KEALAKEKUA — Two of the three suspects connected to a drug bust on Loloa Drive last week appeared for a preliminary hearing in district court Tuesday morning.
Out on bail, Ashley Safa and Dylan Brehaut were arrested on drug charges in connection to a search warrant executed on the home Thursday. David Riehle, who is still in custody, was also arrested on drug charges related to the incident. All three were in court Tuesday.
Deputy Prosecutor Stephen Frye requested Safa, Brehaut and Riehle have their preliminary hearings consolidated, as the state was ready to move forward with its case against the defendants.
Safa’s attorney Ann Datta, objected. She said the defendants were arrested on different charges and Riehle didn’t have counsel. There was also a second witness specifically meant to testify against Riehle that was not available to take the stand until today.
District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga reduced Riehle’s bail from $72,250 to $50,000.
Masunaga also decided to consolidate Safa and Brehaut. Riehle will appear for his own preliminary hearing this afternoon.
During the preliminary hearing for Safa and Brehaut, the state called one witness. Hawaii County Police Officer Jacob Obermiller took the stand testifying he was one of several officers who participated in executing the search warrant at the home last week.
Obermiller testified that he searched the main area of the house and the garage area that had a toilet. In the kitchen, he said, a larger purse and a smaller purse were found on the ground.
In the larger purse, Obermiller said, burnt tinfoil and unused needles were found. No identification was found in the larger purse. However, there was a receipt with Safa’s name on it.
In the smaller purse, officers discovered a silver container holding pills and a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine. They also found a passport for Safa and a Hawaii ID for Brehaut.
Obermiller also testified a smoking pipe was found in the front right pocket of Brehaut’s pants. Also found on his person was a disassembled pen. Residue inside the pen tested positive for heroin, Obermiller told the court.
He added residue in the pipe tested positive for methamphetamine.
Datta asked Obermiller to describe the home. She asked if there appeared to be any women’s clothing inside the residence.
Obermiller testified there were three rooms inside the house, one of which appeared to belong to Riehle. There was not women’s clothing in the house or other definitive evidence that there were other individuals who lived in the house.
Obermiller said he never saw Safa or Brehaut inside the residence. They were being spoken to outside by an officer. He personally didn’t take them into custody.
Masunaga determined there was enough evidence to move their case to 3rd Circuit Court. Brehaut will appear before Judge Greg Nakamura on Aug. 11 and Safa will appear before Judge Melvin Fujino, also on Aug. 11.
The search warrant issued on Loloa Drive was one of four executed last week by Hawaii police Area II Vice Officers. Derek Conway and Michael Anthony Ventrella were also arrested and charged in a separate drug bust that occurred on Ala Onaona Street on July 24.
Conway is expected to appear in court on Aug. 8 and Ventrella will have his initial appearance on Aug. 24.
Police also served a warrant last week at a home in the Kona Highlands subdivision, prompting the detention of six people who were later released pending investigation.