Suspect in Waikele Zales robbery appears in court

One of the suspects in the brazen, but ultimately botched robbery of a Waikele jewelry store were scheduled to appear in Honolulu District Court Monday morning.

Trey Akana-Pulido, 21, will make an initial appearance in court to face first-degree robbery, first-degree arson and two weapons offenses. Police say he was one of two masked robbers who entered the Zales store in Waikele and unsuccessfully tried to break reinforced jewelry cases. Akana-Pulido, a Manoa resident, was being held on $150,000 bail, after being charged Friday. He is also suspected of setting a stolen getaway car on fire.

Police say Karl Acosta, 46,  drove the getaway car.  The Waipahu man was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree robbery and had been held on $50,000 bail. He was not scheduled to appear Monday. 

CrimeStoppers Honolulu asked for the public’s help in catching the robbers, one of whom was armed with a shotgun. CrimeStoppers released security camera video showing two men using a hammer and a shotgun in a failed attempt to break the merchandise cases. The men fled in a stolen car that was later found burning in Wai pahu.

Police arrested Akana-Pulido Thursday along with a 19-year-old Wahiawa woman, who was released without charges. Police believe she was in the getaway car during the robbery attempt.

Police believe the second masked man seen in the security video of the robbery is Mark Ahnee. Ahnee was killed April 14 in a shootout with police  after he allegedly fired a shotgun at officers at the end of a series of auto thefts and carjackings in East Hono lulu.

Ahnee, a Mililani resident, had been on parole and the Hawaii Paroling Authority issued a warrant for Ahnee’s arrest just a half-hour before the April 14 shooting. Ahnee tested positive for drugs and missed a meeting with his parole officer, officials said.