Long-sought Kauai fugitive faces multiple drug charges
LIHUE » A Kauai man with a history of fleeing police and avoiding prison time might have run out of luck.
Byron Say, 38, of Hanalei, wanted for numerous drug charges as well as contempt of court, was arrested Friday night at a Kilauea residence.
He is charged with methamphetamine trafficking, first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, tampering with physical evidence and three counts of criminal contempt of court.
Kauai police had been looking for Say since early January, when he allegedly escaped on a mo-ped after a chase. According to police, he sped away from officers and jumped into bushes near Hanalei Beach. He was able to get away in the darkness.
Say again tried to flee on foot last week, but members of the patrol bureau and the Narcotics Enforcement Unit were able to arrest him, police said. A tip on his whereabouts led to the arrest, they said.
Say escaped possible jail time in 2005 even though he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence following an accident.
He was charged with negligent injury and possession of heroin in relation to the case, in which he ran over a Kauai woman with a rental car after running into the back of a motorcycle. The woman suffered half a dozen broken bones and internal injuries. Say fled on foot through the taro patches in Hanalei before being arrested.
The felony charges were dismissed, however, after prosecutors made a technical mistake and failed to combine the DUI charge with the felonies.
A judge threw out the charges, but the woman has filed a lawsuit.