Man driving stolen rental car shuttle bus arrested

WAILUKU — A Haiku man was arrested Tuesday after he was seen driving a stolen rental car shuttle bus when he stopped to help move a stalled vehicle off the road, according to police.

Samuel Swift-Rohrer, 19, was charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, second-degree theft and firstdegree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

He was seen driving the bus at 11:17 a.m. Tuesday while police officers were directing traffic around a stalled vehicle on Haiku Road, according to a declaration filed in court to support the charges. SwiftRohrer told officers the stalled vehicle was a friend’s and he wanted to help move it off the road, the declaration said.

After police told SwiftRohrer to park the bus so it wouldn’t obstruct traffic, he parked the vehicle fronting Aoku Place and Haiku Road, according to police.

Officers noticed the bus had no rear license plate or inspection sticker and after clearing the road, police saw the front license plate had been painted over. Through the license plate, police determined the white Ford Econoline was reported stolen from Avis Car Rental Co.

During Swift-Rohrer’s initial appearance Wednesday in Wailuku District Court, the prosecution asked for bail to be increased from $1,000 to $5,000 for the defendant.

Swift-Rohrer had been released on bail in a pending firstdegree burglary case, said Deputy Prosecutor Lewis Littlepage.

Swift-Rohrer asked to be released on supervision. He has two young children that he provides care for, said Deputy Public Defender William Pannell.

Judge Matson Kelley kept bail at $1,000.