A visit to the Keaau McDonald’s drive-thru led to 55-year-old Volcano man being arrested and charged with auto theft and numerous drug and firearms offenses.
According to court documents filed by police, an off-duty police officer in the drive-thru line Thursday saw a blue 2007 Nissan Titan pickup truck scrape a pole at the drive-thru entrance. The driver then allegedly pulled extremely close to the officer’s car and blared the truck’s horn.
The officer saw the driver slump over, so he got out of his car to check on the driver, identified by police as Jonathan Edward Kirkpatrick.
A license plate check showed the truck was stolen June 16 from an undeveloped property in Hawaiian Paradise Park, and on-duty officers were summoned, police said.
Kirkpatrick was arrested on suspicion of auto theft and for two outstanding bench warrants, police said. The stolen truck was taken into evidence, and police executed a search warrant on it.
The search of the truck allegedly turned up more than an ounce of fentanyl, 9 grams of methamphetamine, 76 grams of marijuana, a loaded .357 magnum revolver, 12 rounds of .357 ammunition, three rounds of .22 ammunition, and a digital scale.
Kirkpatrick on Friday was charged with auto theft, three counts of second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm on a public roadway, illegally carrying a firearm and ammunition, and carrying a firearm in the commission of a felony drug offense.
Kirkpatrick, who has three prior felony convictions in Hawaii, according to documents, allegedly told officers he sells fentanyl for $300 to $400 per gram.
At Kirkpatrick’s initial court appearance Monday, Hilo District Judge Bruce Larson reduced Fitzpatrick’s bail from $237,000 to $200,000 over the objection of prosecutors. He also ordered Fitzpatrick to return to court today for a preliminary hearing.
The most serious charge, carrying a firearm in the commission of a felony drug offense, is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Kirkpatrick remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of bail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.