Derek Conway, 40, of Waikoloa is facing several felony charges after Area II Vice officers arrested him for drug and firearms offenses Thursday.
The officers, conducting a narcotics investigation at the time, made contact with Conway as he sat in a vehicle at a public park in Waikoloa. After a canine screening of his vehicle, the police dog picked up the scent of a controlled substance.
Police subsequently searched Conway, finding him to be in possession of approximately 57.7 grams of what officers suspected was crystal methamphetamine. They also found $111 in cash. Conway was arrested and transported to the Kealakehe police cellblock. They then seized the drugs, cash and Conway’s vehicle. A later search of the car produced a loaded 40 caliber pistol.
On Saturday, police charged Conway with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, promoting a controlled substance near a public park, possession of drug paraphernalia and several firearms offenses, which included the possession of a firearm with intent to facilitate the commission of a felony drug offense. Bail was set at $198,000. Conway was also hit with a probation violation, an offense that doesn’t allow for the posting of bail.
Also on Saturday, Vice officers obtained and executed a search warrant for a Waikoloa home Conway was known to occupy. The search rendered approximately 28.8 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine, 15 grams of suspected marijuana, 8.3 grams of suspected cocaine, 2 grams of suspected heroin, 165 prescription pills, 14 doses of Suboxone and paraphernalia linked to narcotics use and distribution.
Sunday, Conway was additionally charged with more offenses of first-degree promotion of dangerous drugs, three counts of second-degree promotion of dangerous drugs, five counts of promoting harmful drugs, one count of promoting detrimental drugs and seven counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. Cumulative bail for these offenses was set at $243,000.
Conway made his initial appearance Tuesday in Kona District Court and was ordered by Judge Margaret Masunaga to return at 3 p.m. today for a preliminary hearing.
It’s not the first time Conway has been arrested with a sizable amount of drugs, thousands in cash and in illegal possession of a weapon.
On Sept. 18, 2015, in Kailua-Kona, police arrested Conway in a parking lot on Henry Street after receiving a report he was in a parked car for two hours with the engine running.
Police say officers found Conway slumped in the driver’s seat of an SUV with the engine still running. When they awakened him, Conway appeared to be intoxicated and officers found paraphernalia for intravenous drug use inside the SUV.
A search of the SUV resulted in the seizure of 40.7 grams of heroin, 2.8 grams of methamphetamine, 26 pharmaceutical pills, a switchblade and $4,457 in cash.
Conway originally was charged with DUI, first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, four counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and one count each of fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and possessing a switchblade.
In a deal with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to one count each of second- and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and the other charges were reduced or dropped. According to court records, Conway was sentenced March 16, 2016, by Kona Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra to four years probation and an 18-month jail term with the provision he could be released early if accepted into Big Island Drug Court or a residential drug treatment program.
The Department of Public Safety website indicates Conway was released from custody May 17, 2016.
