A Hilo crime spree has led to a Volcano man being charged with a slew of offenses, according to local law enforcement. Rodley Ford, 43, stands accused of 16 different crimes, encompassing theft, reckless driving, and drug possession. This spree, occurring mainly between July 3 and 4, culminated in a destructive chase where Ford allegedly collided with multiple vehicles in a stolen Jeep, Hawaii News Now reported.
Among the charges, Ford is facing first-degree theft and unauthorized control of a vehicle. Police assert that he caused injuries to another driver during the chaos. Others include habitual property crime, and, as police disclosed, he had methamphetamine in the Jeep when apprehended. Previously, on May 18, the Jeep Ford is charged with stealing had been reported missing from a Home Depot parking lot, Big Island Now revealed.
The initial court appearance for Ford was on Monday at the Hilo District Court. He's been slapped with a bail of $296,000 and, despite his request for its reduction, the judge has maintained this figure. Ford is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
On the list of offenses, Ford is also charged with the possession of a deadly weapon in the commission of a crime, accidents involving bodily injury, and resisting an order to stop, among others. If convicted of the most extreme charges, like first-degree theft and first-degree criminal property damage, he faces heavy penalties – up to a decade in prison or probation with potential jail time, Big Island Now outlines.
