A man wanted for skipping a court hearing in a manslaughter case is in police custody and facing an array of new charges.
Hawaii Police Department officers arrested 39-year-old Bernard Kahalehili Antoque of Kona on Thursday evening after Special Enforcement Unit officers located him seated in a parked vehicle on Kumu Street in the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision of Pahoa.
As officers contacted Antoque, they reportedly observed a firearm and marijuana within the vehicle in plain view, police said. Antoque, who had two unrelated outstanding warrants for manslaughter and negligent homicide stemming from a fatal June 2020 crash in Ocean View, was arrested without incident and the vehicle was recovered and towed to the Hilo police station.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the vehicle, which yielded the recovery of a loaded “ghost gun” pistol (firearm without serial number), various types of ammunition, approximately 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine, a minute amount of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia, according to police.
On Friday, detectives charged Antoque with five counts of ownership/possession of a firearm prohibited, place to keep pistol, place to keep ammunition, “ghost gun” violation, loaded firearm on highway, possession of a firearm with intent to facilitate the commission of a felony drug offense, two counts of first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, possession of an imitation controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, and driving without a valid driver’s license. His bail was set at $337,500.
The warrants were issued in December after Antoque failed to appear for a scheduled court case stemming from a June 21, 2020, crash that killed 31-year-old Angel Nohelani Lealoha Ano.
Police say Antoque was the driver of a gold 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser that failed to stop at the intersection of Coral Parkway and Ginger Blossom Lane in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision of Ka‘u. The vehicle was found overturned in a lava field. Ano, who was a passenger, was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Antoque was charged with second-degree negligent homicide, driving with a revoked license, manslaughter, drug paraphernalia, unsafe vehicle on roadway, fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug, false certificates of inspection, no vehicle insurance and third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug.