LIHUE — Police arrested three men believed to be responsible for multiple break-ins on Kauai’s Westside after residents alerted officers to a rash of crime in their neighborhood. Jessie Borja, 25, of Kekaha, was arrested Sept. 11. Dylan Crowell, 23,
LIHUE — Police arrested three men believed to be responsible for multiple break-ins on Kauai’s Westside after residents alerted officers to a rash of crime in their neighborhood.
Jessie Borja, 25, of Kekaha, was arrested Sept. 11. Dylan Crowell, 23, of Kekaha, was arrested Oct. 6 and Jayson Yanos, 24, of Kekaha, was arrested Oct. 7.
“The department recently hosted a community meeting in Kekaha and residents expressed concern about crimes happening in their neighborhood, particularly on Elepaio Road,” Police Chief Darryl Perry said in a press release Friday. “We hope these arrests will bring some peace of mind back to this community.”
Borja was taken into custody after police caught him in an apartment at the Kekaha Plantation Elderly Housing on Elepaio Road, according to the release. Borja was charged with first-degree burglary and theft in the second degree. He was convicted three times of misdemeanor contempt of court as well as for criminal property damage between 2010 and 2011. He is being held at the Kauai Community Correctional Center on $11,000 bail. Trial is set for Feb. 29.
Police believe Borja was working with Crowell at the time of the break-in. Crowell was arrested for first-degree burglary. Upon his arrest, officers located a glass pipe used to smoke crystal methamphetamine.
Crowell has since been charged with promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree and prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia. He is also being held at Kauai Community Correctional Center on $10,000 bail and is expected in court on Oct. 27.
Yanos allegedly smashed the rear window of a vehicle parked at Kokee State Park on Oct. 7 and stole a purse belonging to a female resident. Within hours of the car break-in, a credit card that was in the stolen purse was used at a nearby gas station. Surveillance video from the gas station helped identify Yanos as the suspect. He was arrested later that day in Kekaha and charged with 20 offenses relating to theft, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, and fraudulent use of a credit card. Yanos is being held at KCCC on $100,000 bail. His trial date is schedule for Feb. 8.
“Our detectives and patrol officers have been working diligently to apprehend those responsible for the ongoing thefts,” Perry said. “We are grateful to the community for remaining vigilant and providing information to police that helped us to catch the suspects and hold them accountable for their actions.”
Anyone with information on a recent home or car theft is urged to contact police at 241-1711. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call CrimeStoppers at 246-8300.
