20.09.24 Police arrest and charge Hilo man after bank robbery

Hawaii Police Department
Area I Criminal Investigations
Lieutenant Zachary Fernando
Phone: (808) 961-2252
Report No.: 24-085816

Media release

Hawaii Island Police have arrested and charged James Lee Nathan III, 30, of Hilo, with various property and drug offenses in connection with a burglary that occurred in Hilo during the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 18, 2024.

On September 18, 2024, at approximately 1:46 a.m., South Hilo patrol officers responded to a motion alert inside a financial institution in the 100 block of Pauahi Street in Hilo. Officers responded within minutes and found Nathan III standing outside the institution in close proximity to a broken window. Nathan was arrested for burglary and a personal search resulted in the seizure of two reusable bags branded with the institution and four whole alprazolam pills.

Nathan III was then transported to the East Hawai'i Detention Facility for registration, processing and further investigation by detectives.

On Thursday, September 19, 2024, after consultation with the District Attorney's Office, Nathan III was charged with the following offenses:

• Second degree burglary
• Second degree property damage
• Fourth degree theft
• Advertising for a fourth-degree harmful drug

Bail for Nathan III was set at $21,100.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed this incident to contact Detective Amy Omaya of the Area I Criminal Investigation Division at (808) 961-2381 or via email at [email protected].