Big Island police have arrested 10 men and women in connection with a drug-related burglary ring believed responsible for a rash of crimes in South Kona.
Hawaii Police Department Vice Section Lt. Sherry Bird late Wednesday said police have all but one person in custody that they have identified as being tied to a rash of reported burglaries and car crimes in South Kona. She added that since they’ve been apprehend, reports of burglaries and car crimes has “decreased significantly.”
She said the community’s willingness to help with tips and other information on those sought was crucial to the apprehensions.
“We are grateful to our community for helping to act as our eyes and ears,” Bird said in a prepared police statement. “Their help was critical in helping us solve this rash of crimes.”
Police continue to search for 24-year-old Joel Landsborough, of Kailua-Kona, who is wanted on a $300 warrant for contempt of court. He is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing about 145 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. He also has a tattoo of the Hawaiian Islands on the right side of his chest.
The arrests date to Sept. 12 when police arrested 31-year-old Joshua Watan of Kealakekua. Two days later, detectives charged him with criminal trespassing, meth trafficking, promoting a dangerous drug and two counts possessing drug paraphernalia, according to the Police Department.
While Watan remained in custody, he was re-arrested and charged on Saturday with burglary, promoting a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia and four counts of theft, according to police. His bail was set at $428,000.
In addition, Watan was also arrested for discharge of sureties (for having a previous bail revoked), and for revocation of release on bail, which is an offense that doesn’t allow him to be released on bail, according to police.
Also on Sept. 12, police arrested 51-year-old Nicole Adams of Captain Cook on suspicion of hindering prosecution for hiding Ryan Jeffries-Hamar, who was wanted for escape, according to police. She was charged Sept. 13 with first-degree hindering prosecution. Her bail was set at $2,000.
On Sept. 13, police arrested 36-year-old Waimea resident Curtis Hoku Kekahuna in the Kalaoa area. When police went to the Kalaoa property, they reportedly found Kekahuna with methamphetamine.
Kekahuna, Kailua-Kona resident Halatoa Fakatoumafi, 28, and a Hilo resident were arrested on suspicion of drug offenses.
Police also reportedly located a vehicle that had been reported stolen from Hilo. A search warrant obtained by police led to the recovery of two other vehicles that had been stolen from Hilo and Kona.
Also on Sept. 13, 39-year-old Jessica Tuifua of Kailua-Kona was arrested on suspicion of hindering prosecution for allegedly hiding Kekahuna from police. She was charged with that offense on Saturday and her bail was set at $2,000.
Kekahuna was charged Saturday with promoting a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia and three counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, according to police, who noted bail was set at $83,000.
Kekahuna was also arrested and charged on four outstanding warrants, as well as for discharge of sureties and held without bail for the charge of violating terms of release on bail.
In addition, he was charged with kidnapping, assault, terroristic threatening and burglary in connection with a reported incident that occurred Aug. 21 in Kailua-Kona, according to police. Those offenses added another $87,000 to his bail total.
Fakatoumafi was charged the same day with promoting a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia, promoting a detrimental drug, two counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and hindering prosecution, which stems from allegedly hiding Kekahuna from police. His bail was set at $6,250.
The Hilo resident, a 22-year-old, was released pending investigation.
On Monday, Sean Gregory of Kailua-Kona was arrested on suspicion of two counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle in connection with a vehicle reportedly taken from Waikoloa in July and an all-terrain vehicle that was reportedly taken from the Kalaoa area on Saturday, according to police.
He remains in police custody at the Kona cellblock while police continue to investigate.
On Tuesday, Joseph Narzisi, who was already in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center, was arrested and charged in connection with a kidnapping case that occurred Aug. 21 in Kailua-Kona, according to police. During that incident, a suspect reportedly 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 allegedly continued until the victim was able to escape.
The victim declined treatment for his non-life-threatening injuries. Police recovered a firearm in connection with that case. Narzisi’s bail for that offense was set at $87,000.
Also on Tuesday, 20-year-old Colvin Gaspar of Kailua-Kona was arrested on suspicion of hindering prosecution for allegedly hiding Kekahuna. He was charged Wednesday morning with that offense and his bail was set at $2,000.
And finally, on Tuesday, police arrested 24-year-old Daniel Estocado on suspicion of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle in connection with a Feb. 24 incident in Kona and on suspicion of burglary for an Aug. 27 incident in Kealakekua.
He is being held at the Kona police cellblock pending further investigation.
Anyone with information on Landsborough’s whereabouts should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo.
