Hawaii County police charged an 18-year-old Hilo man today for allegedly stealing the car of a man who gave the suspect and a woman a ride in Puna.

Michael Gary Perreira-Thompson was arrested and charged today with second-degree robbery and unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle. His bail was set at $35,000. He was in the police cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Wednesday.

About 2 a.m. Aug. 30, police received a report from a 26-year-old Keaau man who gave a riding to a hitchhiking couple  near Route 130 and Ainaloa Boulevard in Puna. The motorist told police he drove them to the lower portion of the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision at their request, where the male hitchhiker reportedly assaulted the victim after the victim exited the vehicle. 

The male suspect then entered the vehicle and drove off with the female, police said.

Police located the unoccupied vehicle in the same subdivision after it was apparently abandoned.