Week-long effort
nets 98 arrestsThe Big Isle suspects were all wanted
for drug-related offenses
HILO » Law enforcement officers arrested 98 Big Island suspects wanted on a total of 150 bench warrants between June 25 and Thursday, Hawaii County Police Chief Lawrence Mahuna announced yesterday.
All of those arrested were wanted for drug offenses or had criminal histories involving drugs or drug-related violence, he said.
Dubbed Operation Pono Hawaii, the one-week effort in Hilo, Puna and Hamakua also resulted in opening 54 new cases, mostly for drugs, but also two firearms cases and two for illegal possession of electric stun guns.
Although none of the people arrested were well-known fugitives, they would be known in their own communities as people engaged in crime, Mahuna said.
"I'm ecstatic. This has made a significant impact on reducing our street crime," he said.
Mark "Dutchie" Hanohano, head of the U.S. Marshal's Office in Honolulu, added, "For far too long we have allowed these fugitives to go out and about this state."
Before Operation Pono Hawaii, police had a fairly good idea where many fugitives were but could not spare officers to arrest them, Mahuna said.
"We have tried wholeheartedly to serve these warrants, but we just didn't have the manpower," he said.
Credit goes to the eight state, county and federal agencies that provided 35 personnel to form the Hawaii Fugitive Task Force, Mahuna said. A previous operation on Maui took place in March 2003, and more will follow, Hanohano said.
Some federal money helped the operation, although it was not a "major influx," Mahuna said. He did not have total costs.
Seizures included 6.8 grams of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," 339 marijuana plants, 8.5 ounces of dried marijuana and numerous pipes, packets, scales and other paraphernalia.
A .223-caliber rifle and a .22-caliber pistol were seized, plus two electric stun guns and five counterfeit $20 bills.
There was also a case of forgery and a case of fraudulent use of a license plate.
The arrests were peaceful, with only one instance of resisting arrest, Mahuna said.
Arrestees either posted bail or were sent to Oahu Community Correctional Center.