Hawaii County police are investigating a robbery reported early Monday morning (September 1) in Puna. At 12:42 a.m., Puna patrol officers responded to Kaloli Point in Hawaiian Paradise Park, where three men and a woman reported that while camping at Kaloli Point, multiple male suspects had approached their tents asking for money. The victims said the suspects became aggressive and threatened to cause them bodily harm. One of the suspects was seen holding a bat. The victims were able to leave the campsite and go to a nearby home to call the police. Upon arriving at the scene, police made checks of the area and located the suspects. Officers arrested 18-year-old Damien Bentosino, 19-year-old John Iopa, 18-year-old Kawa Salas and two 17-year-old boys. On Monday afternoon, Hilo detectives charged Iopa and Salas with second-degree robbery. They were each being held at the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $2,000 bail. The other individuals were released pending further investigation.

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