A 52-year-old Hilo man was arrested Friday morning in the parking lot of the Cost-U-Less store on Kinoole Street and a search warrant was executed on his vehicle, leading to a litany of drug charges, according to court documents filed by police.
On Monday, Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk maintained bail at $184,000 for Anthony K. Hatori and ordered Hatori to return at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
Hatori is charged with attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, plus two counts of second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, eight counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of promotion of a harmful drug, plus second-degree possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a license.
The most serious charge, attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment upon conviction.
According to documents, vice officers made contact with Hatori, the lone occupant of a silver 2017 Subaru sport-utility vehicle, and spotted a glass smoking pipe with “a bulbous end containing a thick white and brown residue” on the front passenger seat.
The pipe residue tested positive for methamphetamine, documents state.
The SUV was towed to the police station and the search warrant was executed. According to documents, officers found 19.2 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 1.7 grams of cocaine, 0.6 grams of brown-tar heroin and 11.2 grams of marijuana, according to documents. Also found were numerous prescription pills, including 27 20-milligram tablets of Dextroamphetamine — a Schedule II controlled substance — plus 20 0.5-mg tablets and 10 1-mg tablets of Alprazolam — a Schedule IV controlled substance for anxiety disorder marketed as Xanax.
Also found in the vehicle were two digital scales, one with methamphetamine residue, plus $815 in cash seized for possible forfeiture, documents state.
According to documents, Hatori has 11 prior felony convictions.
He remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of bail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
