine that the credit cards belonging to the victim of the vehicle break-in were used at several businesses in the Kailua-Kona area. Daugherty was also suspected of those crimes.
On Friday September 4, 2020, a search warrant was executed upon the vehicle that Daugherty was operating. As a result of the execution of the search warrant several items believed to have been removed from the vehicle break-in were recovered. Also recovered from within the vehicle was 1.0 gram of methamphetamine and 1.8 grams of heroin.
On Friday September 4, 2020, after conferring with prosecutors, Daugherty was charged with; two counts each of theft of a credit card, fraudulent use of a credit card, theft in the first degree, and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information; and one count each of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, criminal property damage in the first degree, promotion of a dangerous drug in the third degree, and habitual property crimes. His total bail was set at $180,000.
The charges of theft in the first degree and criminal property damage in the first degree are enhanced charges being that the State of Hawaiʻi is under an emergency period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, certain property crimes committed during an emergency period may result in elevated charges. Habitual property crimes charges are filed when a person has several prior convictions involving property crimes.
Police would also like to express their appreciation as tips received from the public led to the recovery of the boat that had previously been reported stolen. Police also encourage members of the public to report any suspicious activity to the police at (808) 935-3311
