NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Man accused in Kailua-Kona heist

Authorities charged a 24-year-old Kailua-Kona man who allegedly robbed at knifepoint a cashier at a gas station and convenience store Tuesday night in Kailua-Kona.

Police said a masked man wielding a knife demanded money from the cashier. The man took an undisclosed amount of cash, and fled in a truck.

Police responded to the robbery on Kuakini Highway at 9:45 p.m.

In two hours, police were able to track down the suspect, Gregory Bennett, using the license plate number and description of the truck provided by a witness.

He was arrested at a Lako Street gas station.

Police searched Bennett's truck and recovered 4.9 grams of a crystalline substance.

Bennett was charged 11 p.m. Thursday with first-degree robbery, promoting a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.

His bail was set at $9,000.

Fire damages waste station

Fire caused $350,000 in damage to a mulch grinder at the solid waste transfer station in Kailua-Kona Wednesday, authorities said.

The fire was reported at 12:18 p.m.

According to a Hawaii County Fire Department news release, the equipment operator told firefighters that he heard a loud noise and saw flames coming from the engine compartment.

The operator escaped without injury.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze by 2 p.m.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Man accused of firing shots

Big Island police charged a 42-year-old North Kohala man Thursday who allegedly fired shots Monday night at a camping site at Upolu Point.

Lance Cazimero was charged with first-degree terroristic threatening, seven counts of first-degree reckless endangering and one count of second-degree reckless endangering.

Cazimero fired shots over the heads of juvenile campers at Upolu Point during an argument with a family member, police said.

He was released after posting $8,100 bail.