Hilo man charged with property, drug and traffic offenses after leading police on a chase

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii Island Police have arrested a 33-year-old Hilo man in connection with an incident Saturday and charged him with various property, drug and traffic offenses.

Authorities had just become aware of a break-in at a home in Puna when an officer approached Gilbert Mata III's pickup truck.

Officials said Mata then sped toward the officer and attempted to flee, driving over a fence. The truck then drove “aggressively” toward the police vehicle, damaging the driver's door.

The suspect eventually stopped and exited the vehicle with a woman identified as Carolyn Samson. Police said the two then ran into the nearby bushes, dropping the backpacks they were carrying. They were both arrested by police 10 feet deep in the bushes.

Upon further investigation, officers determined that the truck was stolen and, after searching the vehicle and backpacks, found small amounts of methamphetamine, a pipe and fentanyl.

According to officials, Samson was arrested but later released pending the completion of the investigation.

Mata was accused of the following offenses:

• Unauthorized control of a powered vehicle
• Resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle
• Criminal damage to property in the first degree
• Habitual property crime
• First degree theft
• Third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug (four counts)

His bail was set at $240,000.

Police added that officers in the vehicle struck by Mata were not injured.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Jeremy Kubojiri of the Area I Criminal Investigation Division at (808) 961-2378 or via email at [email protected].

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