A 21-year-old man facing multiple charges and in custody on $250,000 bail was granted supervised release by Kona District Court over the objection of prosecutors. Derick Camacho of Captain Cook was arrested for first-degree robbery and other felonies on July 20 in relation to an incident at a retail establishment in Ocean View.
"As the Complaint alleges," the County of Hawai'i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney posted July 24 to Facebook, "Camacho was charged with Robbery in the First Degree (in the course of committing theft, was armed with a dangerous instrument, a knife, and used force against another person and/or threatened the imminent use of force against another person), Burglary in the Second Degree (enter or remain unlawfully in a building with the intent to commit theft), Theft in the Second Degree (exerted unauthorized control over the property of another, the value of which exceeded $750), Kidnapping (restrained another person with intent to inflict bodily injury), Kidnapping (restrained another person to use as a shield or hostage), and Attempted Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle."
"Camacho, who was in custody on $250,000.00 bail, was granted supervised release over Prosecutor’s objections," the Prosecuting Attorney's Office wrote in the post.
Robbery in the First Degree and Kidnapping are both class A felony offenses with a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, according to the post.
The Hawai‘i Police Department Criminal Investigation Section – Area II announced Camacho's arrest July 20. The arrest report states that on July 19, Ka‘ū patrol officers had responded to an active burglary at a business on Māmalahoa Highway in Ocean View.
"While investigating this burglary, officers were alerted to a second active burglary occurring at a nearby retail establishment," the arrest report states.
"Upon entry into the second business, officers discovered a masked man, later identified as Derick Camacho, making verbal threats and physically dragging a 61-year-old male victim into a back room," the report states. "Officers immediately demanded that Camacho release the victim, however he refused to comply with the officers’ orders. An officer deployed his Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW), commonly known as a 'taser,' and Camacho was subsequently taken into police custody."
The prosecuting attorney's office reports in its Facebook post that Ka'u Patrol initiated the case, with Det. Cacique Melendez, assisted by Det. Len Hamakado, leading the felony investigation. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chase Murray is prosecuting the case.
After his release, Camacho was ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing Aug. 23, according to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
"The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney remains dedicated to the pursuit of justice with integrity and commitment," the post states. "Anyone having information to assist local law enforcement should call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300."