July 15, 2010 – Naalehu / Waikola, Hawaii

Hawaii County Police have arrested three juveniles after they allegedly carjacked an SUV at knifepoint and drove it halfway around the Big Island.

Police say a 14-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy, all who were living at a juvenile therapeutic home in Na’alehu, were heading back to the facility in a Ford Expedition with two female staff workers shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday (July 13) when the Ford stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Mamalahoa Highway and Ka’alaiki Street in Na’alehu. Police say two of the juveniles held sharp weapons to the throats of the victims, a 29-year-old woman and a 24-year-old women. The women were then forced out of the vehicle, which fled in the Hilo direction.

Police say the 29-year-old woman sustained a minor injury. The other woman was not injured.

Police issued an alert for the missing Ford SUV by 11:30 p.m. using the “nixle” messaging service. 

The message was recalled the next morning after police located the stolen vehicle in Waikoloa. Police arrested the three juveniles, and in a media release credited tips from the public for the quick action. A second nixle message thanked the public for their assistance.

Police say the 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, first-degree robbery, first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree assault, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and runaway.

The 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree assault, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and runaway.

The 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, first-degree robbery, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and runaway.

After conferring with prosecutors, Big Island police released the three juveniles pending the further investigation by detectives from the Area II Juvenile Aid Section.