The man who is not facing charges for allegedly running over a woman without stopping shares the name — and blood — of one of the state’s top legislators. But the high-ranking official, House Speaker Calvin Say, D-Palolo, maintains that
The man who is not facing charges for allegedly running over a woman without stopping shares the name — and blood — of one of the state’s top legislators.
But the high-ranking official, House Speaker Calvin Say, D-Palolo, maintains that he lacks political pull on Kaua‘i, stressing that he hasn’t spoken to his cousin, Byron Say, for more than 10 years.
“I don’t have any authority at the county level,” Calvin Say said yesterday. “I’m just a state public policy maker.”
Calvin Say’s uncle, Sun Kwong “Pauly” Say, of Hanalei, a former taro farmer, fisherman and Kaua‘i Police Commissioner for five years, was the well-known family member on the island, Calvin Say said.
“Pauly” Say died Jan. 6, 2004, at the age of 70.
Byron Say, the fugitive who was arrested Feb. 16 after consistently eluding police on several high-speed chases, faces felony charges in three separate cases. The charges against him include third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine trafficking, first- and second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and two counts of possession of paraphernalia, related to a March 2006 arrest in Kapa‘a.
He also faces third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and attempted tampering with physical evidence, in relation to an alleged 2006 incident in which officers say they found methamphetamine in his holding-cell toilet.
Say is not facing charges, however, for the injuries Lisa Wilson claims she endured when he allegedly ran her over in June 2005.
Wilson was pulled under his car from the back of a motorcycle, she said. The traumatic event left her enveloped in injuries, including collapsed lungs, broken ribs, a fractured hip and pelvis, two broken humeri — one of which is beyond repair — and a destroyed spleen.
Scars from Wilson’s road rash burns are still prevalent throughout her body.
Say wasn’t charged in relation to Wilson’s injuries because of double jeopardy issues, according to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. When the county filed its DUI charge against Say, his attorney advised him to plead guilty before the rest of the charges from that day — including negligent injury — were entered into the system.
But that stroke of luck had nothing to do with Byron’s relationship to Calvin Say, the legislator said. Calvin Say added that he has had little, if any, contact with Byron Say’s immediate family.
“I don’t know where they all are,” Calvin Say said. “(Byron’s) called his aunties and uncles and they’ve gone to his rescue.”
Those who have helped Byron Say include Calvin Say’s father, sisters and aunts, Calvin Say said.
“I’ve never been involved in whatever they’ve been doing and I’m sorry people are spreading these types of rumors,” he said. “I have better things to do and my own family to contend with.”
Calvin Say, who is married with two sons, recently endured his mother’s passing, he said.
Byron and Aquila Say, Byron’s sister-in-law, are scheduled to appear in Kaua‘i District Court at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
