Drug arrests in Ocean View
A complaint about squatters at a home in Ocean View resulted in police locating 47 marijuana plants and two arrests.
The Hawaii Police Department received a complaint of individuals trespassing in residence at the 8400 block of Koa Lane in Ocean View at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Police learned that a caretaker discovered evidence of someone living in a residence he was caring for without permission and asked the police for assistance in checking the property.
Police found 31-year-old Cazanova Turner and 21-year-old Ana Rosa in residence along with a 1-year-old male child. The investigation of the property lead to the discovery of 47 marijuana plants ranging in size from seedlings to about 4 feet.
Turner and Rosa were arrested and the 1-year-old child taken into protective custody. Rosa was released pending investigation, and Turner was later charged with an array of offenses that include criminal trespassing, promotion of a detrimental drug in the first degree, drug paraphernalia, and commercial promotion of marijuana in the second degree.
Turner is being held in the Kona cellblock with bail set at $21, 000.
Police are encouraging residents to be cognizant of illegal trespassers or “squatters,” especially in areas where unoccupied homes are located and to report activity to police by calling 935-3311.
Escapee on the lam
HILO – Extended furlough inmate Troy Chung-Hoon failed to check in with his case manager as scheduled earlier Friday evening. Hale Nani Reintegration Center staff attempted to contact and locate him. When attempts failed Hawaii Police were notified.
Inmates in the extended furlough program live and work outside of the facility but must check in at various times throughout the month.
Chung-Hoon is 35-years old. He is 5’9” tall and weighs 150 lbs. He has brown hair and brown eyes. He is classified as community custody which is the lowest custody level.
Chung-Hoon is serving time for DUI. Escape 2 is expected to be added to his charges. His next parole hearing was scheduled for February.
Anyone who sees him is urged to call 911.
East Hawaii officer of month named
The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii recognized South Hilo Patrol Officer Murray Toledo on Thursday as the East Hawaii “Officer of the Month” for December, 2017.
Officer Toledo, a 12-year veteran with the Police Department, was honored for his “outstanding application of his investigative and interrogation skills” while investigating a theft case that occurred on the Big Island but stemming from a burglary that took place on Maui.
On Oct. 5, Officer Toledo was assigned to a theft of services cases that occurred at a hotel on Banyan Drive in Hilo. It was reported that the suspect, after a stay at the hotel, attempted to use a stolen check to use as payment for his hotel stay. Officer Toledo was able to confirm that the suspect was a former employee of the business from where the check was stolen.
Officer Toledo also contacted Maui Police and learned that the stolen check was taken during a burglary that occurred on Maui, and they were also investigating the series of stolen checks in their jurisdiction.
Officer Toledo arrested the suspect and obtained a confession, and he was subsequently charged with theft, forgery, and unauthorized possession of personal/confidential information. In addition, the suspect also confessed to being responsible for the burglary that occurred on Maui.
Structure fire reported in Pahoa
A structure fire was reported in a single story structure in Pahoa on Friday.
Nobody was inside the vacant building when responders arrived at 11 a.m. to Uilani Dr, the Hawaii Fire Department said in press release. It was extinguished by 11:30 a.m. Loss estimates in the $100,000 single-family dwelling were $12,800.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.