Police say a task force in Hilo and Puna has resulted in the apprehension of eight suspects on arrest warrants, plus the arrests of two others — one who allegedly went on a crime spree that encompassed several districts and another allegedly found with rifles, drugs and evidence of drug distribution.
According to Capt. Kenneth Quiocho, South Hilo patrol commander, between Aug. 12-23, the task force he and Puna patrol commander Capt. John Briski assembled charged eight individuals wanted on warrants with numerous offenses.
Those arrested on warrants include: Wailani B. Kenui, 35, of Kurtistown with theft and violating terms of release; Bronson Oili, 31, of Pahoa with auto theft, possession of an automatic firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, failure to appear and three counts of violating probation; Jadelin Pualena Grammer, 22, of Pahoa with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and two counts of violating terms of release; Lance P. Ishibashi, 38, of Hilo with domestic abuse, harassment and two counts of contempt of court; Brandon Cabral, 38, of Pahoa with violating parole; Kuuipo K.M.K. Kalani, 29, of Hilo with contempt of court and two counts of violating terms of release; Natasia Fontes, 20, of Volcano with three counts of contempt of court; and Jason K. Mitchell, 30, of Hilo with three counts of contempt of court.
Quiocho said the warrant service is part of a focus aimed at deterring crime. Police have used arrest warrants as a means of trying to get the offenders off the street.
“The primary goal of this task force is to identify the offenders that have ties to offenses involving drugs, auto thefts or potentially having possession of firearms, and apprehend them as quickly as possible before we have bigger issues,” Quiocho said.
Police say the investigations also included 38-year-old Joshua D. Hams of Kailua-Kona, who went on a multi-district crime spree last week.
Hams is facing 39 charges in Kona District Court, including auto theft, theft, five counts of armed robbery, numerous terroristic threatening, reckless endangering and property damage offenses, and seven counts of carrying a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.
Hams is in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $1 million bail.
In addition, 32-year-old Matthew Haraguchi of Hilo was arrested Aug. 14 in Pepeekeo at a location police said is known as a dumping ground for stolen vehicles. A search warrant on his truck uncovered two rifles, drugs, paraphernalia and $281 seized by police for possible forfeiture.
He was charged with two counts each of carrying a loaded firearm on a public roadway, prohibited possession of firearm and illegal storage of firearm, plus carrying a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, promoting a harmful drug, marijuana possession and three counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.
His case is in Hilo Circuit Court and he is in custody at HCCC in lieu of $187,000 bail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.