CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Garrett Ikeda of the Kaneohe Crime Reduction Unit gathered up $16,000 and 22 grams of "ice" after a news conference yesterday. Money, drugs, guns and ammunition were confiscated after a drug bust. CLICK FOR LARGE

Drug arrest startles family home

Three generations live in the apartment by the Kaneohe police station

Police arrested a couple for allegedly running a drug operation in their family home two blocks away from the Kaneohe station.

After a monthlong investigation, investigators searched an apartment yesterday morning at 45-211 Lilipuna Road where they seized 22.8 grams of crystal methamphetamine, several boxes of ammunition, an unregistered .45-caliber pistol and $16,226 in cash.

Three generations of a family, including a child, lived in the four-bedroom apartment.

Sgt. Garrett Ikeda of the Kaneohe Crime Reduction Unit said other family members seemed unaware that drugs were being sold out of the house.

"The grandfather, who has a heart condition, was very upset and kept on saying that he doesn't sell drugs," Ikeda said. "We tried to explain to him that it was because of his grandson's actions that we brought upon the search warrant."

Police arrested a 23-year-old man and his 22-year-old girlfriend.

The pair were booked on second-degree charges of promoting dangerous drugs, third-degree charges of promoting detrimental drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia and an unregistered firearm.

The street value of the drugs is about $1,800, which could triple in value if cut, said Capt. Nyle Dolera. The man has no prior arrests, but the woman has a prior drug-related arrest.

Dolera said it is common to find drug dealers operating out of their family's home.

"Sometimes they use their family as a shield," Dolera said. "This is a small community, and people need to keep their eyes open."