A Waimea woman has been arrested after she was found armed with a firearm outside a Pahoa business.

Hawaii Island police arrested a 24-year-old woman on charges of robbery and terroristic threats Monday, August 1, 2009, after an incident at a Pahoa business where the female suspect brandished a firearm.

At 9:02 a.m., Puna Patrol officers responded to a report of a robbery at a business in the 1500 block of Pahowa Village Road. The suspect, identified as a woman in her 20s, later identified as Camuela native Isabela Gonzalez, was reportedly assaulted while shoplifting from the business and confronting the employee about the theft.

The woman exited the business and pointed a gun at store employees. Due to the suspect’s actions, the business went into “lockdown” to protect the safety of employees and customers. The suspect threatened store employees, but the gun did not discharge.

When Puna Patrol responded to the scene, they found the suspect several hundred yards from the business and arrested her at 9:13 a.m. on charges of first-degree burglary and first-degree terroristic threatening.

The Area I Criminal Investigation Division is continuing this investigation.

Police ask anyone with information about this incident to call the police department’s non-emergency number at 808-935-3311, or Area I Criminal Investigation Division Detective Clarence Davis at 808-961-2382.

Tips that prefer to remain anonymous can call Islandwide Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300 and receive a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers do not record or record calls.