Police have arrested 10 individuals they say are part of a West Hawaii drug-related burglary ring.
Police have arrested 10 individuals they say are part of a West Hawaii drug-related burglary ring.
On Sept. 12, police arrested 31-year-old Joshua Watan of Kealakekua. He was charged two days later with trespassing, meth trafficking, promoting a dangerous drug and two counts of drug paraphernalia. While in custody, he was also charged on Sept. 15 with burglary, promoting a dangerous drug, drug paraphernalia and four counts of theft. Bail for all offenses was set at $428,000. He was also arrested for failure to maintain bail or bond and for revocation of release on bail, an offense that doesn’t allow him to be released on bail.
Also on Sept. 12, police arrested 51-year-old Nicole Adams of Captain Cook on suspicion of hindering prosecution for allegedly hiding Ryan Jeffries-Hamar, who was wanted for escape. On Sept. 13, she was charged with that offense. Her bail was set at $2,000.
Also on Sept. 13, police arrested 36-year-old Curtis Hoku Kehahuna of Waimea at a Kalaoa home. Police allegedly found methamphetamine at the scene and arrested Kehahuna, 28-year-old Halatoa Fakatoumafi of Kailua-Kona and 22-year-old Gensyn Waltjen of Hilo on suspicion of drug offenses. Police also spotted a vehicle that had been stolen from Hilo, obtained a search warrant and discovered two more stolen vehicles. In addition, 39-year-old Jessica Tuifua of Kailua-Kona was arrested on suspicion of hindering prosecution for allegedly hiding Kehahuna from police. She was charged on Sept. 15 and her bail was set at $2,000. Waltjen was released on Sept. 15 pending further investigation.
Kehahuna was charged Sept. 15 with promoting a dangerous drug, drug paraphernalia and three counts of auto theft. He was also arrested and charged on four outstanding warrants as well as for failure to maintain bail or bond. In addition, Kehahuna was charged with kidnapping, assault, terroristic threatening and burglary for an Aug. 21 incident in Kailua-Kona. His bail was set at $170,000.
Also on Sept. 15, police charged Fakatoumafi with promoting a dangerous drug, drug paraphernalia, marijuana possession, hindering prosecution — for allegedly hiding Kekahuna from police — and two counts of auto theft. His bail was set at $6,250.
On Monday, Sean Gregory of Kailua-Kona was arrested on suspicion of two counts of auto theft for a vehicle taken from Waikoloa in July and an all-terrain vehicle taken from Kalaoa on Sept. 15. Detectives had until Wednesday night to charge him or to release him pending further investigation. Then on Tuesday, police charged 25-year-old Joseph Narzisi, who was already in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center, with a kidnapping that allegedly occurred Aug. 21 in Kailua-Kona in which a suspect allegedly forced his way into a 26-year-old man’s home, assaulted him and threatened him with a firearm, before forcing him into a vehicle, where the threats and assault continued until the victim managed to escape. The victim declined treatment for his injuries. Police recovered a firearm and Narzisi’s bail for that offense was set at $87,000.