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WAILUKU -- Bail was increased to $13,000 for a man who was on probation when he was arrested for allegedly driving a stolen truck and trying to take the tires off a car in a Kahului parking lot over the weekend.
Halston Palmero, 37, of Waiehu was charged with first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, fourth-degree criminal property damage, second-degree criminal trespass, attempted second-degree theft and two counts of violating a warning citation.
During Palmero's initial appearance Tuesday in Wailuku District Court, Deputy Prosecutor Joanne Hicks sought the increased bail, saying the state was concerned about public safety.
She said a 1994 Mazda B2300 truck was stolen Aug. 7 from the Luana Gardens parking lot in Kahului.
At about 7 a.m. Saturday, a man left his Trek bicycle and backpack outside while using a port-a-potty when someone used zip ties to lock him inside, Hicks said. She said the man was able to kick his way out and saw someone driving away with his bicycle and belongings in a truck.
While Palmero wasn't charged in that incident, he was seen standing next to a black truck with primer matching the description of the truck involved in the bicycle theft when police were called at 2:31 p.m. to investigate a report of abuse at Harbor Lights Condominium in Kahului, Hicks said. She said the license plate of the truck had been changed and a different license plate was on the passenger floorboard.
When police asked which license plate belonged to the truck, Palmero didn't answer and peeled off a safety sticker, Hicks said.
She said a witness reported seeing Palmero driving the truck.
The owner reported her truck had been painted matte black and Ruger XLT emblems had been placed on the vehicle, which had a shattered front passenger window and dangling tail lights, Hicks said.
"She describes her truck as her lifeline," Hicks said. "She is just afraid someone is going to keep stealing her truck."
On Saturday afternoon, after Palmero's girlfriend described being pushed down twice by him, police issued him a warning citation to stay away from her until 6 p.m. Sunday, Hicks said.
Shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday, the woman and Palmero were seen trespassing in the shared parking lot of Maui Toyota and Aloha Maui Limousine Service in Kahului, Hicks said. She said an employee confronted Palmero as he was taking tires off a Camry.
Palmero asked the employee not to call police before he and the woman fled, Hicks said.
She said a sport utility vehicle was seen driving in the adjacent Home World parking lot, where three tires stolen from the Camry were found.
The woman reported her pliers were used to cut the barbed wire fence to get into the shared parking lot, Hicks said. She said other tools, including a jack, also were found.
A couple of hours later at about 8 a.m., Palmero and the woman were seen arguing at Vevau Street and Lono Avenue in Kahului. Palmero was arrested for violating the warning citation, including by staying overnight at her residence, Hicks said.
She said Palmero has 2017 convictions for third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia, as well as 18 convictions for contempt of court. He also has convictions for DUI, driving while his license was revoked, driving without a license and inattention to driving.
Judge Chris Dunn said he considered the number of Palmero's contempt convictions and felony convictions as well as the allegations charged in increasing bail from $1,200 to $13,000.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.