A stolen vehicle was recovered with help from Kaua‘i Police Department’s newly initiated Automated License Plate Reader technology, and it ultimately led to an arrest.
After a truck was reported stolen on Oct. 15, detectives initiated an investigation and learned that the vehicle’s original license plates had been replaced with fraudulent novelty plates, according to a press release from Kaua‘i County.
On Oct. 29, the department’s Automated License Plate Reader system detected a match to the fraudulent license plate and generated an alert. The alert provided information about the truck’s possible whereabouts, helping narrow the search and allowing detectives to coordinate with patrol officers.
The truck was located and recovered in Līhuʻe without incident.
“While the technology helps officers identify vehicles through license plate information, it does not identify the individuals operating them,” the news release stated. “Following the alert, officers conducted additional investigation and identified Kysen Palmeira, 46, of Wailua, as the suspect.”
Palmeira was arrested for first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and an outstanding bench warrant.
Officers also seized a second vehicle as evidence after suspected narcotics were identified.
The investigation remains ongoing.
