Suspended license leads to meth arrest

A man is in jail on multiple drug and weapon charges after he was pulled over while driving on a suspended license.

Police pulled over John Torres Lopez, 41, of Kailua-Kona, at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday on Highway 190 near the Makalei Fire Station.

Officers executed search warrants on his vehicle and person. Officers said they found 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.”

He was taken to the Kona police station while police continued investigating.

At 11:30 a.m. Thursday he was charged with driving with a suspended license, first-degree methamphetamine trafficking, first-degree promotion of dangerous drugs, second-degree promotion of detrimental drugs, 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.

According to court documents, his license was suspended after pleading nolo contendere to a charge of driving without a license and failing to pay the $137 fines and court costs. A default judgment was levied against him for not paying vehicle taxes and not having an up-to-date safety check. Court documents indicate he did not pay those fines either.

His bail was set at $441,000. He remains at the cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Friday morning.