KPD arrests alleged drug dealers

Kaua‘i Police Department Vice officers worked 72 hours straight last week in order to take off Kaua‘i’s streets over a thousand hits of methamphetamine, their boss said Thursday.

Lieutenant Regina Ventura, head of the KPD Vice Unit, said that three Vice and Patrol Services busts – which included one of an O‘ahu man listed on Hawai‘i’s Most Wanted List who was allegedly a courier of drugs to Kaua‘i – netted over 130 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

A local singer was also busted after a search warrant in his car revealed a stash of methamphetamine, the police reported.

The O‘ahu native, Gary Jellings, 45, of Waianae, was arrested for outstanding warrants September 16 by two patrol officers, Brian Silva and Eric Caspillo, who were working a special detail, said Ventura.

After Jellings’ arrest, vice officers were issued a search warrant for the place where he was staying, in the Nihi Kai Villas in Po‘ipu. There they found 55.9 grams of ice, or roughly 560 “hits,” $7,629 in cash, two handguns, and a butterfly knife, a police official said.

Also arrested in the apartment were Sanoe H. Soares, 19, of Kapa‘a, and Cory K. Sarmiento, 25 of Koloa, Both were arrested for first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a butterfly knife, and a prohibited weapon. Sarmiento was also charged with possession of marijuana.

Jellings has been charged with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a prohibited weapon, according to the KPD daily arrest log.

Jellings also faces sentencing on numerous drug charges on O‘ahu, and was wanted on a $100,000 bench warrant. He was listed on Hawaii’s Most Wanted by Honolulu Crime Stoppers and already has four felony drug convictions.

According to Vice officers, Jellings is suspected of coming back and forth from Oah‘u to deliver drugs to Kaua‘i users. They credited Caspillo and Silva for the hard work that lead up to the issuance of the search warrant.

On September 22, Sean Carillo, 36, a musician whose album, “Shaka,” was a regional hit, was arrested for second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, according to vice officers.

Carillo, who was originally arrested September 13 for stealing a car, was re-arrested this week after police obtained a search warrant and found methamphetamine, they said. Police would not say what quantity of drugs were found, only that it was enough to sustain a second-degree charge.

The car apparently belonged to an ex-girlfriend, who reported it stolen, police said.

In another drug case, Grant Holcomb, 35, of Kapa‘a, was arrested on methamphetamine and marijuana possession charges following the discovery of 800 hits of ice and over $25,000 in cash at a Kawaihau area residence. Holcomb was arrested after vice officers executed a search warrant on September 14, Ventura said. Some 80.9 grams of ice, 31.9 grams of marijuana, a shotgun, revolver, and rifle were found, as well as $27,194 in cash, the police reported.

Ventura and Kaua‘i Police Chief K.C. Lum both expressed that teamwork between Vice and the Patrol Services Bureau was the reason why there have been a sizable number of drug arrests over the past month.

“Both Vice and Patrol want these cases,” Lum said. “It’s all a team setting.”

Ventura, a 24-year KPD veteran, said that her department, because of the amount of referrals of cases from patrol, have been working unbelievable hours.

“It’s nonstop,” she said of the referrals.

Ventura added that to make the cases, some of the Vice officers worked 72 hours straight last week. Many, including herself, put in over 24 hours at the office consecutively.

“We have a good crew that are willing to work,” she said. “They have families, girlfriends, boyfriends. They are giving up a lot.”

Tom Finnegan, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 226)