Man charged following vehicle theft attempt, multiple vehicle break

HAWAII COUNTY, Hawaii (Island News) -- A man is facing multiple charges in connection to several car break-ins and an attempted vehicle theft in the Kalopa area.

Kulike Ventura-Tampos, 33, was charged following incidents that took place on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 22. A Hawaii County employee reported to Hamakua patrol officers that he was struck by a man, later identified as Ventura-Tampos, who attempted to steal his county vehicle along Kalopa-Mauka Road while he was using the vehicle to cut grass. The employee was hit on the arm before the suspect fled makai on the road.

Officers responded to a home a short time later after a man was reported sitting in the driver’s seat of a Toyota truck parked on the property. When officers arrived at the scene, Ventura-Tampos was sitting in the tr