Kona man charged with drug, firearm offenses

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

A Kailua-Kona man caught driving with a suspended license has been charged with numerous drug and weapon offenses.

A Kailua-Kona man caught driving with a suspended license has been charged with numerous drug and weapon offenses.

At 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, police arrested 41-year-old John Lopez for driving with a suspended license after officers saw him driving on Highway 190 near Makalei Fire Station.

Kona vice officers served narcotics search warrants on his person and vehicle and recovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun, numerous rounds of unspent ammunition, 31.4 grams of a crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine, 29.4 grams of a black tar-like substance suspected to be heroin, 156.4 grams of a dried green leafy plant material suspected to be marijuana and drug paraphernalia associated with methamphetamine use and narcotics distribution.

At 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Lopez was charged with driving with a suspended license, first-degree methamphetamine trafficking, first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree marijuana possession, possessing drug paraphernalia and seven weapon offenses, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm with the intent to facilitate the commission of a felony drug offense.

Lopez’s bail was set at $441,000, and his initial court appearance is scheduled for this morning.