KAPAA — A Kapaa man was arrested early Sunday after he broke into a business over the weekend and then attempted to evade police. Niles Valvieja, 29, was taken into custody and charged by police with two counts of felony
KAPAA — A Kapaa man was arrested early Sunday after he broke into a business over the weekend and then attempted to evade police.
Niles Valvieja, 29, was taken into custody and charged by police with two counts of felony second-degree burglary for breaking into Java Kai coffee shop on Kuhio Highway, according to a county news release.
The shop’s owner had installed a security system that allowed him to view the inside of the shop as the crime occurred. The owner relayed a description of the suspect to police, said county spokeswoman Sarah Blane.
When officers arrived, Valvieja escaped the shop by climbing through a ceiling skylight. He had a safe loaded on his skateboard but left it behind when he fled, police said.
Valvieja then used a roof access door to enter a neighboring business before he headed back to the roof of the building complex. Using a ladder provided by Kapaa firefighters, officers caught the suspect while he was on the roof.
Valvieja caused roughly $5,500 in total damages to the two businesses, police said.
