Suspected burglar remains ‘on the run’

LIHU‘E — Broad-daylight burglary, high-speed chase, subject escapes by jumping into the ocean and swimming off.

Maybe in California. But in Kapa‘a?

It happened Christmas Eve when thieves who earlier broke into a Wailua Homesteads residence and took Christmas presents, cash, jewelry, laptops and a purse, came back for the 2009 Nissan truck with the keys found in one of the purses, according to police reports and the property owner.

After a high-speed chase that Kaua‘i Police Lt. Sherwin Kaleo Perez characterized as a “traffic stop,” the truck was recovered, but suspect Li‘i Kaimana Damon Jack Cook got away, apparently by jumping into the ocean and swimming off near Lydgate Beach Park, the Homesteads property owner said.

In police custody are Brad Kubisch and Chelsie Malie Banasihan, each charged with two counts of first-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree theft. Cook faces the same charges when apprehended, court records show.

Banasihan on Dec. 29 pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. Her total bail in this and another burglary and assault case is $22,000, according to court records.

Kubisch is scheduled to enter his plea at 8 a.m. today before 5th Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano.

Still on the run, apparently the one who escaped via an ocean route, is Cook, who with Kubisch and Banasihan are believed to be partners in crimes that included break-ins, entries and burglaries in hotel rooms, vacation rentals and other places where visitors were staying in Po‘ipu and apparently residential mauka Kaua‘i, according to Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry.

Banasihan, 21, is from Waimea. Cook, 25, has a last known address in Kapa‘a. Kubisch, 24, has a last known address in Lihu‘e.

Perez on Monday confirmed Banasihan and Kubisch remain in custody.

“Cook is on the run.”

• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.