A report of a sedan parked in a Puna roadway blocking traffic with the driver asleep at the wheel led to a felony narcotics bust, according to court documents filed by police.
Police responded to Lehua Street just south of Orchid Street in the Fern Acres subdivision early Friday morning and found a white 2007 Nissan Sentra with a fraudulent front license plate. Inside the car was 47-year-old Lawrence Keoki Castro, documents state.
A check by officers revealed Castro had an active warrant for contempt of court, and he was taken into custody at 6:37 a.m.
Officers allegedly spotted a glass smoking pipe, which later tested positive for methamphetamine residue, on the driver’s seat of the sedan.
Officers searched Castro and obtained a search warrant for the car. Police allegedly found 12.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine, or “ice,” as well as a digital scale which tested positive for meth residue, according to documents.
Castro was charged with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment upon conviction, plus second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
When taken into custody, Castro was on supervised release on unrelated felony matters including alleged first-degree assault, domestic abuse, first-degree domestic abuse, auto theft and property damage.
Castro made his initial court appearance Monday, and Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk maintained Castro’s bail at $95,000 and ordered him to appear today for a preliminary hearing.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.