Big Island police today arrested a 41-year-old Puna man who was the subject of a Big Island manhunt yesterday, suspected of kidnapping.

Gregory Santa-Isabel was charged with three counts of violating a protective order, but not for kidnapping.

Shortly after police received a report from a friend of Santa-Isabel’s estranged girlfriend that she was kidnapped, the Hawaii County Police Department issued a Nixle Alert (an emergency warning or alert via text messaging and e-mail) about 9 a.m. asking for the public’s help in finding him and his Toyota Camry.

Police said an investigation revealed Santa-Isabel had not kidnapped the woman, but had violated protective orders on three occasions.

Yesterday, police were acting on a report by a friend of Santa-Isabel’s estranged girlfriend that she had been kidnapped.

Detectives and patrol officers from Hilo to Kona searched the island where Santa-Isabel was known to frequent, police said.

The woman returned home about 1:30 p.m. yesterday unharmed.

Santa-Isabel remained in police custody yesterday, unable to post $3,000 bail.

He is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow afternoon.