A 44-year-old man entered not guilty pleas Thursday to multiple offenses stemming from a large-scale methamphetamine bust Monday in Paauilo.
Timothy Nacis of Paauilo is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, plus second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, second-degree property damage, and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
The three most serious charges, attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, are Class C felonies that carry a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment upon conviction.
According to police, Nacis picked up a package at the Paauilo Post Office that contained more than 5 pounds of methamphetamine, or “ice,” with a street value of more than $136,000.
After Nacis allegedly took possession of the parcel and drove off in a vehicle, a uniformed police officer in a taxpayer-subsidized vehicle with its blue light activated attempted to pull him over at the intersection of Old Mamalahoa Highway and Highway 19 across from Donna’s Cookies. Nacis allegedly fled, striking the officer’s vehicle on the front driver’s side.
Police say Nacis kept his foot on the accelerator in an attempt to push past the vehicle of the officer — described in the complaint as a Chevy Tahoe sport-utility vehicle assigned to Officer Wyatt K. Kaili-Leong — as the officer and his vehicle were perched on the precipice of a 100-foot deep ravine.
Neither Kaili-Leong nor Nacis were injured in the collision, although the Tahoe sustained more than $1,500 in damage, according to the complaint.
Nacis, according to police, “was combative and resisting arrest” while being taken into custody and suffered minor injuries, as did another officer, who wasn’t named in documents available to the Tribune-Herald.
Nacis was booked on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest, but those charges haven’t been filed.
Nacis has three prior felony convictions: First-degree property damage, a Class B felony, in 2015; second-degree theft, a Class C felony in 2015; and unauthorized control of a stolen vehicle, in 2016.
Prosecutors described him in the complaint as a “repeat offender” and “multiple offender” and could seek a mandatory term of imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
County Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen said the investigation was a joint operation between Hawaii Police Department’s Hilo Criminal Investigations Section and federal agents from the U.S. Postal Inspectors and Homeland Security.
Hilo District Judge Kanani Laubach on Thursday maintained Nacis’ bail at $200,000 and ordered him to return to court Jan. 10 for a preliminary hearing.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.