Estranged boyfriend is arrested

Big Island police arrested a 41-year-old Puna man yesterday who was the subject of a Big Island manhunt on Sunday, suspected of kidnapping.

Gregory Santa-Isabel was charged with three counts of violating a protective order but not kidnapping.

Shortly after police received a report from a friend of Santa-Isabel’s estranged girlfriend saying she was kidnapped, the Hawaii County Police Department issued a Nixle Alert (an emergency warning or alert via text messaging and e-mail) at about 9 a.m. asking for the public’s help in finding him and his Toyota Camry.

Police said an investigation revealed Santa-Isabel had not kidnapped the woman, but had violated protective orders on three occasions.

Detectives and patrol officers from Hilo to Kona searched areas Santa-Isabel was known to frequent, police said.

The woman returned home unharmed at about 1:30 p.m. yesterday.

Santa-Isabel remained in police custody yesterday, unable to post $3,000 bail.

He is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow afternoon.

Snorkeling victim was Waialua man

The city Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the 35-year-old man who died in Waimanalo Bay on Saturday as Richard Matapua of Waialua.

The man got into distress while snorkeling with his family at about 2:45 p.m. and became unresponsive.

He was taken to a nearby hospital and did not recover, police said.

NEIGHBOR ISLAND

Man sought in kidnapping and abuse

Big Island police are searching for a 25-year-old man wanted in connection with kidnapping, terroristic threatening, abuse and assault investigations reported yesterday in Hilo.

Police said Edward Daog is also wanted for an unrelated bench warrant.

Daog is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone knowing his whereabouts is asked to call Detective Royce Serrao at 961-8810 or the police nonemergency line at 935-3311.

Anonymous tipsters can call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.